Richard McGowan
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" McGowan was an American
explorer, mountaineer
, and entrepreneur, who helped start the modern adventure travel industry. He is best remembered today for his Mt. Everest expedition in 1955, during which he climbed the Khumbu Ice Fall, thus becoming the first American to set foot on Mt. Everest.
McGowan was a key figure in the development of modern outdoor gear, and was the first employee of Recreation Equipment Incorporated
(REI). He was managing partner of the outfitter Mountain Travel from 1976-1992. He left the firm after the merger that created industry leader Mountain Travel Sobek.
from the University of Washington
. McGowan is survived by his wife and long time business partner Louise, and children Richard Jr., Devi and Kili.
McGowan spent many years as a Director of the American Himalayan Foundation
, where he served with longtime friend Sir Edmund Hillary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
explorer, mountaineer
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
, and entrepreneur, who helped start the modern adventure travel industry. He is best remembered today for his Mt. Everest expedition in 1955, during which he climbed the Khumbu Ice Fall, thus becoming the first American to set foot on Mt. Everest.
McGowan was a key figure in the development of modern outdoor gear, and was the first employee of Recreation Equipment Incorporated
Rei
-People:*Rei, the Biblical term for those who retained their allegiance to King David when Adonijah rebelled, as mentioned in 1 Kings 1:8*Rei Hiroe*Rei Igarashi*Rei Kawakubo*Rei Kikukawa*Rei Mikamoto*Rei Munakata*Rei Okamoto*Rei Omishi...
(REI). He was managing partner of the outfitter Mountain Travel from 1976-1992. He left the firm after the merger that created industry leader Mountain Travel Sobek.
Expeditions
- Team member on 11 major expeditions, including the International Everest expedition in 1955. On this expedition, Dick was the first American to set foot on Mt. Everest itself, though the team did not reach the summit.
- First ascents of major peaks in AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Washington, Canada's YukonYukonYukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
and in Pakistan's KarakorumKarakorumKarakorum was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, and of the Northern Yuan in the 14-15th century. Its ruins lie in the northwestern corner of the Övörkhangai Province of Mongolia, near today's town of Kharkhorin, and adjacent to the Erdene Zuu monastery...
(K-1) - Ten years as chief guide on Mount RainierMount RainierMount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
. - Led the first guided climb on Mt. McKinley (a.k.a. Denali, the highest peak in North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
)
Personal life
McGowan grew up in Seattle, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in GeographyGeography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. McGowan is survived by his wife and long time business partner Louise, and children Richard Jr., Devi and Kili.
McGowan spent many years as a Director of the American Himalayan Foundation
American Himalayan Foundation
The American Himalayan Foundation is a US non-profit organization that helps Tibetans, Sherpas, and Nepalis living throughout the Himalayas. AHF builds schools, plants trees, trains doctors, funds hospitals, takes care of children and the elderly, and restores sacred sites...
, where he served with longtime friend Sir Edmund Hillary.