Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Jeff Lowe Papers, 1980-2015
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Lowe, Jeff
- Title
- Jeff Lowe Papers
- Dates
- 1980-2015 (inclusive)19802015
- Quantity
- 5.25 linear feet, (13 boxes: 9 letter boxes, 1 half letter box, 2 half legal boxes, 1 oversize )
- Collection Number
- UUS_COLL MSS 563
- Summary
- Jeff Lowe was a professional climber who founded multiple outdoor brands and climbing competitions, wrote numerous pieces on climbing, and produced and starred in various outdoor films. The Jeff Lowe Papers contain Jeff Lowe's records of his climbs, writings and films, business ventures, and competitions.
- Repository
-
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
- Languages
- English
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Jeff Lowe Papers contain records from 1980-2015 pertaining to the professional work and climbs of Jeff Lowe. The collection is composed of Jeff Lowe's records of his climbs, writings and films, business ventures, and competitions.
The "Business Records" section contains documents about various businesses founded or co-founded by Jeff Lowe, including Cloudwalker, Lowe Alpine, Arctic Wolf, and Latok Mountain Gear. This series is composed of business plans and agreements, as well as financial information about the companies.
"Ogden Climbing Parks/Ice Tower" contains information about Jeff Lowe's management of multiple Climbing Parks in Ogden, Utah, and his plans to expand these parks. Jeff also planned to install a "Holographic Ice Tower" in Ogden, modeled after the ice tower he created for the 1997 X Games.
The "Writings and Films" series contains Jeff's notes regarding his personal writings. This section also contains notes on films which he produced and was featured in, as well as press reviews of his writings and films.
The "Nameless Tower Climb" series documents Jeff Lowe's ascent of Nameless Tower as part of a group expedition in 1990. This section contains plans for the group's ascent of Nameless Tower and information about expedition members.
The "Camp Bird" section details plans for the development of the closed Camp Bird Mine in Colorado. Jeff planned to develop Camp Bird into a climbing center where visitors could climb and learn about safe climbing practices year-round.
The "Climbing Competitions" section contains information about Jeff Lowe's role in multiple climbing competitions. Jeff organized the first Ouray Ice Festival and the International Sport Climbing Championship at Snowbird in 1988. This section outlines the planning and execution of these competitions.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Jeffery George Lowe was born on September 13, 1950, in Ogden, Utah. Jeff's father, Ralph Lowe, introduced Jeff and his seven siblings to climbing early in their childhoods, which led to Jeff's passion for the sport. Jeff spent three years at Tahoe Paradise College on a ski racing scholarship before transitioning to professional climbing. He founded or co-founded outdoor companies Cloudwalker, Lowe Alpine, and Latok Mountain Gear with the help of his brothers. He also organized several climbing competitions, including the first Ouray Ice Festival and the International Sport Climbing Championship at Snowbird in 1988. Jeff made over 1,000 ascents during his career, most notable among them the inaugural climb of Metanoia, a route up the Eiger which became the namesake for the 2014 documentary that followed his career. Jeff passed away on August 24, 2018, due to pneumonia and a rare degenerative disease similar to ALS.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Jeff Lowe Papers must be obtained from the Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: Jeff Lowe Papers USU_COLL MSS 563 Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_ COLL MSS 563, USUSCA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into 7 series: Business Records, Ogden Climbing Parks/Ice Tower, Writings and Films, Nameless Tower Climb, Camp Bird, and Climbing Competitions.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Business RecordsReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 1
