Meet Hulda Crooks, the Canadian-born 'Grandma Whitney' who climbed Mount Fuji at 91, conquered Mount Whitney 23 times and had a mountain named after her

The 91-year-old Hulda Crooks, a Canadian-born American mountaineer and a nutrition researcher and fitness advocate, is making waves online for achieving extraordinary climbing feats in her later years. Nicknamed "Grandma Whitney," she broke stereotypes about ageing by climbing some of the world's toughest mountains well into her 90s.

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Hulda Crooks didn't discover mountaineering until later in life

Born in 1896 on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, Hulda Crooks eventually moved to California. She completed her education at Pacific Union College before pursuing dietetics at the College of Medical Evangelists, now known as Loma Linda University.


She later worked as a nutrition researcher and research assistant, contributing to studies on vegetarian diets and public health.

It was only after middle age that weekend walks in California's San Bernardino Mountains slowly turned into a lifelong passion for hiking and mountaineering. By her mid-50s, she was regularly exploring mountain trails.

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Then, in 1962, at the age of 66, she completed her first ascent of 14,505-foot Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States.

Over the years, Crooks climbed 97 different peaks and completed the famous 212-mile John Muir Trail in stages, earning admiration from generations of hikers across California's Sierra Nevada.

Why was Hulda Crooks called 'Grandma Whitney'?

Most hikers dream of climbing Mount Whitney once. Hulda Crooks climbed it 23 times between the ages of 66 and 91.

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The achievement earned her the nickname "Grandma Whitney," as she repeatedly reached the summit while carrying her own backpack and often walking faster than people decades younger than her.

Standing just over five feet tall, Crooks became known for her incredible stamina and relentless determination. Her remarkable record attracted national attention because it challenged conventional ideas about ageing and physical limits.

The daily fitness routine that kept Hulda Crooks climbing into her 90s

Crooks believed consistency mattered more than age. She followed a disciplined exercise routine every day.

According to the Los Angeles Times, she woke before sunrise each morning, jogged a mile, walked briskly back home and completed strength exercises before beginning the rest of her day.

She even added jogging to her routine at the age of 70, believing it improved her climbing endurance.

By the time she turned 80, she had walked an astonishing 1,200 miles in a single year, showing that regular movement had become a lifelong habit rather than an occasional activity.

At 91, Hulda Crooks climbed Mount Fuji and made history

One of Crooks' biggest dreams was climbing Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. She fulfilled that dream on July 24, 1987, when she reached the summit at 91 years old, becoming the oldest woman to climb the iconic peak.

Mount Fuji achievement also earned national recognition.

According to the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, ABC World News Tonight named Hulda Crooks its "Person of the Week," turning the retired dietitian into an international symbol of healthy and active ageing.

A mountain was named after Hulda Crooks while she was still alive

Hulda Crooks' influence stretched far beyond mountaineering.

In 1990, an Act of Congress renamed Day Needle in California's Whitney region as Crooks Peak, making her one of the few living Americans to have a mountain named in her honour.

Her hometown also celebrated her achievements. The City of Loma Linda dedicated Hulda Crooks Park, while Loma Linda University established an award carrying her name to honour her lasting contributions.

Crooks remained physically active well into her 90s and continued encouraging people to exercise regularly, eat nutritious food and spend more time outdoors.

She lived to the age of 101, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire hikers, fitness enthusiasts and older adults around the world.

(With TOI inputs)