Alan Hinkes OBE

Challenge 8000 man Alan Hinkes is due to be presented with an OBE this morning by Her Majesty The Queen.

The award, announced in the New Year's Honours List, is in recognition of his outstanding achievement in becoming the first Briton to ascend all 14 of the world's 8000-metre mountains last year when he finally summited Kangchenjunga.

The rather well known award follows on from the rather attractive cake presented to Alan at the British embassy in Kathmandu which depicted all of the 8000-ers in icing form. We don't have a pic of Alan with his OBE, but we do have one of the cake... It somehow seems, well, less formal.

Seriously though, well done Alan. It's good to see him getting some of the recognition he deserves for an achievement that's required not just a high level of mountaineering skill but also a sustained level of commitment and determination over a period of 18 years.

Alan comments: "I'm over the moon to receive an OBE. My Challenge 8000 aim has taken me over 18 years to achieve and to receive official recognition like this is a dream come true. I just want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout."

More information, including a video profile at www.berghaus.com and from the links to previous OM stories below.