Mike Jones (canoeist)
Encyclopedia
Mike Jones QGM
was a 20th century canoeist known for his expeditions on the Blue Nile
and Dudh Kosi
.
, England
, he began kayaking
in November 1965 at age 14. He describes his first time on the water as an "exhilarating and exciting day, despite the fact that I spent more time capsizing and swimming than canoeing." That winter he learned to roll. In the following years he paddled local rivers such as the Wharfe
, Swale
, Ure
, Nidd
and Lune
.
and took part in his first expedition in 1969. It was led by 19 year old Jeff Slater whilst Slater was waiting to go to Cambridge University. The group paddled the River Inn. Jones was seventeen at the time and worked "feverishly" over a five week holiday to raise his contribution to the expedition's funds. They arrived at St. Moritz
in July after a warm up in Germany
and Austria
, described as a "baptism of fire". On arrival at the Inn, he soon realised why it had earned the title of the hardest stretch of water in Europe - it was in a steep gorge and from 1000 feet (304.8 m) above the rapids still appeared huge. The descent lasted five days, badly damaged eight kayaks, and nearly killed one team member.
In autumn 1971 Jones was an undergraduate studying medicine at Birmingham University. His life as a student appears to have consisted of juggling his studies and his canoeing. He would often miss Friday evening lectures to attend canoeing events countrywide: "The dedicated grind of medical study did not inspire me the way that countrywide canoeing competitions did."
, where the local bandits were as much of a threat as the river. Mike Jones turned twenty one on this expedition, huddled inside a wet sleeping bag and sleeping with a .45
revolver in his hand.
On return from the Blue Nile, Jones wanted to make the first descent of the Dudh Kosi
. This river, running down Mount Everest
, falls at approximately 280 ft/mi. By comparison, the man-made slalom course in Austria falls at 50 ft/mi, so this river was a great challenge. The team consisted of Mike Jones, Mick Hopkinson (part of the Blue Nile team), John Liddell, Robert (Bob) Hastings, Roger Huyton, Dave Manby
and John Gosling, the troubleshooter of the team. The expedition suffered many problems with finance and sponsorship, and several people declined any involvement as they felt the risk of dying was too great. A film was made of the descent and it was followed in the Observer colour magazine and HTV Cardiff. The canoes used on the descent were specially designed by Graham Mackereth of Pyranha Canoes, who are still very well known today.
Jones authored a book on the expedition titled "Canoeing Down Everest".
in Pakistan while trying to save a companion, for which he was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal
(QGM).
Queen's Gallantry Medal
The Queen's Gallantry Medal is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry...
was a 20th century canoeist known for his expeditions on the Blue Nile
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
and Dudh Kosi
Dudh Kosi
-Kosi river system:The Kosi or Sapt Kosi drains eastern Nepal. It is known as Sapt Koshi because of the seven rivers which join together in east-central Nepal to form this river. The main rivers forming the Kosi system are – the Sun Kosi, the Indravati River, the Bhola Kosi, the Dudh Kosi, the Arun...
.
Early life
Born in the early 1950s in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he began kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
in November 1965 at age 14. He describes his first time on the water as an "exhilarating and exciting day, despite the fact that I spent more time capsizing and swimming than canoeing." That winter he learned to roll. In the following years he paddled local rivers such as the Wharfe
River Wharfe
The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The name Wharfe is Celtic and means "twisting, winding".The valley of the River Wharfe is known as Wharfedale...
, Swale
River Swale
The River Swale is a river in Yorkshire, England and a major tributary of the River Ure, which itself becomes the River Ouse, emptying into the North Sea via the Humber Estuary....
, Ure
River Ure
The River Ure is a river in North Yorkshire, England, approximately long from its source to the point where it changes name to the River Ouse. It is the principal river of Wensleydale, which is the only one of the Dales now named after a village rather than its river...
, Nidd
River Nidd
The River Nidd is a tributary of the River Ouse in the English county of North Yorkshire. In its first few miles it is dammed three times to create Angram Reservoir, Scar House Reservoir and Gouthwaite Reservoir which attract around 150,000 visitors a year...
and Lune
River Lune
The River Lune is a river in Cumbria and Lancashire, England.It is formed at Wath, in the parish of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, at the confluence of Sandwath Beck and Weasdale Beck...
