{"id":93163,"date":"2019-11-05T11:56:33","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T19:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=93163"},"modified":"2025-11-20T19:33:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T03:33:00","slug":"scene-from-the-film-return-to-mount-kennedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/climb\/scene-from-the-film-return-to-mount-kennedy","title":{"rendered":"Scene From the Film: ‘Return to Mount Kennedy’"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1965, Jim Whittaker, former REI Co-op CEO and the first American to summit Mount Everest, led Senator Robert F. Kennedy to the top of a mountain. There, they claimed the first ascent of a remote Canadian peak named after the senator\u2019s late brother, former President John F. Kennedy. Exactly half a century later, in 2015, their sons\u2014a grunge band manager, a gubernatorial candidate and a seasoned mountaineer\u2014followed in their footsteps. But the story of \u201cReturn to Mount Kennedy,\u201d a feature-length documentary from director Eric Becker\u00a0is that and more.<\/p>\n

The inspiration for the movie began as a way to celebrate filial connections and time spent outdoors. But as Becker began filming, Bob Whittaker, one of Jim Whittaker’s sons and RFK’s namesake, quickly became the documentary’s focal point.<\/p>\n

In addition to telling the story of the fiftieth anniversary climb staged by Bob Whittaker, Leif Whittaker and Christopher Kennedy, the film travels back in time to when Bob was immersed in the \u201990s Seattle grunge scene, serving as the band manager for Mudhoney. Famed musicians of that era, including Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Matt Lukin of Mudhoney, also play a role in the film, contributing music, archival band footage, and an abiding love of their great friend, Bob Whittaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like a rock \u2019n\u2019 roll film about climbing the mountains,\u201d Becker said. \u201cPeople come up to me and say, \u2018That\u2019s not what I expected it to be, it\u2019s so much better.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

In the following scene, we get a taste for how Becker merges music and mountaineering. Here, Bob Whittaker begins his training, surprising himself and his friends\u2014Vedder and Lukin\u2014in the process. Equal parts profound and comical, the clip offers a window into the rest of the film.<\/p>\n