My Old Man and the Mountain – Book Trailer 2017
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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.
My Old Man and the Mountain 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.
— Excerpt from My Old Man and the Mountain, by Leif Whittaker —
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.
This film was created by Leif Whittaker and Freya Fennwood using footage provided by Eddie Bauer. Modern footage was captured on Mount Everest in 2010 and 2012 by cinematographers Michael Brown, Kent Harvey, and Ken Sauls. Archival footage was captured in 1963 by members of the American Mount Everest Expedition. Still photographs from Freya Fennwood, Leif Whittaker, and the Whittaker family archives. Script for the voice over was adapted from sections of My Old Man and the Mountain. Narrated by Leif Whittaker. Edited by Freya Fennwood.