George Lowe at 62

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Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Mar 22, 2006 - 04:11pm PT

Know/ knew all four. Dave and I did our first El Cap together with Georges Bettembourge. Then we met in Oakland after Georges was killed by rockfall. In '87 I told Catherine of my confidence in Dave but the mountains can be cruel masters.

After Sail Peak I saw Alex on Good Morning America where the bonehead doing the interview asked him if the innuit "guides" took them up the mountain as well!
At OR we passed on escalators saying hi but I never got to tell him how he should have baited the bonehead by saying, "Oh yes those eskimos are marvelous climbers. They have camming devices made of whalebone hundreds of years ago..."
Only weeks later I got the news.

Drink up lads for life is short and there is much to be savored.

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Mar 22, 2006 - 04:13pm PT

Sorry for the hijack...

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Mar 22, 2006 - 04:32pm PT

Oh, and for Patrick Sawyer, Bridwell isn't 62 until this July. He does however have a portrait of himself hidden away that depicts a young blonde (mustachiode) climber.

(just a little wylde humor)

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Mar 22, 2006 - 04:39pm PT

Yo and Piton Ron, thanks for clearing things up.

Tarbuster

climber

right here, right now

Mar 22, 2006 - 06:14pm PT

yo!
Arm Chair God is what you are.
But to the point:
Ferget about the Lowe Bros.
Didn't Space Ghost have a hip daughter named Jan?
She was sooo Hot!!

Please advise.

juneau

Mountain climber

nashua,n.h.

Mar 22, 2006 - 08:11pm PT

George Lowe was at the Annual AAC meeting this year (Feb '06) at the main dinner event he showed his slides. Great stuff of Winter ascent of N. face of the Grand back in late 60's also were a few of Astroman in 96(?) w/ Alex (mentioned earlier in this forum) I felt fortunate to see the stuff as it was apparent George had not showed any of his stuff to non- fam/friends in a long time. Totally a humble hard-man.

Brian in SLC

Social climber

Salt Lake City, UT

Mar 22, 2006 - 08:48pm PT

Yep. Seeing the G.L. show as the top billing for the AAC meeting was great. Amazing tick list and still going strong. Some noticed (not I, of course) that he looks great in black tights after ice climbing...sportin' a bandaid after catchin' a chunk of ice on the mug (hikin' Dropline? Eeek, that rig was pumpy!).

Ali O's send up "Boy George" is a good read.

More Air and I did the Undone Book on Lone Peak a few years ago...yikes...put up in the mid 60's, and one crappy bolt to protect that "5.9" terrain? Guidebook alludes that it might be 5.11a. Way out there. FFA of the Coffin Crack. Etc etc. Inspiring!

He is best known for his ground-breaking ascent of the North Twin and for the voice of the animated character Space Ghost.

That was some funny shizz...

-Brian in SLC

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Mar 22, 2006 - 08:57pm PT

Forget the Lowes! Bring on more photos of Araceli! That chick is hot hot HOT!

Grug

Trad climber

Golden, Colorado

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2006 - 11:45am PT

Bump. George and a guy named Conrad are attempting to do the Salathe Wall in a day this week - probably today or tomorrow. George says they are planning on starting at midnight. Sending good vibes your way George!

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Jun 20, 2006 - 04:22pm PT

That is really disgusting!

I mean that is REALLY disgusting!

I'm gonna have to talk some sense to that whippersnapper.

Grug

Trad climber

Golden, Colorado

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2006 - 04:40pm PT

I was just climbing with George at Eldo this last weekend. He's not the fastest climber in the world, but he's like the Eveready Bunny...he just keeps going. Hopefully those batteries keep him going for the 34 pitches or whatever.

Michael Kennedy

Social climber

Carbondale, Colorado

Jun 20, 2006 - 04:47pm PT

Having climbed with George on two of the best trips I've ever been on - North Face, Mount Hunter and Infinite Spur, Mount Foraker (Alaska, 1977), and North Ridge, Latok 1 (Pakistan, 1978) I can confirm all the accolades. He's the baddest of the badasses out there, but you will never meet a nicer guy.

I could pretty much keep up with him 30 years ago but if he and Conrad get up the Salathe in a day I'm gonna be pissed. I'm 54 and just did the NW Face of Half Dome with my 16-year-old son Hayden - bivies at the base of the wall and Big Sandy, so we weren't setting any speed records - and I could barely walk afterwards (and the kid led 2/3s of the route).

I wanna be like George when I grow up.

Fluoride

Trad climber

California somewhere

Jun 20, 2006 - 06:57pm PT

Yo, your stream of conciousness connection of the dots was absolutely priceless. Thanks for the laugh it gave me.

And Pete, yes Araceli is hands down the most beautiful woman to ever stand atop an 8000M peak. Or any other form of rock, snow or ice. So here ya go, our girl Araceli. I think George would approve of a brief thread hijack for some quick gazing at her.

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Jun 20, 2006 - 07:56pm PT

What happened to Angelina Jolie?

Fluoride

Trad climber

California somewhere

Jun 20, 2006 - 08:32pm PT

Vintage Angelina will always be #1 Ron. But Araceli's a damn remarkable woman. She can outcrank 99% of all mountaineers and climbers. She weighs 100 lbs and can carry almost double that on her back up a peak. She still models for Vogue. She's stunning in every sense. What's not to love about Araceli.

Some vintage Angie...before she got all mom-like and Brad lovin:

golsen

Social climber

kennewick, wa

Oct 13, 2006 - 02:22pm PT

bump,

grug, "Bump. George and a guy named Conrad are attempting to do the Salathe Wall in a day this week - probably today or tomorrow. George says they are planning on starting at midnight. Sending good vibes your way George! "

Well, the question is not whether they pulled it off, but how fast?

I am sure this is the same Conrad that gave my buddy and I beta to do this in a day, but I admit, I could not do all the tricks Conrad gave us. One was to forgo aiders on the roof and monkey free the fixed pro. No sirree, that there is gorilla moves after already climbing so far.

Simply an amazing feat at 62. Damn....

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Oct 13, 2006 - 02:26pm PT

I second that inquiry Gary.

TR! TR! TR!

eeyonkee

Trad climber

Golden, CO

Oct 13, 2006 - 02:49pm PT

From he who was formerly named grug.

Turns out George and Conrad didn't quite make it under 24 hours. Jeez, it's been so long since I've done the thing, I don't even remember the name of the ledge up high where they decided to take a little nap (since they knew they were not going to make it anyhow). In the end, they did it in 27 hours or something.

I've been climbing with George semi-regularly for the last few months. We've both been in better shape, and don't always pull off our climbs in the best style, but he's always game for hard climbing. With any luck, we'll get a Black Canyon Grade V in before the end of the season.

Btw, since this thread has been bumped, one correction to my original post - George has 4 kids (not 3) - two from the first marriage and two from the second. The younger two girls are 12 and 14.