George Henry Lowe III is an American rock climber and alpinist, noted for his history of alpine-style mountaineering on difficult and infrequently repeated routes and his development of traditional climbing routes in the Western United States. He pioneered winter ascents in the North American Rockies along with cousins Jeff Lowe, Mike Lowe, and Greg Lowe. He is also known for his technically difficult ascents of mixed climbing faces in the Himalayas including the unclimbed North Ridge of Latok I and the first ascent of the East Face of Mount Everest, where the Lowe Buttress bears his name. Lowe is currently a resident of Colorado.
Lowe was the 1990 recipient of the American Alpine Club's Robert and Miriam Underhill Award. The award is given "annually to a person who, in the opinion of the selection committee, has demonstrated the highest level of skill in the mountaineering arts and who, through the application of this skill, courage, and perseverance, has achieved outstanding success in the various fields of mountaineering endeavor". He is an Honorary Member of the American Alpine Club which represents "the highest award the AAC has to offer. It is given to those individuals who have had a lasting and highly significant impact on the advancement of the climbing craft". Lowe was also president of the Piolet d’Or 2014 International Jury which included Catherine Destivelle and was responsible for selecting the award-winners from the nominees. The Piolet d'Or is an award for mountaineering created by the magazine Montagnes and The Groupe de Haute Montagne He was further awarded Honorary Membership of Alpine Club in January 2020.
1971 North Face, Piramide de Garcilaso - Second Ascent with Mike Lowe and North Face, Huandoy Norte - First Ascent of new route with Perutah Expedition members. Both Cordillera Blanca, Peru.
1972 West Face of the Grand Teton - First Winter Ascent, Grand Teton National Park with Jeff Lowe
1978 North Ridge, Latok I, Karakorum Range, Pakistan. Attempt with Michael Kennedy, Jim Donini and Jeff Lowe, highest attempt to within 100m of summit until 2018.
1983 Kangshung Face, Everest, First Ascent. Summited on same day as Jay Cassell, and Dan Reid following the summits of Carlos Buhler, Kim Momb and Louis Reichardt the prior day. Expedition focused on limiting risk to Sherpas. At the time, considered the most difficult route up Everest.
1990 Northeast Ridge, Dhaulagiri I, Nepal, First American Solo Ascent, part of international expedition with Carlos Buhler, :lt:Dainius Makauskas of Lithuania, and Nuru Sherpa of Nepal.
2015 West Face Couloir, Mount Huntington, Alaska summited with Joe Terravecchia and Mark Richey, Lowe was 70 years old on this trip.
