About Summit Guides
Summit Guides was founded by Pete Rowlands. Pete has been an active rock climber and mountaineer for over twenty years. First introduced to the outcrops of Derbyshire he quickly progressed on to the challenges of the bigger mountain crags. Throughout his teens he became very focused on performance rock climbing and achieved high standards both on the crags and in competitions.
It was in his late teens that he was first introduced to Scottish winter climbing. This is an enduring passion of Petes and has equipped him with the mountaineering skill to climb some of the European Alps greatest challenges.
Pete first visited the Alps in the late nineties and hasn’t missed a season since. Key achievements include the North Face of the Eiger, North face of the Dru, Walker Spur, West Pillar of the Scheidegg Wetterhorn and many more.
In addition to climbing achievements in both summer and winter conditions Pete is a fanatical skier and ski mountaineer.
Pete is a member of the British Mountain Guides and holds full IFMGA status. In addition he is also a holder of the Mountain Instructor Certificate.
What is a mountain Guide
A Mountain Guide is someone with the IFMGA carnet, the highest qualification in the world for leading people in the mountains, whether skiing, climbing or mountaineering. A BMG Guide holds the IFMGA carnet, which is the only UK qualification valid abroad for climbing and skiing off-piste on glacial terrain.
Mountain Guides come in many shapes and sizes – the one thing they have in common is their passion for the mountains. Wherever they live and work, they will have a mass of experience, from rock climbing to Scottish winter, mountaineering and skiing all over the Alps, and experience of difficult climbs and remote mountains in other ranges around the world.
A Mountain Guide’s mountaineering background is consolidated with a rigorous training and assessment course lasting up to 5 years, with an apprenticeship period working alongside experienced Mountain Guides for 2 years before being finally certified to lead people in the mountains. Regular professional development training keeps Mountain Guides up to date with the latest techniques and standards.
In short, Mountain Guides are international mountain experts.
Pete is attached to the British Forces as a Civilian Instructional Officer where he provides expert advice on mountaineering. He is responsible for the delivery of training and assessment courses for the Joint Service Mountain Training Centre.