World Record Climb Up Mt. Kilimanjaro
Webster resident Robert J. Wheeler becomes oldest person to reach mountain's summit by Linda Jarrett Robert J. Wheeler and his son Jack at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. photo courtesy of Robert Wheeler ( click for larger version ) What do octogenarians do to keep in shape? Swim? Run marathons? Not Webster Groves resident Robert J. Wheeler. He climbs mountains. Wheeler, 85, recently returned from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 19,340, and will soon be listed in the Guinness World Records as the oldest person to reach the summit. Enjoying a well-earned rest in his Webster Groves century home, Wheeler, who returned Oct. 7, said he wanted to "demonstrate to people that they don't have to become couch potatoes just because they're old." Wheeler gave two reasons for doing this particular climb. In 2010, he published a book, "Mountains and Minds," that alternates chapters wi