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 01 | Cloudwalker Financial Reports |
2000-2001 |
| 1 | 02 | Cloudwalker Product Designs and Financial Reports |
1999-2001 |
| 1 | 03 | "The Cloud Walker" Film Rights |
1984-1987 |
| 1 | 04 | Cloudwalker Customer Phone List and Financial Reports |
2001 |
| 1 | 05 | Financial Analyses and Investor Presentations related to Cloudwalker and Papillon |
2000 |
| 1 | 06 | Minutes of Cloudwalker Meetings and Various Cloudwalker Contracts |
1998 |
| 1 | 07 | Cloudwalker Operating Agreement and Financial Reports |
1998-2000 |
| 1 | 08 | Cloudwalker Catalogs, Financials Reports, Intent to Dissolve; Jeff Lowe Emails |
2000-2007 |
| 1 | 09 | Cloudwalker Business Plans and Catalogs |
1999-2001 |
| 1 | 10 | Cloudwalker Consent Minutes and Operating Agreement |
1998-2000 |
| 1 | 11 | Cloudwalker Business Plan |
2001 |
| 1 | 12 | Cloudwalker Photo CDs |
1980-2015 |
Business RecordsReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 2
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 01 | Article on Snowbird Climbing Competition; Cloudwalker Financial Reports |
1988-2005 |
| 2 | 02 | Arctic Wolf Presentation Outlines and Papers |
1994-1998 |
| 2 | 03 | Agreements between Lowe Alpine and Jeff Lowe |
2004-2012 |
| 2 | 04 | LATOK Price Lists and Meeting Agendas |
1984-1987 |
| 2 | 05 | Jeff Lowe High Adventure Camp Meeting Notes and License Agreements |
1998-2000 |
| 2 | 06 | Jeff Lowe Correspondence |
2004 |
| 2 | 07 | Cloudwalker Subscription and Octopussy License |
1994-2001 |
| 2 | 08 | Jeff Lowe Key Bank Information |
2008 |
| 2 | 09 | LEO Awards Program and National Geographic Flyers |
2008 |
| 2 | 10 | Ogden Climbing Parks Financial Reports |
2008 |
| 2 | 11 | Trango Ice Axe Concept |
2002 |
| 2 | 12 | Cintamani Business Papers |
2001 |
| 2 | 13 | San Juan Mountain Guides Memorandum of Understanding |
2001 |
| 2 | 14 | Adaptable Man Business Papers |
2004-2013 |
| 2 | 15 | Lafuma Price List and Jeff Lowe Papers |
1994 |
| 2 | 16 | Jeff Lowe Biographies and Resumes |
2005-2010 |
| 2 | 17 | Flyers for Utah's High Adventure Film Festival Viewing |
2008 |
| 2 | 18 | High Adventure Discount Card Flyers |
1980-2015 |
| 2 | 19 | High Adventure Discount Cards |
1980-2015 |
| 2 | 20 | High Adventure Mountain Film Festival Budgets and Schedules |
2008 |
| 2 | 21 | Petzl America Papers |
2008 |
| 2 | 22 | Jackson Hole Via Ferratas Plans |
2007-2008 |
Ogden Climbing Parks/Ice TowerReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 3
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 3 | 01 | Ogden Climbing Parks Financial Reports, Contracts; Jeff Lowe Correspondence |
2004-2009 |
| 3 | 02 | Climbing Safety Waivers |
2008 |
| 3 | 03 | Ogden Climbing Parks Guide Contracts |
2008 |
| 3 | 04 | Ogden Climbing Parks Insurance Documents |
2008 |
| 3 | 05 | Ogden Climbing Parks Business Papers |
2004-2008 |
| 3 | 06 | AdvenSure Applications and Ogden Climbing Parks Papers |
2008 |
| 3 | 07 | Ogden Climbing Parks Membership Cards and Applications |
1980-2015 |
| 3 | 08 | SPLORE Pamphlets and Presentation Notes |
2008 |
| 3 | 09 | Materials Related to PARC Program and ClimbFest |
2007-2009 |
| 3 | 10 | Ogden Climbing Parks High Adventure Discount Card Flyers |
1980-2015 |
| 3 | 11 | Notes on Business Meetings |
1980-2015 |
| 3 | 12 | Ogden Climbing Parks Discount Documents |
2008 |
| 3 | 13 | Ogden Climbing Parks Sign Quote |
2007 |
| 3 | 14 | Documents related to ClimbFest - Ogden |
2007-2008 |
| 3 | 15 | Ogden City Ice Park Financial Documents |
2004 |
Ogden Climbing Parks/Ice TowerReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 4
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 4 | 02 | Ogden's Holographic Ice Tower Proposals and Papers |
