My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir

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Description

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 used to be 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 with the exception of his father’s legacy. With wry honesty he depicts being a contemporary college grad, still living in his parents’ home and looking for a purpose in life―digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists―until a chance encounter ends up in the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did.

Leif heads to Nepal with all of the excitement, irony, boredom, and trepidation that are a 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 isn’t his father’s story. It is 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.

“Whittaker writes as he climbs mountains, with courage, grace, and a dash of humility. The result is an utterly compelling tale of a young man who bravely tackles two great challenges–one made of rock and ice and one made of doubts and fears. Its’s a great read.” –Daniel James Brown, creator of The Boys in the Boat. 

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