Jim Whittaker, left, and Sherpa Nawang Gombu summited Mount Everest together in 1963. It cemented a bond for the two men. Click through our gallery to see Whittaker's time on Everest, and how his son, Leif, has followed in his footsteps.
The Whittaker legacy —
Jim Whittaker, left, and Sherpa Nawang Gombu summited Mount Everest together in 1963. It cemented a bond for the two men. Click through our gallery to see Whittaker's time on Everest, and how his son, Leif, has followed in his footsteps.
Courtesy Jim Whittaker
Whittaker summits Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, at 1 p.m.
The Whittaker legacy —
Whittaker summits Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, at 1 p.m.
Nawang Gombu
Jim Whittaker after the climb.
The Whittaker legacy —
Jim Whittaker after the climb.
Courtesy Jim Whittaker
Sherpas, known as high-altitude porters in 1963, carry packs on the 185-mile trek to reach Everest base camp.
The Whittaker legacy —
Sherpas, known as high-altitude porters in 1963, carry packs on the 185-mile trek to reach Everest base camp.
Will Unsoeld
Climbers work their way through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall, a shedding glacier just after Everest base camp.
The Whittaker legacy —
Climbers work their way through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall, a shedding glacier just after Everest base camp.
Courtesy Jim Whittaker
The Khumbu Icefall is also where expedition member Jake Breitenbach lost his life when the ice became unstable and buried him (not pictured).
The Whittaker legacy —
The Khumbu Icefall is also where expedition member Jake Breitenbach lost his life when the ice became unstable and buried him (not pictured).
Courtesy Whittaker family
President John F. Kennedy awards Jim Whittaker the Hubbard Medal.
The Whittaker legacy —
President John F. Kennedy awards Jim Whittaker the Hubbard Medal.
George Mobley/National Geographic
Whittaker, right, and his son, Leif, near Everest base camp in 2012.
The Whittaker legacy —
Whittaker, right, and his son, Leif, near Everest base camp in 2012.
Courtesy Whittaker family
Leif Whittaker captured this photo as Dave Hahn ascends the rocky Geneva Spur between Camp 3 and Camp 4 in 2010. The following images feature his stunning photographry during 2010 and 2012 on Everest.
The Whittaker legacy —
Leif Whittaker captured this photo as Dave Hahn ascends the rocky Geneva Spur between Camp 3 and Camp 4 in 2010. The following images feature his stunning photographry during 2010 and 2012 on Everest.
Leif Whittaker
Mount Everest base camp at night during the 2012 expedition.
The Whittaker legacy —
Mount Everest base camp at night during the 2012 expedition.
Leif Whittaker
Leif Whittaker stands on the summit of Mount Everest on May 26, 2012.
The Whittaker legacy —
Leif Whittaker stands on the summit of Mount Everest on May 26, 2012.
Leif Whittaker
Camp 3, at 24,000 feet above sea level, on the Lhotse Face at sunset during the 2010 expedition.
The Whittaker legacy —
Camp 3, at 24,000 feet above sea level, on the Lhotse Face at sunset during the 2010 expedition.
Leif Whittaker
Expedition member Dave Hahn peers out at the Himalaya from Pumori Camp I in 2012.
The Whittaker legacy —
Expedition member Dave Hahn peers out at the Himalaya from Pumori Camp I in 2012.
Leif Whittaker
A Buddhist stupa on the trail to Mount Everest Base Camp in 2012.
The Whittaker legacy —
A Buddhist stupa on the trail to Mount Everest Base Camp in 2012.
Leif Whittaker
Expedition member Melissa Arnot uses a ladder to cross in the Khumbu Icefall in 2012.
The Whittaker legacy —
Expedition member Melissa Arnot uses a ladder to cross in the Khumbu Icefall in 2012.
Leif Whittaker
Camp 2, at 21,300 feet, in an Everest featured named the Western Cwm, in 2010.
The Whittaker legacy —
Camp 2, at 21,300 feet, in an Everest featured named the Western Cwm, in 2010.
Leif Whittaker
Jim and Leif pause for a moment on the trail to Mount Everest Base Camp in 2012.
The Whittaker legacy —
Jim and Leif pause for a moment on the trail to Mount Everest Base Camp in 2012.
Leif Whittaker