2007-2008 |
| 4 | 04 | Contracts between ESPN and Arctic Wolf |
1996-1997 |
| 4 | 05 | Materials related to Ogden City Ice Climbing Booklet |
2004 |
| 4 | 07 | Ogden's Ice Tower Financial Documents, Designs, and Meeting Agdendas |
1996-1998 |
| 4 | 08 | Ogden's Ice Tower Plans, Images, and Newspaper Reports |
2004-2007 |
| 4 | 09 | Ogden's Ice Tower Construction and Design Materials |
2007 |
| 4 | 10 | Ogden Maps |
2006 |
Ogden Climbing Parks/Ice TowerReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 5
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 5 | 02 | Materials related to Ogden Climbing Park and Ice Tower |
2004-2009 |
| 5 | 03 | Asset Transfer Agreement |
2007 |
| 5 | 04 | Ogden's Holographic Ice Tower Construction Plans and Renderings |
2005-2007 |
| 5 | 05 | Ogden's Holographic Ice Tower Financial Documents and Bylaws |
2004-2011 |
| 5 | 06 | Ogden Climbing Parks and Holographic Ice tower CDs and Prints |
1980-2015 |
Writings and FilmsReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 6
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 6 | 01 | Contracts between Jeff Lowe and Outdoor Retailer |
2012 |
| 6 | 02 | Contracts between Jeff Lowe and Outdoor Retailer |
2012-2013 |
| 6 | 03 | Papers related to "Jeff Lowe's Metanoia" Exhibit |
2011 |
| 6 | 04 | "Jeff Lowe's Metanoia" Outdoor Retailer Show Phone List and Schedules |
2011 |
| 6 | 05 | "Jeff Lowe's Metanoia" Outdoor Retailer Show Bottle Promotion |
1980-2015 |
| 6 | 06 | "Jeff Lowe's Metanoia" Movie Budget |
2009-2011 |
| 6 | 07 | "Jeff Lowe's Metanoia" Movie Fundraising |
1980-2015 |
| 6 | 08 | "Metanoia" Film Flyers |
2014-2015 |
| 6 | 10 | Jeff Lowe/Arctic Wolf Biography and Resumes; Climbing Map |
1996 |
| 6 | 11 | Jeff Lowe Alpine Film Outline |
2011 |
| 6 | 12 | Lowe Alpine Film Outline and Notes |
2012 |
| 6 | 13 | Papers related to Ogden Mountain Film Festival and Ice Tower Animations |
2008 |
| 6 | 14 | Jeff Lowe Film Sponsorship Agreements for $2,000 |
2011 |
| 6 | 15 | Jeff Lowe Film Sponsorship Agreements for $500 |
2011-2012 |
| 6 | 16 | Jeff Lowe Film Sponsoship Agreements for $6,000 |
2011-2013 |
| 6 | 17 | Jeff Lowe Film Sponsorship Agreements for $17,000 |
2011 |
| 6 | 18 | Jeff Lowe Film Sponsorship Agreements for $50,000 |
2011 |
| 6 | 19 | Jeff Lowe Writings and Film Plans |
2001-2013 |
| 6 | 20 | Correspondence between Jeff Lowe and Ray Jacquot |
1997 |
| 6 | 21 | Papers related to James Balog and Jeff Lowe's Film |
1994 |
| 6 | 22 | Jeff Lowe: The View from the Whole Mountain Slideshow Contract |
1980-2015 |
| 6 | 23 | Many Climbs, Many Lessons Papers |
2003 |
| 6 | 24 | Climbing Writings |
1994-1997 |
| 6 | 25 | Fool on the Hill |
1980-2015 |
| 6 | 27 | Climbing Routes |
1986-1995 |
| 6 | 28 | Jeff Lowe Writings |
1980-2015 |
| 6 | 29 | Press Reviews of Jeff Lowe's Writings and Films |
1995-1997 |
Writings and FilmsReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 7
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 7 | 01 | First Edit of "A Solid Companion" |
2007 |
| 7 | 02 | "Ice Climbing" Article in Backpacker Magazine |
1988-1989 |
| 7 | 03 | Vertical Wilderness Introduction; Correspondence related to Octopussy |
1994-1995 |
| 7 | 04 | Jeff Lowe Writings and Correspondence |
1994-2013 |
| 7 | 05 | Book Ideas and Writings |
1994 |
| 7 | 06 | REI - Invisible Climbs |
1989 |
| 7 | 07 | Sophie Jourdan Translation Correspondence |
1998 |
| 7 | 08 | Steinfel club History: Interviews |
2009 |
| 7 | 09 | Jeff Lowe's Film CDs |
2007-2010 |
Nameless Tower ClimbReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 8
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 8 | 01 | Nameless Tower Documents |
1990-1994 |
| 8 | 02 | Nameless Tower Climb: Miscellaneous Papers |
1987-1990 |
| 8 | 03 | Nameless Tower Climb: Gear Lists |
1990 |
| 8 | 04 | Nameless Tower Climb: Member List, Packing Lists, Papers |
1990 |
| 8 | 05 | Nameless Tower Climb: Equipment List and Travel Information |
