Jim Whittaker dies at 97 — Here's all to know about the 1st American to summit Mount Everest
Mint·2h ago·Neutral
What Happened
Jim Whittaker, the first American to reach Mount Everest's summit, died April 7 at age 97 in Washington state. He climbed Everest in 1963 with Nawang Gombu, ten years after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Whittaker led the 1990 Everest International Peace Climb uniting climbers from America, Soviet Union, and China. He served as REI CEO from 1971 to 1979, helping establish national parks.
Key Entities
Jim WhittakerMount EverestNawang GombuEdmund HillaryTenzing NorgayREIRobert KennedyLou WhittakerMount RainierPort Townsend Washington