Rick Ridgeway, the winner of Ulju Mountain Culture Awards 2017, is a highly recognized mountaineer and adventurer. He became the first American to summit K2 known as “Savage Mountain” without the use of supplemental oxygen and participated in the American Bicentennial Everest Expedition.
In addition, as a writer and filmmaker, he has been recording his expeditions by utilizing a variety of art forms including writing, photography, and film. He is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who has made about 20 self-directed, self-produced mountaineering documentaries so far.
National Geographic, one of the world’s best magazines, recognized his career contributions to adventure and exploration with its “Lifetime Achievement in Adventure”award.
Currently, he is working as an eco-friendly outdoor clothing brand Patagonia's Vice President of Environmental Affairs where he oversees vanguard environmental and sustainability initiatives upon recognizing the outdoor clothing and gear can harm nature.