Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Mountain Designs History

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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

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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

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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