author
Owen Glynne Jones
1867–1899
A bold pioneer of British rock climbing, he helped turn scrambling into a more daring, technical sport in the late 1800s. His writing captured both the thrill of the mountains and the early spirit of modern climbing.
1 Audiobook
Rock-climbing in the English Lake District Third Edition
by Owen Glynne Jones
About the author
Born in London on November 2, 1867, and Welsh by family background, Owen Glynne Jones became one of the standout climbers of his generation. He taught at the Central Higher Grade School in Birmingham, but he was best known for his adventures on rock and snow, especially in the Lake District, where he opened new routes and built a reputation for energy, nerve, and originality.
Jones climbed with several important partners, including the brothers George and Ashley Abraham, whose photographs helped preserve the look and feel of this early climbing era. He was also active in the growing climbing community, serving on the first committee of the Climbers' Club and joining the Alpine Club.
He is remembered not only for his climbs but also for his book Rock-climbing in the English Lake District, which became a classic of mountaineering writing. His life was cut short when he died in the Alps on August 28, 1899, during an ascent of Dent Blanche in Switzerland, but his influence on British climbing lasted long after his death.