“Big Jim” Whittaker is a legendary mountaineer best known for becoming the first American to summit Everest on May 1, 1963. Yet, Whittaker’s life was so much more than Everest. Whittaker’s climbing career started with the Boy Scouts and evolved into guiding on Mt. Rainer and summiting Denali. In 1966, Whittaker made the first ascent of Canada’s Mt. Kennedy with his friend Bobby Kennedy (the expedition and ascent were made in honor of the recently assassinated President John F. Kennedy). Whittaker’s leadership on several tumultuous expeditions to K2, which ultimately resulted in the first successful American ascent, and third ever ascent, of K2, in 1978; and the Everest International Peace Climb, which he initiated and led in 1991. Celebrate the late Jim Whittaker’s life and the 63rd anniversary of his historic ascent of Everest. An extra special thank you to Dianne Roberts, Leif Whittaker, and the Whittaker Family for sharing the assets with the American Alpine Club and helping to tell Jim’s story.