Joe Brown (climber)

Joseph "Joe" Brown, CBE (b. 26 September 1930 in Manchester; † 15 April 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 United Kingdom, 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 was the first British ascent and the fastest up to then.

He gained worldwide attention with the first ascent of Kangchendzönga (8586 m) in the Himalayas on 25 May 1955 with George Band. This was the first 8000 m peak to be climbed by a British rope team. A new ascent of the mountain was only achieved in 1977 by an Indian expedition.

In the summer of 1956, Brown also made the first ascent of Muztagh Tower (7273 m) in the Karakorum with Tom Patey, John Hartog and Ian McNaught-Davis. In July 1976 he participated in the first ascent of Trango Tower (6251 m) in Pakistan. Mo Anthoine, Martin Boysen and Malcom Howells accompanied him.

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