Willi Unsoeld | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | William Francis Unsoeld October 5, 1926 |
| Died | March 4, 1979 (aged 52) Mount Rainier, Washington, US |
| Alma mater | Oregon State University University of California, Berkeley University of Washington |
| Known for | First ascent of the West Ridge of Mount Everest |
| Notable work | Evergreen State College |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Awards | Hubbard Medal, National Geographic Society |
William Francis Unsoeld (October 5, 1926 – March 4, 1979) was an American mountaineer who was a member of the first American expedition to summit Mount Everest. The American Mount Everest Expedition was led by Norman Dyhrenfurth, and included Unsoeld, Jim Whittaker, Lute Jerstad, Barry Bishop and Tom Hornbein. Whittaker, with Sherpa Nawang Gombu, reached the summit on May 1, 1963.[1] Unsoeld, Hornbein, Bishop and Jerstad reached the top on May 22, 1963.[2] Unsoeld and Hornbein's climb was the first ascent from the peak's west ridge, and the first major traverse of a Himalayan peak. His subsequent activities included working as a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper, Peace Corps director in Nepal, speaker for Outward Bound, faculty member at Oregon State University[3] and The Evergreen State College and mountaineering guide. He died on Mount Rainier in an avalanche.
- ^ Ashley Strickland (24 May 2013). "Everest men: On top of the world in 1963". CNN. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ Climbing (17 May 2013). "Cast of Characters". Climbing Magazine. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ "Guide to the Willi Unsoeld Collection 1963–1979". Nwda-db.orbiscascade.org. 1979-03-04. Retrieved 2012-01-11.