Douglas Keith Scott CBE is an English mountaineer noted for the first ascent of the southwest face of Mount Everest on 24 September 1975, on an expedition led by Chris Bonington. Scott and Dougal Haston were the first Britons to climb Everest (Ed Hillary was a Kiwi).

Doug has made 45 expeditions to the high mountains of Asia. He has reached the summit of 40 peaks, of which half were climbed by either new routes or for the first time in Alpine Style. Apart from his climb up Everest, he has made all his climbs in lightweight or Alpine Style, without the use of supplemental oxygen. He has reached the highest peaks on all seven continents – “the seven summits.” He is a past President of the Alpine Club. He was made a CBE in 1994. In 1999 he received the Royal Geographical Society Patron’s Gold Medal, and in 2011 received the Piolet d’Or (Golden Ice Axe), one of mountaineering’s highest honours; a special award for his Lifetime Achievement to mountaineering – his personal style and climbs were described as “visionary”

During Scott’s climbing career, his understanding of the culture and the people in the regions where he climbed grew as he formed strong bonds and relationships.

He founded the charity Community Action Nepal (CAN) which helps to bring long term benefits to the resourceful and proud Nepalese mountain people. CAN has established more than 50 community projects focusing on health, water and sanitation, schools, education and cultural development.

CAN is one of our valued Himalayan Associates / Partners.