UPDATE: Big Bear Salutes Team Romero

Mayor Bill Jahn welcomes Team Jordan Romero back to Big Bear Lake from Antarctica. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld)

UPDATE – Monday, January 2 – 4:50 a.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA – An antique fire engine made its was through The Village in Big Bear Lake with Team Jordan Romero onboard waving and hearing people shout “Welcome Home.”  The team — Jordan Romero, Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren — had just returned home from the final 7 Summits climb in Antarctica (Mt. Vinson Massif).

Team Jordan Romero rides through The Village on their way to a welcome home party. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld)

Once the fire truck arrived at the parking lot of the Robinhood Resort on Sunday, January 1, a large crowd welcomed the trio back home including Big Bear Lake Mayor Bill Jahn.

“Our community is extremely proud to be called Jordan’s hometown,” Mayor Jahn noted. “We’ve been celebrating with Jordan ever since he set out on the 7 Summits quest…when he was just 10 years old.

“We celebrated with him last week,” Jahn  continued, “as he summited Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica. I can’t think of a better Christmas present for our small town.”

Mayor Jahn then presented Team Jordan Romero with a City Council resolution congratulating them on being great ambassadors for Big Bear in their travels around the world.

THE TEAM

Karen Lundgren spoke first and exclaimed, “It’s great to be back in Big Bear.”

Paul Romero took time to recognize several people in the audience who had helped make the trip possible and thanked the news media – KBHR, Big Bear GRIZZLY, Channel 6 and ROTWNEWS — for helping keep the community informed about the trip to Antarctica.

Rick Herrick (KBHR) served as master of ceremonies. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld)

Jordan Romero also expressed his appreciation for the support of the residents of Big Bear Lake and explained that out of all the 7 Summits he was most impressed with Antarctica calling it “one of the most beautiful places on earth.”

THE PARTY

Once the team members addressed the crowd, master of ceremonies Rick Herrick (KBHR) adjourned the welcome home party to Nottingham’s where people had an opportunity to visit with Jordan, Paul and Karen and Jordan’s mother, Leigh Ann Drake.

EDITOR’S NOTE: ROTWNEWS would like to thank Angela Meyers (KBHR) and members of the Welcome Home committee for their work to put together the celebration. Special thanks also to E. T. Russell (ROTWNEWS) for coordinating our coverage of the event.

UPDATE – Sunday, January 1 – 8:25 a.m.

Dallas, Texas – “Happy 2012! Find Your Everest and fire up your own dream…it’s time!”

That message from Dallas, Texas was sent by Team Jordan Romero just minutes before boarding a flight to Palm Springs Airport. Once in Palm Springs the team will drive to Big Bear Lake for the 5 p.m. homecoming event.

“Hope everyone can join us for the celebration tonight,” Jordan Romero posted on the team’s website.

Jordan Romero displays American flag from the top of Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica. (Photo by Team Jordan Romero)

UPDATE – Saturday, December 31 – 12:05 p.m.

South America – The flight back to the United States for Team Jordan Romero after scaling Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica is scheduled to get them home in time for the Welcome Home party at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 1.

Jordan Romero posted earlier today that he’s anxious to return to Big Bear.

“I just want some tacos,” Romero wrote.

ROTWNEWS will be on hand for the event.

A time for reflecting on completing the 7 Summits. (Photo Courtesy Team Jordan Romero)

UPDATE – Friday, December 30 – 8:50 a.m.

South America – Team Jordan Romero is on the way to Big Bear Lake for a special Welcome Home party on Sunday, January 1, at 5 p.m.

The latest communication from Jordan, Paul and Karen indicated they were in Chile and observing darkness for the first time in two weeks. They took time to thank their sponsors: FRS Healthy Energy, ESRI, Network Innovations, SOLE, Agility Guard and Boresha.

The team also thanked the City of Big Bear Lake for its support and encouragement.

“No words can describe the level of gratitude and appreciation our team has to every one of you,” the team posted.

Team Jordan Romero will be home in time for the celebration at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Robinhood Resort on New Year’s Day.

ORIGINAL STORY

Big Bear Lake, CA – Jordan Romero and Team Romero — Paul Romero and step-mother Karen Lundgren — will “officially” be welcomed home to Big Bear Lake on Sunday, January 1, following successful completion of their quest to scale the highest summit on each continent. The 5 p.m. event will start in the parking lot of the Robinhood Resort at 40797 Lakeview Drive in Big Bear Lake.

Big Bear Lake Mayor Bill Jahn is expected to welcome the team home followed by remarks from each team member related to their scaling Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica on Christmas Eve (December 24).

The public is invited to bundle up for the outside portion of the event event and then move inside for an after party at Nottingham’s.

Jordan Romero stands in front of the Russian Ilyushin cargo plane on the blue ice runway in Antarctica (Photo Courtesy Team Jordan Romero)

7 SUMMITS

With the successful trip to the summit of Mt. Vinson,   15-year-old Jordan became the youngest person in the world to climb the highest summit on each continent and the team became the first family to complete the 7 Summits challenge.

During the 7 Summits quest, several world records were broken including Jordan — at 13 — becoming the youngest person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest (29,029 feet).

The 7 Summits include: Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt. Elbrus (Russia), Mt. McKinley (Alaska), Mt. Aconcagua (Argentina), Mt. Kosciusko (Australia) or Mt. Carstensz Pyramid (Papua), Mt. Everest (China) and Mt. Vinson (Antarctica).