Roger Baxter-Jones

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Roger Baxter-Jones (1950 to 1985, born in London), was a British mountaineer, skier and alpine guide. He was an early pioneer in Himalayan alpine style ascents of eight-thousander mountains, and a guide in Chamonix, noted for his competence and vast experience. [1] Paul Nunn wrote "One of Britain's leading mountaineers, a member of the ACG Committee for years, and certainly one of the strongest ever, he was a top off-piste skier, and a mountaineer of impeccable judgment, able to guide on routes of the highest standards with a considerable margin." [2]

Contents

Notable ascents

His notable ascents in the French Alps include the second ascent of the Whymper Spur Direct on the Grandes Jorasses with Nick Colton; and the first winter ascent (solo) of the North Face of the Aiguille des Grands Charmoz. [2] [3] [4]

His notable Himalayan ascents include Jannu, Makalu II, [5] Makalu (unsuccessful), Shisha Pangma, [6] Broad Peak, K2 (unsuccessful). Baxter-Jones' golden rule "Come back alive, come back as friends, get to the top — in that order" was well respected amongst elite climbers. [7]

Baxter-Jones climbed with many of the premiere alpinists of his time including Doug Scott (who said of Baxter-Jones: "All the partners I've had who I really rated have gone"), Georges Bettembourg and Alex MacIntyre. [8] [9]

Baxter-Jones and Scott's ascent of Broad Peak was the subject of the 1984 film Himalaya - 8000 mètres sans oxygène by Jean Afanassieff. [10]

Death

He died on 8 July 1985 aged 35 while guiding a client, when a serac collapsed on the north face of the Triolet. [2]

The Doug Parker and Roger Baxter-Jones Memorial Scholarship was established at the American Mountain Guides Association to honor his memory. [11]

Personal life

Roger Baxter-Jones married Christine Comte, and had a daughter, the actress Melanie Baxter-Jones  [ fr ]. [12] [ circular reference ]

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References

  1. Rose, David (19 August 1985). "Reaching the tragic heights of obsession". The Guardian. p. 19. ProQuest   186695761.
  2. 1 2 3 Nunn, Paul (1986). "In Memoriam" (PDF). Alpine Journal: 283–284. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. Scott, Doug (1981). "Asia, Nepal, Makalu Attempt, Makalu II Ascent". American Alpine Journal. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. Scott, Doug; MacIntyre, Alex (24 November 2016). Shishapangma The alpine-style first ascent of the south-west face. Vertebrate Publishing. p. 250. ISBN   978-1-911342-18-2 . Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  5. "British team scales Himalayan peak". The Times of India. 27 October 1980. p. 13. ProQuest   747131555.
  6. Club, American Alpine (May 2000). American Alpine Journal, 1983. The Mountaineers Books. ISBN   978-0-930410-21-6.
  7. Twight, Mark (15 January 2002). Kiss Or Kill: Confessions of a Serial Climber. The Mountaineers Books. ISBN   978-0-89886-887-6.
  8. Scott, Doug (22 March 1992). "Tiptoeing into the lap of the gods: Interview". The Observer. p. 55. ProQuest   477502774.
  9. Gogorza, Óscar (29 December 2019). "El alpinista que no quiso ser oveja". El País (in Spanish). ISSN   1134-6582 . Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  10. "Himalaya - 8000 mètres sans oxygène". MNTN Film. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  11. "The Doug Parker and Roger Baxter-Jones Memorial Scholarship". American Mountain Guides Association. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  12. "Melanie Baxter-Jones".