Roland is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of the Alpine Club & Calgary Mountain Club. In 2001 he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest (8,848m) and in 2009 to the summit of Mount Makalu (8,462m) without supplemental oxygen.
For more on Roland’s background please take a look at the article on EverestHistory.com and his interview on Mount Everest The British Story
Roland has written the following articles about organising expeditions:
The impetus behind starting The Mountain Company was an expedition Roland led to Broad Peak (Pakistan) in the summer of 2004 where two members in his team got to the true summit at 8,047m.
Over the last six years Roland has led groups on the majority of The Mountain Company’s portfolio of treks and expeditions. A summary of these trips are as follows:
2011: in December went on a recce trek to Mardi Himal and Kopra Ridge; in November led Mera Peak Expedition; led Lunana Snowman trek in Bhutan for second time; in August led K2 & Gondogoro La in Pakistan, in April/ May completed the crux section of The Great Himalaya Trail from Makalu to Everest crossing Sherpani Pass, West Col and Amphu Laptsa passes. In March visited Morocco for Jebel Sahro trek followed by a winter climb of Mount Toubkal.
2010: in December led a trek to Everest Base Camp for the charity Islamic Relief; in November led Mera Peak expedition (Roland’s fifth summit); in October led Dhaulagiri Circuit and in August led K2 & Gondogoro La trek; in May led a reconnaisance trek on a section of Great Himalaya Trail ("GHT") from Upper Dolpo to Jomsom; in April led Langtang and Laurebina La trek and in January led a group to the summit of Kilimanjaro following the Rongai route.
2009: summitted Mt Makalu (Nepal) 8,462m using no bottled oxygen or Sherpa support. Take a look at our Blog for the story of our summit day and summit photos. In Autumn he led his 4th successful expedition to Mera Peak then a trek to Everest Base Camp with a charity group.
2008: led Manaslu Circuit, Dhaulagiri Circuit via French Col, K2 & Gondogoro La, Lunana Snowman (complete Paro to Bumthang trek), Mera Peak and Charity Challenge to Everest Base Camp
2007: led K2 Base Camp (twice) and Mera Peak expedition
2006: led Everest North Col (Tibet), Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary, Bhutan Discovery, Stok Kangri expedition and Lamarayu trek, K2 Base Camp and Gondogoro La, Kanchenjunga Goecha La, Singalila Ridge, Charity Challenge to Everest Base Camp, Siklis trek and Langtang with Kianjin Gompa
2005: led Mera Peak expedition, Everest High Passes, Sikkim Discovery and Markha valley
2004: leader of an international expedition to Broad Peak (8,047m), Pakistan. More on this expedition at Everestnews.com & Explorersweb.com articles
2003: joined an expedition to the south face of Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Nepal. More on this expedition
2001: summited Mount Everest (8,848m) via the north east ridge from Tibet. More on this expedition
2000: summit of Kilimanjaro via the Umbwe/western breach route
1992: trekked around Nanda Devi, India (Curzon Trail and Kuari Pass)