Lou Whittaker

Who is Lou Whittaker?

Lou Whittaker is a mountaineer and glacier-travel guide.

Whittaker and his twin brother Jim were born and raised in Seattle.

Besides his worldwide climbing experience, he became the most experienced guide for climbing Mount Rainier with over 250 summits and established Rainier Mountaineering Inc., developed a group of successful climbing-related businesses at the Rainier Base Camp in Ashford, Washington, adjacent to Mount Rainier National Park, and 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.

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