{"product_id":"my-old-man-and-the-mountain-a-memoir-9781680510690","title":"My Old Man and the Mountain: A Memoir","description":"\"\u003ci\u003eMy Old Man and the Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e is Leif Whittaker's engaging and humorous story of what it was like to \"grow up Whittaker\"―the youngest son of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mt. Everest, and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers.\"-Rock and Ice \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eFirst time in paperback\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eFresh perspective on a famous father--and a legacy forged on Mount Everest\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e In 1963, the world followed the first American Mount Everest Expedition, and watched as \"Big Jim\" Whittaker became the first American to stand on top of the world. He returned home a hero. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003eMy Old Man and the Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e is Leif Whittaker's engaging and humorous story of what it was like to \"grow up Whittaker\"--the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. Readers learn of his first adventures with family in the Olympic Mountains and on Mount Rainier; his close yet at times competitive relationship with his brother Joss; his battle with a serious back injury; and his efforts to stand apart from his father's legacy. With wry honesty he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents' home and trying to find a purpose in life--digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists--until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Leif heads to Nepal with all the excitement, irony, boredom, and trepidation that are part of high-altitude climbing. Well-known guides Dave Hahn and Melissa Arnot figure prominently in his story, as does \"Big Jim.\" But Leif's story is not his father's story. It's a unique coming of age tale on the steep slopes of Everest and a climbing adventure that lights the imagination and fills an emotional human endeavor with universal meaning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhittaker, Leif:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cb\u003eLeif Whittaker\u003c\/b\u003e has climbed many of the world's tallest peaks. His writing and photography have appeared in \u003ci\u003ePowder\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Ski Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eBackcountry\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in Bellingham, Washington, and is a seasonal USFS climbing ranger on Mount Baker. Leif is the son of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest. Visit him at www.leifwhittaker.com and on Instagram @LeifWhittaker.","brand":"Mountaineers Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50545041408274,"sku":"9781680510690","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_4bfdc188-4872-4192-b23c-e1c61b20aeea.jpg?v=1731540164","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/my-old-man-and-the-mountain-a-memoir-9781680510690","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}