When he was just 9, California native Jordan Romero got it into his head to climb the Seven Summits–the tallest peak on each of the world’s seven continents.

By 10, he found himself standing on top of Kilimanjaro, setting his first record as the youngest American to climb Africa’s highest peak.

Now 13, little Jordan has defeated North America’s McKinley, which some consider more technical than Asia’s Everest, the world’s tallest peak and where he is now focusing what can only be described as determined eyes.

If he reaches the top, Jordan will be the youngest person to summit Everest. The current record holder, Nepal’s Temba Tsheri, was a 16-year-old Sherpa–and lost five fingers to frostbite in the process.

Jordan is young, but he is clearly skilled, with sights set quite literally as high as possible. (Please, mainstream media, don’t start calling him Air Jordan.) And while few of us truly believe we are mortal when we are tender 13-year-olds–which is a case against encouraging this expedition at such a young age–we can’t help but cheer the little dude onward.