Reaching The Peak

(CBS)  If leaving the sunny beaches of Malibu for the sub-zero snow peaks of Nepal sounds strange, you're spot on.

At 17, California native Johnny Strange is the youngest person ever to conquer the tallest summits on each of the seven continents.

"I went out, said I was going to do it, didn't care who said I wasn't, and then did it," Johnny said.

So CBS News anchor Katie Couric thought it was only fitting to trot Johnny 10 flights up to the roof of the CBS Broadcast Center.

"This is a pretty view but not quite as pretty as you've seen," Couric said. "What is it about climbing that's so exciting for you?"

"Climbing just really caught my attention," Johnny said. "I just loved it, you know? I love the adventures."

With dad as his climbing companion, Johnny had already scaled his first summit - Antarctica's 16,050-foot Vinson Massif - by the time he was 12.

"A lot of people didn't think I would get to the top," Johnny said. "But after that, I really wanted to climb Mt. Everest. You know, that was my dream."

Five years and five other summits later, Johnny's treacherous trek up 29,029 feet of Mt. Everest was underway, a journey that's claimed 216 lives.

"I turn around and a big rock comes shooting really fast down close to me, which was pretty scary," Johnny said.

"Have you ever seen the movie 'Cliffhanger?'" Couric asked.

"No," Johnny said laughing.

"You shouldn't see that," Couric said.

But there was actually a method to Johnny's mountain madness - a chance to turn an adventure into activism.

"When you reached the top of Mt. Everest, you actually posted two signs," Couric said. "What did they say?"

"One said 'Stop Genocide.' And then the other said 'Cure Parkinson's.' So I want to try do more adventures to raise awareness and money for those causes," Johnny said.

Johnny's wasting no time planning that next odyssey.

"I have a few things in mind," Johnny said. "I'm just going to figure that out over the summer."

After all, who wants to say they've peaked at 17?

[jschmidt27]

You can't take the accomplishment away from him. It takes a lot of confidence to do that. Of course, so does being a Navy Seal and the mission is always more important than the person. Eventually this fellow may need that experience to get outside himself and see what he can do for others. His two signs says he is on the right track.

[BayStorm]

Wow I wish I had the ability to have a rich DAD pay my way around the world to climb mountains. Now maybe if he worked his way out of the hood or cured one damn thing on this planet I would care about this jackass's day. Lets go to NBC and look for some real news.

[plassteel]

It is cool that this family can do this is it news that some rich get to do something most only dream about well no. I agree with Baystorm give us some real news

[Sloughfoot]

You go to NBC and look for some blood and gore. I kinda like it when an media outlett prints some "Good Stuff". Sorry about your dad wish he could have given you more....Humanity.