Lou Whittaker

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Lou Winslow Whittaker (February 10, 1929 – March 24, 2024) was an American mountaineer, mountain guide, and businessman. Born in Seattle, he and his twin brother Jim began climbing at age 12, made their first Mount Rainier summit at 16, and by 18 had climbed all the major peaks in Washington. Lou became the most experienced glacier-travel guide, summiting Mount Rainier more than 250 times. He founded Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI Expeditions) and built guiding businesses at Rainier Base Camp in Ashford, near Mount Rainier National Park, training many guides who continue to climb today. In 1984, he led the first American ascent of the North Col of Mount Everest. He wrote Lou Whittaker — Memoirs of a Mountain Guide with Andrea Gabbard. A mountain in Chelan County, Washington, is named Big Lou in his honor. He and his wife Ingrid Widmann (m. 1976; previously Patricia Wales) had three children, including two sons who also summited Mount Rainier at age 12. Lou Whittaker died of congestive heart failure in Ashford, Washington, at age 95.