About Us
| The Whittaker Mountaineering staff is lead by Peter and Erika Whittaker who truly have grown up in the mountains. Their love for the mountains has been passed on to all of us at Whittaker Mountaineering. Having Mount Rainier in our backyard, gives us countless opportunities to wear and test the gear we sell on a daily basis. Our staff has spent many nights on the mountain and would love the opportunity to share our experiences with those who are looking to climb Mount Rainier or other mountains around the world. | OUR EMPLOYEES: | |
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Peter Whittaker Erika Whittaker Jeremy Foust Laura Nick Chad |
Advisory Board | |
 Clients find Peter Whittaker's passion for the outdoors contagious. But what else would you expect from someone who climbed Mount Rainier when he was only twelve years old? As a mountain guide for over twenty-five years, Peter has organized and led trips all over the world. In 1995, Peter organized Expedition Inspiration, in which he led a group of breast cancer survivors to the summit of Aconcagua. The climb raised over 2 million dollars for breast cancer research. Peter also served as the guide for both the oldest man and the oldest woman to reach the summit of Mt. Vinson in Antarctica: the top of the bottom of the world. Peter co-owns Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. the largest guide service in the United States. Peter also has been the host of "Trailside: Make Your Own Adventure", an Emmy-nominated outdoor adventure series on National Public Television. Born into a mountaineering family, Peter's uncle Jim Whittaker became the first American to climb Mt. Everest in 1963. Peter's father, Lou Whittaker has led numerous expeditions to the Himalayas, including the world's three highest peaks. Peter's Top Gear Picks |
CLIMBING RESUME
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 Erika grew up in Austria, where skiing is a way of life. She grew up in a large family where hiking, skiing, and many other sports were part of a happy childhood. At the age of 13 she was accepted into a ski academy, where for the next 6 years she spent her time training, skiing, studying, and ski racing. From 17 - 19 years old, she was Austria's #1 ranked giant slalom racer, winning the overall EuropaCup on her 18th Birthday, and was Junior world champion in Giant Slalom and Combined. For the next few years she skied on the World Cup circuit, and while racing all over Europe, North America, New Zealand and Australia, she found out how much she likes traveling. While vacationing on the coast of Kenya in 1986, Erika met Peter Whittaker. It didn't take long for them to realize how much they had in common, and a great friendship quickly developed into a business partnership and marriage. Together they have run Summits Adventure Travel for 12 years; organizing and leading hiking, skiing, climbing, and trekking trips all over the world. Erika enjoys every aspect of the company, but her favorite part is the traveling, meeting her guests in all parts of the world and helping them achieve their goals and having a good, safe time in the mountains. Erika's Top Gear Picks |
SKIING/CLIMBING RESUME
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 Jeremy has called the Mount Rainier area home for the past 28 years. He has been working for Whittaker Mountaineering for 12 years, first helping to develop the rental program, and then expanding the retail store to what it is today. When not working in the mountains, you can find Jeremy at the beach with his two kids. Jeremy's Top Gear Picks |
CLIMBING RESUME
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 Laura grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and earned her B.S. in Finance from Miami University of Ohio. In college, her love of climbing began with some outdoor climbing experiences down in Kentucky and West Virginia. Through leading outdoor trips for school and a series of serendipitous events, she landed in Washington for a couple summers during and after college. Most recently arriving from Aspen, Colorado, she is excited to continue experiencing the Pacific Northwest. Laura's Top Gear Picks |
CLIMBING RESUME
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 Growing up hiking and camping throughout the Midwest, Nick gained a love for outdoor recreation that would eventually lead him to the Evergreen State. He spent his college years at The Ohio State University, where his interests in climbing resulted in many adventures with the OSU Mountaineers. Forced to escape the flatlands of Ohio in order to get his fix, Nick spent many days on the road seeking out more mountainous terrain to climb, bike, and ski. In 2005, Nick moved to Ashford, Washington for the summer to work and play, and after just a few seasons decided to call the Mount Rainier area home. Nick devotes his free time to exploring the endless opportunities found in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Nick's Top Gear Picks |
CLIMBING RESUME
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 Having grown up on the Georgia and Florida coast, Chad is an avid kayaker, backpacker and occasional surfer. Moving out to the Pacific Northwest last May was a big step. Learning to climb with some of the best guides in the world has been a memorable experience for Chad. Fly fishing, climbing and backpacking are now Chad's top priorities. Chad's Top Gear Picks |
CLIMBING/KAYAKING RESUME
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