Lou Whittaker
Whittaker (left) in 1996 on Mount Rainier
Born (1929-02-10) February 10, 1929
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
OccupationMountaineer

Lou Whittaker (born February 10, 1929)[1] is a mountaineer, mountain guide, and entrepreneur. He and his twin brother, Jim Whittaker, an equally renowned mountaineer and guide, were born and raised in Seattle.[2]

Besides his worldwide mountain climbing experience, Whittaker became the most experienced glacier-travel guide by climbing Mount Rainier with over 250 summits. He also established Rainier Mountaineering Inc (now RMI Expeditions), developed a group of successful climbing-related businesses at the Rainier Base Camp in Ashford, adjacent to Mount Rainier National Park. There he led the training of several generations of Rainier guides, many of whom continue to guide and climb elsewhere. He also led the first American ascent of the North Col of Mount Everest in 1984.[3]

He has recorded his experiences in Lou Whittaker — Memoirs of a Mountain Guide, written with Andrea Gabbard.

Big Lou, a mountain in Chelan County, Washington is named for him.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Lou Whittaker A mountaineering pioneer". TheNewsTribune.com. 2008-03-27. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Brothers synonymous with mountain climbing in Northwest". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. March 13, 1983. p. 43.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Big Lou Mountain". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.


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