Industry News
by AlexLowe.org on April 29th, 2016
On April 27th, Conrad Anker and Jenni Lowe-Anker were in Kathmandu, Nepal, preparing to return home at the end of a month spent overseeing the ongoing construction of a building to house and sustain the Khumbu Climbing Center, a project that offers technical training for indigenous mountain workers.
Just before noon, Conrad received a phone call from Tibet. It was David Goettler and Ueli Steck who were acclimatizing for an ascent on the south face of Shishapangma. They had come across the remains of two climbers still encased in blue ice but beginning to emerge from the glacier. Goettler described the clothing and packs of the climbers to Conrad who concluded that the two were undoubtedly David Bridges and Alex Lowe, Jennifer’s then husband.
Both were buried in a massive avalanche on October 5th 1999 and never found. Conrad was climbing with Alex and David at the time of the avalanche, which he survived with minor injuries.
In 2001, Conrad Anker married Lowe’s widow, Jennifer and adopted their three sons. Jennifer penned their personal story of love, loss and resilience in her memoir, Forget MeNot. In the last paragraph, Jennifer wrote, “Alex will melt out of the glacier one day … and I do not look forward to it”. Jennifer says today, “Alex and David vanished, were captured and frozen in time. Sixteen years of life has been lived and now they are found. We are thankful.”
Jennifer added, “Alex’s parents are thankful to know that their son’s body has been found and that Conrad, the boys and I will make our pilgrimage to Shishapangma. It is time to put Alex to rest.”
Conrad says, “After 16½years, this brings closure and relief for me and Jenni and for our family.”
We ask that you respect the privacy of the family at this time. If you wish to remember and honor Alex Lowe, please browse alexlowe.org.
