At Whittaker Mountaineering, we have a passion for the outdoors and love living the mountain lifestyle. Mt. Rainier is our backyard; where we work, play and wear the gear we sell. Whether you’re heading to the top of the mountain or hitting the trails with the family, we carry a variety of gear for your mountain adventures. So stop by and say hello or reach out and let us know how we can help!
Peter Whittaker
Primary Decision Maker, Owner
Born into the First Family of American mountaineering, mountain climbing is in Peter Whittaker’s bloodline. His uncle Jim Whittaker was the first American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1963. His father Lou (Jim’s identical twin) founded RMI in 1969 and led the First American Ascent of the North Face of Everest in 1984.
Peter has been guiding and climbing for more than 40 years. He first climbed Mt. Rainier at the young age of 12, began guiding professionally at 16, and has logged 250+ ascents of Rainier since then. He has completed the Seven Summits and led more than 4,000 clients on hundreds of expeditions around the globe, from Rainier to Everest.
Kerry Whittaker
Chief Operating Officer
Kerry Samudio is the glue that holds us together. Kerry’s role covers a variety of areas from operations to marketing, accounting, admin and customer service.
With more than 25 years in marketing and business management, she is no stranger to teamwork and making things happen. Kerry is most at home in the mountains, whether snowboarding, hiking, or just playing in the backcountry.
Jake Muhlestein
Operations Manager
Having spent the first 18 years exploring all of the city life and natural places the east coast has to offer, Jake gradually made his way out west, stopping along the way for brief explorations of Colorado, Idaho, and Utah. With a degree in Recreation Management, Jake has worked for various outdoor start-up companies throughout his professional career and currently manages all operations for Whittaker Mountaineering. On his off days you can find him hiking, climbing, expanding his knowledge of glacier travel, and most of all spending time with his family.
Luke Hallstone
Buyer
Working in the outdoor industry for the last 15 years has been a dream come true for Luke. He is passionate about getting people outside to enjoy the wonderful places our country has to offer. He has lived in Washington his entire life, with Mt. Rainier being one of his favorite places on earth. His favorite activities include mountain climbing, backpacking, hiking, camping, and rock climbing. His current goal is to get his children to love the outdoors as much as possible.
Ben Luedtke
Resident Guide / Retail Lead
As a 3rd year RMI guide, Ben has travelled all over to obtain the necessary certifications to be the best mountain guide he can be and continues to do so today. Ben can always be found climbing new peaks, trail running, rock climbing, ice climbing, snowboarding, or hiking and backpacking with friends. Whenever he is not climbing with friends, his dog Echo is his companion. Echo loves the outdoors as much as Ben does. Outside of spending time in the mountains, Ben enjoys playing the drums, golfing, dancing, going on road trips, and meeting new people.
Kristian Whittaker
Growth Marketing Manager
Kristian is a senior at the University of Washington, studying International Environmental Policy and Entrepreneurship. He’s an avid split boarder, backpacker, photographer, cinematographer, and road-tripper who prefers sleeping under the stars to pretty much anything else. He loves the mountains, although he’s not sure if he really had a choice in that matter given his family history. Regardless, exploring wild places and working to protect them is Kristian’s favorite pastime, whether alone or with a few friends. When not in the outdoors, Kristian spends his time bar tending, reading, and thinking of ways to get back outside.