Rick White (rock climber)

Rick White (1946 – 26 November 2004) was an Australian rock climber, best known for discovering and developing the rock climbing destination of Frog Buttress near Boonah in Queensland, Australia.

During the late 1960s and 1970s, White and his friends pushed the physical, mental and technological limits of free and aid climbing, and dragged the Queensland climbing scene, kicking and screaming into the modern era. At the same time, climbing equipment was extremely hard to purchase in Australia, so he founded Mountain Designs as a way to import gear from the United States.

White was the first person to solo Ball's Pyramid in an impressive time of 1 hour and 45 minutes.^{[citation needed]} Many of his first ascents still challenge even the most talented climbers of today.

In his later years he developed a muscular disease that prevented him from climbing. He remained active in the climbing scene however, and coached a number of young competitive climbers such as Cass Crane.

He died in Winchester Hospital in the United Kingdom from cancer; his ashes were scattered from the top of the first route he did at Frog Buttress, 'Corner of Eden'.

External links

• Rick White Foundation