Remains of 'climbing legend' found on mountain after 16 years


Remains of 'climbing legend' found on mountain after 16 years
Remains of 'climbing legend' found on mountain after 16 years




The remains of two US climbers have been found on a Tibetan mountain 16 years after they were killed in an avalanche.

Alex Lowe and David Bridges were found in a partially melted glacier by two climbers attempting the 8,013m (26,291ft) Shishapangma.


See also: Matterhorn human remains identified as climbers missing for 45 years

See also: British climber finds body of his friend at Everest summit


The climbers described the details of the clothing and backpacks seen on the bodies to Conrad Anker, who was climbing with Lowe and cameraman David Bridges at the time of the October 1999 avalanche but survived.

Anker told Outside magazine that although he hasn't seen photos of the remains, he believes they are those of Lowe and Bridges.

According to the Guardian, he said: "They were close to each other. Blue and red North Face backpacks. Yellow Koflach boots. It was all that gear from that time period. They were pretty much the only two climbers who were there.

Lowe, Anker, Bridges and several others were on an expedition to climb Shishapangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world, then ski down it. As they were scouting out routes at about 19,000 they saw a slab of snow break free 6,000 feet above them.

Alex was widely regarded as one of the world's best climbers and was nicknamed Lungs With Legs.

His widow Jenni Lowe-Anker went on to marry his friend and fellow climber Conrad Anker.

She said: "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."

According to the Daily Telegraph, Lowe, who had reached the summit of Mount Everest twice, was credited with rescuing several climbers in Alaska in 1995, a year when six climbers died on Mount McKinley.


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