JOSIAH WHITNEY

Posthumous

Whitney (1819-1896) was the rare mix of outdoorsman and scientist, a member of the first climbing party to summit the highest point in the continental U.S., 14,497-foot "Mount Whitney."

As an outdoorsman, Whitney took part in the Brewer Expedition, in which a team of scientists surveyed 14,000 miles, on foot or horseback, and climbed every significant mountain in the state. Their survey covered not only geology and geography, but also botany, zoology and paleontology.

As a scientist, Whitney was legendary. He was appointed the state geologist for California in 1860 and was credited with determining that Lake Tahoe was created by a collapse of fault zones. The largest glacier on Mount Shasta also was named after Whitney.

A trip to Lake Tahoe, kayaking to Emerald Bay's boat-in campsites, an ice-cold try at water skiing and finding hidden Cascade Falls and other surprises are featured on "The Great Outdoors With Tom Stienstra" today at 10 a.m. on KBCW-44 (Bay Area Cable 12).

YVON CHOUINARD

Chouinard, 68, is best known as the founder of Patagonia, but he also helped invent the removable piton, a metal spike hammered into rocks and used to secure ropes, a landmark invention in the evolution of climbing.

He donates 1 percent of his sales, about $2.5 million per year, to protect and restore the environment. He is a skilled climber, surfer and flyfisher who parlayed his passion into Chouinard Equipment, which quickly became the largest supplier of climbing equipment in America.

In turn, he expanded the specialty outdoor clothing line and created Patagonia, which over 30 years has become one of the most successful and the most copied outdoor businesses in the world.

Memorable quote: "Most businessmen are corpses in suits."

BILL BEEBE

Beebe, 79, pioneered the investigative story among the nation's outdoors writers and yet also mastered the skills of wildlife photography, fishing and coastal boating. His career has had many milestones. A series of stories uncovered corruption between commercial netters and the Department of Fish and Game, and the United Anglers of Southern California awarded Beebe its highest honor for his "commitment to protect, restore and enhance" the fisheries of Southern California.

His photograph of President John F. Kennedy as the president returned from a swim in Santa Monica Bay was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1963 and is included in "The Best 50 Years of Life Magazine." As Southern California's dean of outdoors writers, Beebe has beat others to virtually every big news story in Southern California and mentored dozens of outdoors writers.

As a master at taking part in the outdoor experience and communicating it, Beebe helped shape the perceptions of a generation of outdoorsmen in Southern California.

Memorable quote, from Santa Barbara columnist Mike Moropoulos: "He carries the torch."

LAURIE BAGLEY

In May, Bagley, 45, became the 19th U.S. woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest via the North Col route in Tibet. She also summited Alaska's 20,320-foot Mount McKinley in 2005 and set a women's summit ascent speed record on 14,162-foot Mount Shasta, with a 7,000-foot vertical gain in 133 minutes.

Bagley has also served as a Class III-V rafting guide and has completed more than 50 marathons. She has managed these accomplishments with no commercial sponsors. At the same time, Bagley is the founder of Fit Maternity and Beyond, a leading proponent for the Breast Cancer Fund and has raised thousands of dollars for many benevolent organizations and causes, both in America and in third-world countries where she climbs.

Her Everest presentation, "Journey of Hope," has helped many transform their lives, and she also provides fitness coaching. She is currently climbing 22,841-foot Mount Aconcagua, South America's highest summit.

Memorable quote: "One step at a time."

BOB COOMBER

Coomber, 52, known as "Four Wheel Bob," has become a Bay Area legend for hiking the region's most rugged trails in a wheelchair. He gained national acclaim with his determination to become the first wheelchair hiker to ascend 14,000-foot White Mountain east of Bishop.

As an active youth, Coomber hiked, fished and aspired to become a police officer, but diabetes and debilitating osteoporosis ended that dream. At the age of 31, he was forced to use a wheelchair to get around. Coomber's love of the outdoors propelled him out of a serious depression and enabled him to set and reach goals that many deemed impossible, inspiring many others -- including those not in wheelchairs -- to do the same. He first gained national attention when featured on "The Early Show" on CBS.

Memorable quote: "No more excuses."