1967
Rick White begins his climbing career with a solo ascent of Prometheus II on Tibrogargan, Queensland
1969
Starts an importing, wholesale and mail order business for climbers called Infinity Equipment in Brisbane, Queensland
Mostly operated from the proverbial suitcase under the sofa
1970
name changes to Odin Equipment Company
1972
opens Rick’s Mountain Shop, a part-time retail store in the Brisbane suburb of Taringa
Rick White leads Australia’s first Grade 22 rockclimb, Valhalla on Mt Maroon, Queensland
1973
Rick is a member of the first Australian team to climb El Capitan in California’s Yosemite Valley
1974
Rick leads the first Australian climbing expedition to Patagonian Argentina
1975
co-founds Mountain Designs, with fellow climber Mike Meadows, to manufacture tents and down sleeping bags
Rick resigns from job as technical officer with CSIRO, to concentrate on business full time
encouraged Henry Barber's first visit to Australia, a visit often credited as the stimulus of modern Australian climbing
1976
Rick makes the first hammerless ascent of Lord Gumtree (M7) on Mt Buffalo in Victoria
1977
Rick makes the second ascent of the sixth pitch of El Capitan’s Pacific Ocean Wall
????
Business growth necessitates a move to larger premises in Kelvin Grove
Odin Equipment Company, Rick’s Mountain Shop and Mountain Designs are merged, forming the umbrella company Mountain Experience
????
Move again to a two storey location in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Retail arm retains the Mountain Experience name
Importing, manufacturing and wholesale distribution is now a separate company. Mountain Design Pty Ltd
1979
opened a second retail store in Sydney
Together with Paddy Pallin becomes one of the first Australian companies to import Gore-Tex fabrics
1980
first unroped, solo ascent of Balls Pyramid, near Lord Howe Island
1981
opened a third retail store in Melbourne
Rick White makes first ascent, alpine style, of Himalayan peak, the East Pillar of Shivling, with Doug Scott and Greg Child
1991
a long-time financier collaspes leaving Rick with debts and a company out of his control
2001
Mountain Designs has new proprietor in Greg Nunn
2004
Rick White succumbs to cancer (26 Nov) after also spending 12 years fighting the muscle-wasting disease - inclusion body myositis
2005
The Rick White Foundation is established by Rick's widow Jane, to support aspiring Australian climbers
Mountain Designs now