Lou Whittaker: Memoirs of a Mountain Guide (Paperback)

~ (Author), Andrea Gabbard (Author) "My brother Jim and I were wombmates..." (more)
Key Phrases: friction wrap, swami belt, rope team, Mount Rainier, Camp Muir, Jim Wickwire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

BEST LOOP HIKES: NEW HAMPSHIRE

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (July 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898864593
• ISBN-13: 978-0898864595
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #766,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book to read in your tent, alone along the trail, May 28, 2000

By	Robert P Lutz (Hayward, California) - See all my reviews

I purchased the paperback version of this fine book in the Fall of 1998, and packed it along with me for several nights on a solo backpacking trip through the California Redwoods. The autumn nights in November were long and dark, and Lou Whittaker's book made for some marvelous reading out there, alone in my tent along the trail...read the entire book cover-to-cover by flashlite, and it was a thriller...accompanied by real and imagined sounds that went "thump" in the night! Must admit though, I'm a bit prejudiced, as I had the good fortune of meeting Lou Whittaker in person near the summit of Mount Rainier in 1970, and came to greatly admire the fellow. Reading his new book for the first time was like reuniting with an old friend after a long absence. Definitely a MUST READ for anyone looking for a good book to take with them, along the trail.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great life in climbing and beyond, October 1, 1999

By A Customer

I enjoyed Lou Whittaker's blunt and simple approach to climbing (and life). As someone who has been an occasional climber in the Pacific NW his experiences were very vivid to me. The ease with which he accomplished climbs on the mountain compared to my own struggles climbing leave me in awe of the man. I also read Jim Wittaker's book recently (published five years after Lou's) and found it interesting, but very similar to Lou's book. I suppose that can't be avoided - their stories are so interwoven.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Memoir, June 21, 2001

By	Tim Schmidt (Washington) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As the title says, this is the Memoir of a Mountain Guide. Actually it is the memoir of one of America's first and greatest mountain guides. It is truly a fascinating, well-written story but it is not adventure writing. Do not expect the detail or suspense of John Krakauer, Art Davidson, Heinrich Harrer, or Maurice Herzog. It reads more like sitting down across the table with Lou and having him tell you his story over a couple of beers. This is probably because it is the result of Lou telling his story to Andrea Gabbard who in turn wrote the book.

Lou's story is much different than many of the great mountaineers. While he obviously pushed himself to the top of some of the world's tallest and most difficult peaks, since his near fall on Mount Index in Washington he remained a more conservative climber not willing to trade his life for any mountain summit. In fact, he makes the point of saying the last place he wants to die is on a mountain; he wants to die old sitting in his chair watching TV. Also, as expedition leader, he viewed success as putting team members on the summit and this often did not include himself.

In addition to his story, his climbs, and his life as a mountain climber and guide, he gives a detailed description of Mount Rainier and a historical view of how mountain climbing progressed over the years. Probably the best thing of all though, is the look at a person's life who dedicated themselves to following a passion rather than relegating it to a weekend hobby; it was a long career in the making for him, but it shows that we can make our lives what we want if only we have the courage, persistence, and dedication to try.