High honors in the works for Lowe

By JOAN HAINES, Chronicle Staff Writer

People from all walks of life liked mountaineer Alex Lowe.

Maybe that's why the local campaign to name an area mountain after Lowe five years after his death has met with such enthusiasm.

Terry Cunningham of Bozeman, a writer who runs a sales promotion company, came up with the idea and got the project rolling.

During his research for the proposal, Lowe's local, national and international climbing reputation became abundantly clear, Cunningham said.

"Alex Lowe absolutely dominates those books as far as climbing achievements in the Gallatin National Forest," Cunningham said in a telephone interview last week.

Lowe died Oct. 5, 1999, in an avalanche on a Tibetan mountain.

In his memory, Cunningham thought an unnamed mountain in the Hyalite Range - known only by its elevation, 10,031 - would be an ideal candidate to bear Lowe's name. The peak is south of Mount Blackmore at the head of Cottonwood Creek.

"(Lowe) discovered really good ski runs (there)" Cunningham said.

Lowe made dozens of first ascents in the Hyalite Range, said mountaineer Jack Tackle, a longtime Bozeman resident who now lives in Victor, Idaho. "Most were ice climbs, some were rock climbs."

Outside magazine named Lowe the world's finest climber in 1999. During his career, Lowe summitted Mount Everest twice, and climbed in Antarctica, Nepal, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Peru and Canada. He was featured in many TV programs and magazine articles.

"Alex Lowe certainly had an international reputation," Cunningham said.

But he also "made a significant contribution to recreation in the Gallatin National Forest."

Once he'd done his homework, Cunningham talked to Lowe's widow, Jennifer Lowe, and her husband, Conrad Anker, about the idea.

"My overriding thought throughout this process is to have somewhere for Jenny, Conrad and Alex's children and friends to visit that has Alex's name stamped on it," Cunningham said.

"I think it would be wonderful. ... It's certainly a beautiful peak," said Jennifer Lowe, who lives in Bozeman.

In addition, Lowe's parents, who live in North Carolina, were thrilled by the idea, she said.

Naming mountains and other natural landmarks falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, headquartered in Reston, Va.

Criteria for naming requires the person have "a unique association with the mountain being named," Cunningham said.

The person has to have died at least five years previously and have made "a significant contribution to the state or area in which the feature is located, or have an outstanding national or international reputation," he said.

Cunningham sent his Alex Lowe Peak proposal to the geographic names board, along with letters from local groups and officials supporting the idea.

The board might consider the proposal at its October meeting, said Donald Howard, the board's Montana coordinator.

"However the comment period more than likely will extend beyond that," he said. "The board will be looking for local comments."

Comments can be sent to: Roger Payne, executive secretary for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, 523 National Center, Reston, Va., 20192-0523. The Geographic Names Information System can be reached online at: http://geonames.usgs.gov/

Joan Haines is at citydesk@dailychronicle.com

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