Dave Rearick
Encyclopedia
Dave Rearick is an American
rock climber and mathematician
. A pioneer of Yosemite's golden age of climbing, Rearick - frequently climbing with Bob Kamps
– was instrumental in shifting the focus from aid climbing
to free climbing
in the 1950s.
Rearick and Royal Robbins
climbed the Vampire at Tahquitz Rock in California
in 1959; though some aid was used (not eliminated until 1973), the route required 5.10
climbing, exceptionally difficult for the times. A year later the team of Robbins and Rearick established Yosemite's first 5.10 climb: the East Chimney of Rixon's Pinnacle.
In August 1960, Kamps and Rearick made the first ascent of the Diamond, the massive headwall on the east face of 14255 feet (4,344.9 m) Longs Peak
, in Colorado
. Their ascent was reported in newspapers across America.
Rearick received a PhD in mathematics from Caltech about 1959. He became a mathematics professor at the University of Colorado
at Boulder
, retiring in the 1990s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock climber and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
. A pioneer of Yosemite's golden age of climbing, Rearick - frequently climbing with Bob Kamps
Bob Kamps
Bob Kamps was an American rock climber whose climbing career spanned five decades. Born in Wisconsin, he began climbing in California in 1955, and was a member of that cadre of Yosemite pioneers who first ascended many of its great walls in the 1950s and 1960s...
– was instrumental in shifting the focus from aid climbing
Aid climbing
Aid climbing is a style of climbing in which standing on or pulling oneself up via devices attached to fixed or placed protection is used to make upward progress....
to free climbing
Free climbing
Free climbing is a type of rock climbing in which the climber uses only hands, feet and other parts of the body to ascend, employing ropes and forms of climbing protection to prevent falls only....
in the 1950s.
Rearick and Royal Robbins
Royal Robbins
Royal Robbins is one of the pioneers of American rock climbing. After learning to climb at Tahquitz he went on to make first ascents of many big wall routes in Yosemite...
climbed the Vampire at Tahquitz Rock in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1959; though some aid was used (not eliminated until 1973), the route required 5.10
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
climbing, exceptionally difficult for the times. A year later the team of Robbins and Rearick established Yosemite's first 5.10 climb: the East Chimney of Rixon's Pinnacle.
In August 1960, Kamps and Rearick made the first ascent of the Diamond, the massive headwall on the east face of 14255 feet (4,344.9 m) Longs Peak
Longs Peak
Longs Peak is one of the 53 mountains with summits over 14,000 feet in Colorado. It can be prominently seen from Longmont, Colorado, as well as from the rest of the Colorado Front Range. It is named after Major Stephen Long, who explored the area in the 1820s...
, in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Their ascent was reported in newspapers across America.
Rearick received a PhD in mathematics from Caltech about 1959. He became a mathematics professor at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
at Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, retiring in the 1990s.