Grandma Whitney: Queen of the Mountain

Hulda Crooks was born in Saskatchewan in 1896, where physically demanding farm work became part of her childhood routine. Impressed that she needed an education, she left her Canadian farm and began the rigorous climb from fifth grade to a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics. She struggled with health problems over the next 25 years, which eventually caused her to reevaluate her diet and exercise habits.

With the encouragement of her husband, she began climbing mountains near their South...