Joe Brown (climber)

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Joe Brown (2006)

Joseph "Joe" Brown , CBE (born September 26, 1930 in Manchester , † April 15, 2020 in Llanberis ) was a British climber and mountaineer . He achieved over 100 first ascents and the establishment of more than 600 climbing routes in Europe, Africa, Alaska, South America and Asia.

From 1951 to 1955 he formed a successful rope team with Don Whillans , who achieved numerous difficult routes and first ascents in the UK, especially in Snowdonia and the Peak District . In the summer of 1954 they succeeded in France with the "Engländerführe", today's most famous ascent through the west face of the Aiguille de Blaitière ( 3522  m ) and the third ascent of the Petit Dru ( 3733  m ), which is the first British ascent and the up to then acted fastest.

He gained worldwide attention with the first ascent of the Kangchenjunga ( 8586  m ) in the Himalayas on May 25, 1955 with George Band . It was the first 8000er climbed by a British rope team. An Indian expedition was not able to climb the mountain again until 1977.

In the summer of 1956, Brown also succeeded with Tom Patey , John Hartog and Ian McNaught-Davis the first ascent of the Muztagh Tower ( 7273  m ) in the Karakoram . In July 1976 he took part in the first ascent of the Trango Tower ( 6251  m ) in Pakistan. He was accompanied by Mo Anthoine, Martin Boysen and Malcom Howells.

Brown's shop in Capel Curig

Brown, who grew up in Manchester with six siblings and no father, opened a climbing shop with his wife in Llanberis in 1966 , which was followed a few years later by another in Capel Curig . In 2010 a third shop was opened in Llanberis. After being named Member of the British Empire for his achievements , he was promoted to Commander of the British Empire in 2011 . In 2001 his autobiography The Hard Years was published . Brown died in Llanberis, Welsh in April 2020 at the age of 89.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Climbing Pioneer Joe Brown dies aged 89 . Article by Nick Brown from April 16, 2020 on ukclimbing.com (English)