It is business as usual for Peter Whittaker to talk about climbing the world's tallest peaks, but it's a rare treat for Whittaker to share his mountaineering passion with a Sun Valley audience. Whittaker will give a presentation, "Climbing Mount Rainier: A Whittaker Family Tradition," on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. at The Community School auditorium in Sun Valley. Tickets are $10 for Zenergy members and $12 for non-members.
"My father and uncle were the first Americans to climb Mount Everest," Whittaker said.
Whittaker's father, Jim, and his twin brother, Lou, started Rainier Mountaineering guiding service in 1968. They have led people on some of the world's highest mountains, including Denali in Alaska and Everest in the Himalayas.
"They really are living legends and have guided more than 70,000 people on Rainer," he said. "It's a family tradition."
Whittaker is planning a trip to climb Mount Rainier in Washington in late June. He said it's best to climb the mountain when it's sunny. He plans to take eight or nine people with three or four guides.
"I love taking people and helping them attain lofty goals," Whittaker said. "People are stepping out of their comfort zone."
He said 70 percent of the people who have been on guided trips with his family's company have never been on crampons or tied to a rope on a glacier. He said most people walk away from climbing experiences with the Whittakers with a greater understanding about weather, avalanches, occasional illnesses and other difficulties that may occur with mountaineering.
"People hire us to manage," Whittaker said. "We have a very elite crew. Over 40 of our guides have stood on the summit of Everest."
Whittaker said there will be an opportunity this winter to train in Sun Valley for the trip, with equipment talks and basic mountaineering instruction.
Tickets for Whittaker's presentation are available at Zenergy, the Elephant's Perch and Chapter One Bookstore. For details, call 725-0595.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Peter Whittaker will give a slide show presentation on climbing Mount Rainer at The Community School auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11. Photo by
