Kicking off OVS’s Guest Lecture Series for the year, legendary mountaineer, author and conservationist Rick Ridgeway had an important message for the students gathered in Boswell Hall in the newly opened Littlefield Student Commons: it’s not about the summit it’s about the footsteps to get there.
At 14 years old, Mr. Ridgeway saw an article featuring famous mountaineer Jim Whittaker and his accomplishment of climbing Mount Everest, and on that day he decided that he too would traverse the hardest peaks in the world. Fifteen years later Mr. Ridgeway would become the first American to summit K2, the second tallest and most technical mountain to climb in the world.
Mr. Ridgeway’s connection to OVS started with his daughter Cameron who attended Ojai Valley School’s Lower Campus for seventh and eight grade. Now his daughter is married to OVS Associate Director of Admissions Ted Tambakis, who asked Mr. Ridgeway to launch this year’s Guest Lecture Series.
Mr. Ridgeway has authored six books and for the past two years he has been working on his memoir, which will be his seventh book.
At 72, and after decades of mountaineering and adventuring, Rick has grounded himself. His memoir is essentially what his life has taught him and has been an outlet of reflection for Mr.Ridgeway. He will be embarking on his 2021-22 book tour after his memoir is released this coming October.
The attendants of Mr. Ridgeways presentation at OVS got the first sneak peek into the ideas and motivation surrounding his memoir.
“You guys didn’t know it but you guys are the guinea pigs for this presentation,” Ridgeway said, chuckling.
The auditorium was filled to the brim with students who are working to figure out where to go and what to do in their upcoming phases of life. Mr. Ridgeway’s words were powerful and inspiring for the group of young adults.
“To find fulfillment you have to make it not about you, you have to make it about goals bigger than you,” he said, delivering his final message. “That, that right there is the secret sauce.”