09.04.2026 11:23
Jim Whittaker, the first U.S. citizen to climb Mount Everest, passed away at the age of 97. Whittaker made his mark in mountaineering history by reaching the summit in 1963.
Jim Whittaker, the mountaineer who made history as the first U.S. citizen to climb Mount Everest, has died at the age of 97. Whittaker's family confirmed to the BBC that the climber, who made history as the first American to reach the world's highest peak, passed away on April 7 at his home in Port Townsend, Washington.
Known by the nickname "Big Jim," Whittaker was born on February 10, 1929, in Seattle and began climbing in the 1940s with his twin brother Lou Whittaker as part of their scouting activities.
THE FAMOUS MOUNTAINEER CLIMBED EVEREST AGAIN WITH HIS FAMILY AT THE AGE OF 83
The two brothers climbed Mount Olympus, the highest point in the Olympic Mountains of Washington state, when they were 16 years old. In May 1963, Whittaker successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest and remained one of the leading figures in the climbing world for many years.
Whittaker climbed Everest again with his family at the age of 83.