Billy Westbay was an American rock climber, known for his ascents of El Capitan in California. [1]
Westbay worked as a climbing ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park, and was known for his skills in mountain rescue. [1] He was a skilled and adventurous climber, and was part of the climbing scene that had gathered around Lumpy Ridge. [2]
Westbay was a member of the Stonemasters, an influential group of climbers in California who gathered in locations such as the Yosemite Mountains. [3]
Together with Jim Bridwell, and John Long, Westbay made the first one-day ascent of the Nose of El Capitan in 1975.[ citation needed]
Westbay died on 29 July 2000, of bladder cancer at the age of 47. [1] Some of Billy's ashes were taken and released on top of Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado in the summer of 2004.