Phil ershler biography
- He has survived several physical threats, including Crohn's disease and cancer, but they never stopped him from climbing, because that is when he feels at his best.
- Phil began guiding in 1971 while a sophomore at Whitman College.
- Phil and Susan Ershler live in Kirkland, Washington.
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Ageless mountain men: Rainier guides don't seem to get old
by Craig Hill; The News Tribune
Susan Ershler laughs as her husband, Phil Ershler, signs "Together on Top of the World," their book about climbing the world's seven highest peaks. At 57, he is the oldest guide on Mount Rainier. (Janet Jensen, The News Tribune)
Mountain guiding is physically demanding, time consuming and occasionally dangerous work. It's more often a young-person's summer job than an established man's career. "It's a profession that most people get out of when they get married or have children," said Craig Van Hoy, a guide for Seattle's Alpine Ascents International.
"Most guides are in their 20s or maybe 30s."
But Van Hoy, 50, is one of the few who never let age keep him from his passion. He's been leading climbers up 14,411-foot Mount Rainier since the 1970s and is AAI's oldest guide. And he doesn't plan on stopping any time soon.
Neither do Phil Ershler, 57, and Gary Talcott, 55, the oldest guides at International Mountain Guides and Rainier Mountaineering Inc., respectively.
"There is physical
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Phil Ershler International Mountain Guides Retired Partner
About Phil Ershler
Phil began guiding in 1971 while a sophomore at Whitman College. He remained one of America's more active guides for the next 4+ decades, leading trips from Everest to Antarctica, Denali to South America.
Along the way, he managed to lead nearly 450 successful ascents of Mt. Rainier.
Retirement was made official in December 2022 when he turned over his interest in IMG to partner, Eric Simonson. Not often does someone get to make their avocation into their vocation. Above all else, he'll remember the successes shared and the friendships formed with the thousands of climbers with whom he shared a rope. Life doesn't get much better.
To learn more about Phil and his career, check out the following:
Phil Ershler Features
Wickwire's 1983 American Alpine Journal story of IMG directors Eric Simonson, Phil Ershler and Geo Dunn's first Everest expedition »
News Tribune: Ageless Mountain Men »
US Air Force: Air Force Seven Summits Team heads to Antarctic
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Phil Ershler
Tempting fate
Maria Zone (1997)
The second episode of the 2 part series 'Everest: Mountain of dreams, mountain of doom', explores the triumphant (and tragic) expeditions of the modern era and takes an in-depth view of the terrible events of 1996, the deadliest year in the history of Mount Everest. From George Mallory to the 1996 tragedy, the series explores the major personalities and expeditions covering an 80-year span. The first episode, titled 'The Quest', includes the incredible stories of the early climbers, including George Leigh Mallory and Sir Edmund Hillary's legendary summit climb, and much more.
USA / 53 min
Tempting fate
Maria Zone
The second episode of the 2 part series 'Everest: Mountain of dreams, mountain of doom', explores the triumphant (and tragic) expeditions of the modern era and takes an in-depth view of the terrible events of 1996, the deadliest year in the history of Mount Everest. From George Mallory to the 1996 tragedy, the series explores the major personalities and expeditions covering an 80-year span
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