May 30, 2022

RICK RIDGEWAY

Mountaineering to conservation, K2 to Patagonia

Guest Info

Rick Ridgeway is an outdoor adventurer, writer and advocate for sustainability and conservation initiatives. For 15 years, Rick was the VP of Environmental Affairs and then VP of Public Engagement at Patagonia, Inc. In addition, Rick is recognized as one of the world’s foremost mountaineers. With three companions, he was the first American to summit K2, which at over 28,000 feet is the world’s 2nd highest peak after Everest and is located on the China-Pakistan border. Rick has done other significant climbs and explorations on all continents. He has written seven books, many magazine stories and produced and directed dozens of television shows. National Geographic honored him with its “Lifetime Achievement in Adventure” award.

Photo credit: @John Roskelley (Rick is pictured on the summit of K2, September 1978, the first American ascent and first ascent without oxygen).

Show Notes

Rick Ridgeway (August 12, 1949) is an outdoor adventurer, writer and advocate for sustainability and conservation initiatives. For 15 years, Rick was the VP of Environmental Affairs and then VP of Public Engagement at Patagonia, Inc. During his tenure he has worked with teams to develop and launch environmental and sustainability initiatives including Freedom to Roam, the Footprint Chronicles, the Responsible Economy Campaign and Worn Wear. He also was founding chairman of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, developer of the Higg Index and today the largest apparel, footwear and home textile trade organization in the world.

In addition, Rick is recognized as one of the world’s foremost mountaineers. With three companions, he was the first American to summit K2, and he has done other significant climbs and explorations on all continents. He has written seven books, many magazine stories and produced and directed dozens of television shows. National Geographic honored him with its “Lifetime Achievement in Adventure” award.

In corporate sustainability, he is emeritus board member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and on the board of its for-profit arm, HiggCo. In conservation, he serves on the boards of Tompkins Conservation, the Turtle Conservancy, One Earth and the Kiewit Family Foundation. Rick lives in Ojai, California, and has three children and four grandchildren.

Resources:
https://higg.com/

Rick’s book recommendations:
Wind, Sand and Stars (de Saint-Exupery)
Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Lawrence)
Uttermost Part of the Earth (Bridges)
Out of Africa (Dinesen)
Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life (Melville)
Annapurna (Herzog)
South (Shackleton)
The Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, the Crossing, Cities of the Plain (McCarthy)
The Red Badge of Courage (Crane)
Cloud Forest: a Chronicle of the South American Wilderness (Matthiessen)
The Snow Leopard (Matthiessen)