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Show casual work-out, told him he could become an outstanding nordic racer. He “As he aged, Lowe seemed to become — even speedier, says Jamison. “He was ~ unbelievably fast. Nobody could believe- “ was so intuitive and smart, he could easi- how fast he was. Even on the approaches ly identify new places to climb—even on he'd be out of sight. It seemed like he'd heavily climbed rock faces—simply by studying the rocks from below. Not only could he identify the routes, he had the athleticism to gracefully execute them, often to the astonishment of those around be 15 minutes ahead of you ona fiveminute walk.” espresso. Coffee was his vice, and on this trip to the Himalaya, he brought 25 pounds him. And he was dedicated enough to slip of fresh-ground gourmet beans. Within out of Black Diamond’s office and knock out 500 pull-ups before lunch on his work days (in addition to sometimes skiing — major peaks before breakfast). days, Anker reports, Lowe had taught the Sherpas how to brew coffee, and they were Lowe was often asked whether he was the best climber in the world. Sometimes. he responded that the best climber was the climber who had the most fun. Even if that were the criteria, Lowe might still have been best. “He’s a wild man,” says Harmston, forgetting for a moment to use the past tense. “He has so much energy and so much enthusiasm, and that’s the way he always is.” 3 . “After a climb,” adds Harmston, » remembering again, “he’d next. What's the next one? anyone who had as much the sport.” Lowe seemed to agree, say, ‘What's | never met enthusiasm for sort of. He ees Part of his energy may have come eae OF HAVING YOUR CREDIT DISSEC heavily imbibing their newest addiction. Lowe was also very approachable. “H was never condescending,” says aan _ “He supported people no matter what their skill level. He would always take the time to answer questions if people took the time to | ask them.” And he was an eloquent voice for climbing, filing articulate, humorous dispatches from around the world. Lowe, who in recent years had been fully sponsored by The North Face, banked on experience keeping him alive. It had to. He needed to be an alpinist as. well as to raise his family, whom he loved as much or more than the mountains. (While on climbs, he often talked about missing them, especially when uncooperative weather lengthened his time away.) Bad Credit - Slow once referred to himself not as a great, — Experience took him far and let him enjoy his life. But, as Jamison points t., “There’s an element of Russian ele just being anywhere [on an 8,000-meter peak].” He is survived by his wife, Jennifer—a painter whose work was recently exhibit- but as an “anal climber,” meaning one who can’t let go of the sport. George Jamison of Salt Lake City climbed with Lowe while Lowe was still in high school. Jamison recalls when he first noticed Lowe’s gifts. He was the older, a more experienced climber, and he ‘ed at the Kimball Art Center— and three allowed the younger Lowe to lead the first pitch of a multi-pitch ice climb. The first pitch was supposed to be easiest and, sure enough, Lowe “ran up it,” says Jamison. As it turned out, however, the ice had been rotten and weak. Yet Lowe had intuitively pinpointed a safe route. boys, Max, Sam, and Isaac. A fund has been established to assist Alex Lowe’s children. Send contributions to Fund for the Children of Alex Lowe c/o Norene Bancroft, US Bank, 104 E. Main St., Bozeman, MT 59715, Thanks, Alex A n the winter of 1993 | had the pleasure of meeting Alex. | remember he called me up and said, ‘Hi, my name is Alex. | heard from Doug you might be interested in going ice climbing tomorrow. My jaw dropped as | accepted. If you were a basketball player, it would be like Michael lorcar eeieg yeu up and Soy: ing let’s shoot a game of one-on-one. One of the things | really respected from Alexi is that te did "ot judge you Ly who you were in the climbing world. He was happy for you to be doing it. | learned from Alex that if you want it bad enough you can make your goals happen. | think Alex had a way to tap into the energy of the moment, and that’s why he excelled so well in his adventures. Thank you Alex. May we all live our moments to the fullest, as you. —Cord Warr Park City Pays Bankruptcies 1** Time Buyers Repossessions judgements - Charge Divorces Offs Call Jeremiah Today at 1-800-566-CARS - 24 Hour Credit Line or Direct at (801) 955-7448 & | OCTOBER 14, 1999|15 try ski coach, watching him during |