Peak Finder

Photo: Looking northwest to Jones Peak (left) and Nanga Parbat Mountain from Amiskwi Lodge (courtesy Glen Boles)

Jones Peak

  • 2990 m (9,810ft)
  • First Ascent
  • Naming History
51.6944N -116.850W
Located west of Mummery Glacier and west of the headwaters of Waitabit Creek; east of the upper Blaeberry River.

Province: BC
Headwater: Columbia
Ascent Date: 1952
Ascent Party: E.K. Karcher jr., Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Kauffman, J. Showacre
Year Named: 1952
Named by: A. J. Kauffman
Named for: Jones, Ken (Ken Jones was the first Canadian-born mountain guide.) Ken had suggested the first ascent of this peak but illness kept him in camp that day.

Jones Peak and Mount Karakal are high points along the ridge that connects Mount Mummery, to the south, with Nanga Parbat Mountain to the north-northwest. The headwaters of Waitabit Creek lie to the west of this ridge. "Ken Jones is a real guide, he takes people out, has them do more than they ever thought possible, and brings them home laughing and talking about an early start in the morning." Lizzie Rummel, a mountain legend in her own right, used these words to describe the man who completed two first ascents in the Vermilion Range during the summer of 1933. Born in Golden in 1910, Ken was raised on a homestead in the Columbia Valley and his experiences with Walter Feuz and Katie Gardiner in 1933 marked the beginning of a remarkable career as a mountain guide. The first alpine guides in the Rockies had been "imported" from Europe in the late nineteenth century and even thirty-five years later all the practicing guides were European. Ken was able, through hard work and a winning personality, to become the first Canadian born mountain guide. As well as being an alpine guide, his life has included becoming a civil engineer and working in the Yukon in the mining industry, becoming a pilot during World War II, training the legendary Lovet Scouts in mountain warfare, training to be a commando himself, becoming accomplished in the construction of log buildings, and studying polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba. In addition, from 1967 until 1974 he was the first warden of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. Ken was also a pioneer in the development of skiing in the Rockies. After literally making his own first pair of skis, Ken was a leader during the early years of skiing at Mount Assiniboine Lodge and Skoki. He entered competitions whenever he could including the Dominion Championships where he competed in cross country, jumping, slalom and downhill events. In the foreword to "Ken Jones, Mountain Man," his colleague and long time admirer Chic Scott wrote, "His life has been a wonderful adventure, shared with the most interesting and unique individuals in our mountain heritage." Jones Peak, a glacier draped mountain in the Mummery Icefield area is a fitting tribute. Ken was climbing in the area and suggested ascending the mountain. Illness kept Ken in camp but the others in his party climbed the mountain and one of them, Andy Kauffman, saw to it that the mountain was named after his friend. Ken resided in Nanton, Alberta with his family until his sudden death in 2004. He was a regular visitor to the Assiniboine and Skoki areas where he led visitors into the mountains he loved and knew so well. (see Foster Peak)

Photo: Looking northwest to Jones Peak from the Mummery Creek Bridge on the Blaeberry River Road.