Kenton Cool is Britain’s most successful high-altitude mountaineer and mountain guide. He is one of a small group of IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides) accredited guides in the UK, via the BMG – an accreditation that holds worldwide recognition.
Kenton is best known for his record-breaking 17 ascents of Mount Everest (only a handful of Sherpas claim more ascents of the world’s highest mountain), although he is also notable for his many other mountaineering successes: the only Briton to have skied down two 8,000m mountains; the first person in history to achieve the ‘Everest Triple Crown’ in 2013 (summiting Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse in one single push from basecamp, remaining unrepeated until May 2023); the first British guide to successfully lead a client to the summit of K2; and the first non-Asian to summit Everest twice in one week. He was nominated for a Piolet D’Or award (climbing’s equivalent of an Oscar) in 2003 for his daring first ascent of Annapurna III, South West Ridge in Nepal. He has successfully climbed ‘the seven summits’ and talks passionately about his experiences to global audiences, from groups of school children to leaders of organisations worldwide.
Kenton has had a hugely significant impact and influence on the world of mountaineering.