My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir
"My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker’s engaging and humorous story of what it was like to “grow up Whittaker”―the youngest son of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mt. Everest, and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers."-Rock and Ice

  • First time in paperback
  • Fresh perspective on a famous father—and a legacy forged on Mount Everest
In 1963, the world followed the first American Mount Everest Expedition, and watched as “Big Jim” Whittaker became the first American to stand on top of the world. He returned home a hero.

My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker’s engaging and humorous story of what it was like to “grow up Whittaker”—the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. Readers learn of his first adventures with family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier; his close yet at times competitive relationship with his brother Joss; his battle with a serious back injury; and his efforts to stand apart from his father’s legacy. With wry honesty he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents’ home and trying to find a purpose in life—digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists—until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did.

Leif heads to Nepal with all the excitement, irony, boredom, and trepidation that are part of high-altitude climbing. Well-known guides Dave Hahn and Melissa Arnot figure prominently in his story, as does “Big Jim.” But Leif’s story is not his father’s story. It’s a unique coming of age tale on the steep slopes of Everest and a climbing adventure that lights the imagination and fills an emotional human endeavor with universal meaning.
"1123408019"
My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir
"My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker’s engaging and humorous story of what it was like to “grow up Whittaker”―the youngest son of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mt. Everest, and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers."-Rock and Ice

  • First time in paperback
  • Fresh perspective on a famous father—and a legacy forged on Mount Everest
In 1963, the world followed the first American Mount Everest Expedition, and watched as “Big Jim” Whittaker became the first American to stand on top of the world. He returned home a hero.

My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker’s engaging and humorous story of what it was like to “grow up Whittaker”—the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. Readers learn of his first adventures with family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier; his close yet at times competitive relationship with his brother Joss; his battle with a serious back injury; and his efforts to stand apart from his father’s legacy. With wry honesty he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents’ home and trying to find a purpose in life—digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists—until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did.

Leif heads to Nepal with all the excitement, irony, boredom, and trepidation that are part of high-altitude climbing. Well-known guides Dave Hahn and Melissa Arnot figure prominently in his story, as does “Big Jim.” But Leif’s story is not his father’s story. It’s a unique coming of age tale on the steep slopes of Everest and a climbing adventure that lights the imagination and fills an emotional human endeavor with universal meaning.
19.95 In Stock
My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir

My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir

by Leif Whittaker
My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir

My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir

by Leif Whittaker

Paperback(Reprint)

$19.95 
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Overview

"My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker’s engaging and humorous story of what it was like to “grow up Whittaker”―the youngest son of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mt. Everest, and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers."-Rock and Ice

  • First time in paperback
  • Fresh perspective on a famous father—and a legacy forged on Mount Everest
In 1963, the world followed the first American Mount Everest Expedition, and watched as “Big Jim” Whittaker became the first American to stand on top of the world. He returned home a hero.

My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker’s engaging and humorous story of what it was like to “grow up Whittaker”—the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. Readers learn of his first adventures with family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier; his close yet at times competitive relationship with his brother Joss; his battle with a serious back injury; and his efforts to stand apart from his father’s legacy. With wry honesty he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents’ home and trying to find a purpose in life—digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists—until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did.

Leif heads to Nepal with all the excitement, irony, boredom, and trepidation that are part of high-altitude climbing. Well-known guides Dave Hahn and Melissa Arnot figure prominently in his story, as does “Big Jim.” But Leif’s story is not his father’s story. It’s a unique coming of age tale on the steep slopes of Everest and a climbing adventure that lights the imagination and fills an emotional human endeavor with universal meaning.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781680510690
Publisher: Mountaineers Books, The
Publication date: 04/01/2019
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 288
Sales rank: 1,072,964
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Leif Whittaker has climbed many of the world’s tallest peaks. His writing and photography have appeared in Powder, The Ski Journal, and Backcountry. He lives in Bellingham, Washington, and is a seasonal USFS climbing ranger on Mount Baker. Leif is the son of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest. Visit him at www.leifwhittaker.com and on Instagram @LeifWhittaker.

Table of Contents

Author's Note 8

Prelude 9

Part 1 Scouting

1 No Parents 14

2 Question 21

3 Now Tense 26

4 Old Friend 32

5 Go-Rack 35

6 Tottering Chaos 39

Part 2 Slack-ing

7 No Service 46

8 What Are You Doing with Your Life? 50

9 Choke 57

Part 3 Tension

10 Heirlooms 66

11 Landing Uphill 77

12 Made Weak by Time and Fate 85

13 Blame the Fire 95

14 Like a Broken Drum 100

15 Slow Down and Look 107

16 Rest Days 117

17 Treasures and Valleys 127

18 Not a Bad Place to Check Out 132

19 Cares like Autumn Leaves 138

20 Hell of a Nite 143

21 Old and Happy 147

Part 4 Climb on

22 Don't Fall 156

23 Pick Your Brain 165

24 Bloodstains 173

25 Sleep More When You're Sleeping 178

26 Lucky and Good 186

27 Roll a Dime 195

28 Whittaker-Sized Bump 206

29 Personal Best 211

30 Carnage 218

31 Noses to Assholes 225

32 Dot 229

33 One Chance 237

34 Graveyard 242

35 Gratitude 249

36 Get the Hell Out of There 256

37 Secret 264

38 Green 273

Acknowledgments 280

Bibliography 283

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