Lou Whittaker

As the co-founder of Rainier Mountaineering Incorporated (RMI) in 1969, and over 250 summits of Mt. Rainier Lou Whittaker epitomizes the true spirit of mountaineering in the Northwest.

Lou started climbing with his twin brother, Jim, at age twelve. By the time he was eighteen, he had climbed all the major peaks in Washington. At nineteen, he began guiding on Mount Rainier. 

Lou, a legend on Mount Rainier has also climbed in Alaska, the Himalaya, and the Karakoram. In 1984, he led the first successful American summit of the North Col of Mount Everest. The team consisted of guides that gained much of their knowledge while working for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. Today, Lou and his wife, Ingrid, spend the winters in Sun Valley, Idaho, and the summers in Ashford. Lou remains an owner and Chief Guide of RMI. While in Ashford, Lou can be seen mingling with climbers at Rainier BaseCamp or Whittaker’s Bunkhouse. Lou is very involved with many organizations including the American Lung Association of Washington and continues to be their Honorary Chairman for the Climb for Clean Air.

Lou Whittaker


Ed Viesturs


Dave Hahn


Melissa Arnot


Garrett Madison


Todd Burleson

Jim Whittaker


Peter Whittaker


Joe Horiskey


Jeff Justman


Robert Link


Justin Merle