History of Jim Whittaker in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 8, 2026

Jim Whittaker is an American climber and mountain guide, notable for being the first American to summit Mount Everest. On May 1, 1963, as part of the American Mount Everest Expedition, Whittaker, accompanied by Sherpa Nawang Gombu, successfully reached the summit without oxygen, marking a significant achievement in American mountaineering history.

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Full Timeline

February 10, 1929: Birth of James Warren Whittaker

James Warren Whittaker was born on February 10, 1929. He later became a renowned American climber and mountain guide.

July 25, 1955: First Full-Time Employee at REI

On July 25, 1955, Jim Whittaker became the first full-time employee of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI).

May 1, 1963: First American to Summit Mount Everest

On May 1, 1963, Jim Whittaker became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest, along with Sherpa Nawang Gombu. They were part of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth.

1964: REI's Gross Income Tops $1 Million

In 1964, Recreational Equipment, Inc.'s (REI) gross income topped US$1 million for the first time. This milestone was achieved the year following Whittaker's successful climb of Mount Everest, which provided significant advertising for the company.

1965: Guided Robert F. Kennedy up Mount Kennedy

In 1965, Jim Whittaker, along with Dee Molenaar and others, guided Robert F. Kennedy up the newly named Mount Kennedy. This event marked the beginning of a friendship between Kennedy and Whittaker.

1968: Kennedy’s State Campaign Chairman

In 1968, Jim Whittaker became Robert F. Kennedy’s state campaign chairman, demonstrating the close relationship between the two.

1990: Led Earth Day 20 International Peace Climb

In 1990, Jim Whittaker led the Earth Day 20 International Peace Climb, which brought together climbers from the United States, USSR, and China to summit Mount Everest. The expedition also removed a significant amount of trash from the mountain.

1999: Release of Autobiography

In 1999, Jim Whittaker released his autobiography, "A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond."

2016: Publication of My Old Man and the Mountain

In 2016, Leif Whittaker, Jim Whittaker's younger son, published "My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir," which recounts his own summit of Mount Everest and compares it to his father's experiences.