Jackson began climbing in the 1870s with her husband; together they made the first ascents of the Weissmies' east face in 1876 and the Dom's west ridge in 1878. Jackson's husband died in 1881 but she continued to climb, with increasing frequency. In 1884 she, Alois Pollinger (a Swiss mountain guide) and Johann-Josef Truffer became the first climbers to descend the west ridge of the Dent Blanche. With Pollinger, her most frequent climbing partner, she also climbed the Aiguille du Dru in 1886 and the Aiguille des Grands Charmoz in 1887.