Fred Beckey

Fred Beckey, known simply as "Beckey" to his climbing companions, is an American climbing legend. His climbing resume is -- in a word -- prodigious. His name is synonymous with climbing in North America, particularly the North Cascades and the peaks of Alaska.

Born in Germany in 1923, he eventually landed in Seattle. He started climbing as a teenager, and after attending the University of Washington and earning a degree in business administration, he found work as a delivery truck driver, which left more time for climbing.

Beckey was an unconventional mountaineer, steering clear of large team efforts and preferring smaller alpine-style climbs. Beginning in the 1940s, he has more first ascents, has climbed more mountains and has explored more wilderness than probably anyone on the planet. Amazingly, he is still at it, having recently spent time climbing in Alaska at the age of 86.