About Kelly James
Lived 1958 – 2006 (aged 48). Kelly James was an American mountaineer.
Jeffrey Kelly James (February 2, 1958 – ) was one of three experienced mountain climbers who died on Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon in December 2006 in an incident that received worldwide attention.
Life James was a native of Dallas, Texas and a graduate of Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He was an accomplished landscape architect with his designs published in Metropolitan Home and Better Homes and Gardens. James was also a veteran mountaineer with more than 25 years experience climbing mountains including Mount McKinley, the Eiger, Alpamayo, and over 20 ascents of Mount Rainier.
Kelly's wife Karen James wrote a book Holding Fast: The Untold Story of the Mount Hood Tragedy about the accident.
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Important facts
People in Kelly James's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Kelly James's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Kelly James?
American mountain climber
When was Kelly James born?
Kelly James was born on 2 February 1958.
When did Kelly James die?
Kelly James died on 11 December 2006.
What was Kelly James's occupation?
Kelly James was a mountaineer.
What nationality was Kelly James?
Kelly James was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kelly James. https://biography.guide/kelly-james/
MLA: "Kelly James." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kelly-james/.
Chicago: "Kelly James." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kelly-james/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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