Summary
Jim Whittaker, a pioneering mountaineer and the first American to reach the top of Mount Everest, has passed away at the age of 97. He was also influential in the outdoor retail industry, leading the well-known company REI, and was involved in peace and inclusion efforts through mountain climbing expeditions.
Key Facts
- Jim Whittaker was the first American to summit Mount Everest in 1963.
- He died at his home in Port Townsend, Washington, at the age of 97.
- Whittaker played a key role in REI, an outdoor retail company, as its first full-time employee and later as its president and CEO.
- He was close friends with Robert F. Kennedy and was involved in Kennedy's presidential campaign.
- Whittaker led notable climbs, including the 1990 Mount Everest International Peace Climb involving climbers from the U.S., the Soviet Union, and China.
- He was involved in climbs with individuals with disabilities, emphasizing teamwork and achievement.
- Whittaker grew up in Seattle and began climbing with his twin brother through the Boy Scouts.
