We are hitting our first OH article for 2026 with a bang! We are delighted to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Barney Collins (K 87), who has successfully completed an extraordinary mountaineering challenge in Ecuador.

After leaving Haileybury, Barney took a gap year, working in the Netherlands and on a kibbutz in Israel, before attempting to travel the length of Africa, from Egypt to South Africa. He made it as far as Zimbabwe before he ran out of time, but the journey sparked a lifelong interest in purpose-led adventure and exploration.

With his works core value of “never in our comfort zone”, he set out to fly the Map Room & Bateman Collins flags from what is, from a certain point of view, the highest point on Earth.

While Mount Everest may be the highest above sea level, Mount Chimborazo, due to the Earth’s equatorial bulge, is actually the point farthest from the Earth’s centre, reaching further into space than Everest itself and sitting closest to the sun without leaving the planet’s surface.

Despite a fear of heights and a tendency towards altitude sickness, this challenge was taken on head-first, driven by a belief in truly living one’s values.

Following weeks of preparation and acclimatisation in Ecuador, including multiple high-altitude climbs, the expedition culminated in successful ascents of Cotopaxi and, finally, Mount Chimborazo itself. An incredible physical and mental feat.

With the support of an exceptional guiding team, determination, and resilience, this adventure stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we step beyond our comfort zones.

Congratulations on an inspiring journey and achievement!