Hilton Head Island: the obituary of James Whittaker

I saw a couple of days ago reports of the obituary of James Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest.

I know little of James Whittaker.  He probably was a good man, but he was a member of a team.  That he was the first American was decided by others, as was that Hillary, a part of another team, was the first ever to reach the top of the highest mountain on this small planet.

I doubt that there will be media obituaries of the first American who sailed alone around Cape Horn, which I suggest is a greater achievement than being a part of a team summiting Everest.   

No team. Risking everything he owned in the world including his own life, and he permitted no one else to decide.  He decided.