.
Early expeditions
He took up slalom canoeingSlalom canoeing
Whitewater Slalom is a competitive sport where the aim is to navigate a decked canoe or kayak through a course of hanging gates on river rapids in the fastest time possible. It is one of the two kayak and canoeing disciplines at the Summer Olympics, and is referred to by the International Olympic...
and took part in his first expedition in 1969. It was led by 19 year old Jeff Slater whilst Slater was waiting to go to Cambridge University. The group paddled the River Inn. Jones was seventeen at the time and worked "feverishly" over a five week holiday to raise his contribution to the expedition's funds. They arrived at St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
in July after a warm up in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, described as a "baptism of fire". On arrival at the Inn, he soon realised why it had earned the title of the hardest stretch of water in Europe - it was in a steep gorge and from 1000 feet (304.8 m) above the rapids still appeared huge. The descent lasted five days, badly damaged eight kayaks, and nearly killed one team member.
In autumn 1971 Jones was an undergraduate studying medicine at Birmingham University. His life as a student appears to have consisted of juggling his studies and his canoeing. He would often miss Friday evening lectures to attend canoeing events countrywide: "The dedicated grind of medical study did not inspire me the way that countrywide canoeing competitions did."
Blue Nile and Dudh Kosi
During the winter and spring of 1971/72 he was planning two more trips, and in June 1972 he was appointed team manager of British Universities Slalom and Whitewater Team, competing "with considerable success" in three international events in Europe in the summer of 1972. Within hours of completing milestone exams, he set off for Austria without even knowing the results. Jones' following expeditions included the Blue NileBlue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
, where the local bandits were as much of a threat as the river. Mike Jones turned twenty one on this expedition, huddled inside a wet sleeping bag and sleeping with a .45
.45 Colt
The .45 Colt cartridge is a handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It began as a black powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but is offered as a magnum level handgun hunting round in modern usage. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as the...
revolver in his hand.
On return from the Blue Nile, Jones wanted to make the first descent of the Dudh Kosi
Dudh Kosi
-Kosi river system:The Kosi or Sapt Kosi drains eastern Nepal. It is known as Sapt Koshi because of the seven rivers which join together in east-central Nepal to form this river. The main rivers forming the Kosi system are – the Sun Kosi, the Indravati River, the Bhola Kosi, the Dudh Kosi, the Arun...
. This river, running down Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
, falls at approximately 280 ft/mi. By comparison, the man-made slalom course in Austria falls at 50 ft/mi, so this river was a great challenge. The team consisted of Mike Jones, Mick Hopkinson (part of the Blue Nile team), John Liddell, Robert (Bob) Hastings, Roger Huyton, Dave Manby
Dave Manby
David "Dave" Manby is a well known canoeist or kayaker from the UK and was a national champion in slalom canoeing C-1. He is considered a pioneer in the sport of canoeing and is probably best known for being involved on the British expedition of the first descent of the Dudh Kosi river.- Early life...
and John Gosling, the troubleshooter of the team. The expedition suffered many problems with finance and sponsorship, and several people declined any involvement as they felt the risk of dying was too great. A film was made of the descent and it was followed in the Observer colour magazine and HTV Cardiff. The canoes used on the descent were specially designed by Graham Mackereth of Pyranha Canoes, who are still very well known today.
Jones authored a book on the expedition titled "Canoeing Down Everest".
Death
Jones died in 1978 on the Braldu RiverBraldu River
The Braldu River is located in the Himalayan range and runs off the K2 Mountain.- Kayaking :The Braldu is considered to be extreme white water. The first attempt to kayak the river was a British expedition led by Mike Jones. It was on that expedition that Jones lost his life trying to rescue a...
in Pakistan while trying to save a companion, for which he was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal
Queen's Gallantry Medal
The Queen's Gallantry Medal is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry...
(QGM).
External links
- Dudh Kosi film (ISBN 0-9708169-2-8)
- Dudh Kosi film recap
- Jones' Blue Nile in Top 10 Contemporary River Expeditions article