1990 |
| 8 | 06 | Nameless Tower Climb: Banking Materials |
1990 |
| 8 | 07 | Nameless Tower Climb: Phone Numbers and Member Information |
1990 |
| 8 | 08 | Nameless Tower Climb: Preparations |
1990 |
| 8 | 09 | Nameless Tower Climb: Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers |
1990 |
| 8 | 10 | Nameless Tower Climb: Travel Plans and Climbing Routes |
1990 |
| 8 | 11 | Nameless Tower Climb: Receipts |
1990 |
| 8 | 12 | Nameless Tower Climb: Outstanding Invoices |
1990 |
Camp BirdReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 9
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 9 | 01 | Camp Bird Business Plans |
1990 |
| 9 | 02 | Camp Bird Mission Statements |
1990 |
| 9 | 03 | The Keystone Center Reports |
1989-1995 |
| 9 | 04 | Camp Bird Colorado, Inc. Papers |
1994-1995 |
| 9 | 05 | Camp Bird Property Appraisal |
1994 |
| 9 | 06 | Camp Bird and Moffat Road Booklets |
1980 |
| 9 | 07 | Camp Bird Sample Business Plan |
1980-2015 |
Camp BirdReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 10
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 10 | 01 | Camp Bird Business Plan Materials |
1996 |
| 10 | 02 | Camp Bird Turf Feeding Systems |
1994-1996 |
Climbing CompetitionsReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 11
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | 01 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Miscellaneous Papers |
1988 |
| 11 | 02 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Phone Numbers and Addresses |
1980-2015 |
| 11 | 03 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Business Cards |
1980-2015 |
| 11 | 04 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Agreements and Budgets |
1988 |
| 11 | 05 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Official Jury Cards |
1988 |
| 11 | 06 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Work Schedules |
1988 |
| 11 | 07 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Correspondence |
1988 |
| 11 | 08 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Master Sheets |
1988 |
| 11 | 09 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Assent Exposition |
1988 |
| 11 | 10 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Adventure Film |
1988 |
| 11 | 11 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Press Releases |
1988 |
| 11 | 12 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Expenses |
1988 |
| 11 | 13 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme |
1988 |
| 11 | 14 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Rules and Regulations |
1988 |
| 11 | 15 | International Sport/Climbing Championship: Press Coverage |
1988 |
| 11 | 16 | International Sport/Climbing Champtionship: Miscellaneous Papers |
1988 |
| 11 | 17 | U.S. Sport Climbing Championship: Miscellaneous Papers |
1990 |
| 11 | 18 | U.S. Sport Climbing Championship: Sponsorship Information |
1990 |
Climbing CompetitionsReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 12
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 12 | 01 | Ouray Ice Festival Sales Agreements |
1999-2003 |
| 12 | 02 | Ouray Ice Festival Newspaper Clippings and Materials |
1999-2013 |
| 12 | 03 | Scott Thompson and Arctic Wolf Agreement |
2000 |
| 12 | 04 | Ouray Ice Festival Competition Results and Score Sheets |
1999 |
| 12 | 05 | Snowbird International Sport/Climbing Championship Publications |
1988 |
| 12 | 06 | International Sport/Climbing Championship Outlines |
1988 |
Writings and Films OversizeReturn to Top
Container(s): Box 13
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 13 | 01 | Newport Beach Film Guide |
2015 |
| 13 | 02 | Film Posters |
2001-2015 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Mountaineering--Equipment and supplies
- Outdoor recreation--Equipment and supplies
- Snow and ice climbing.
Titles within the Collection
- Arctic Wolf, Inc.
- Cloudwalker, Inc.
- Latok Mountain Gear, Inc.
- Lowe Alpine Systems, Inc.
Finding aid written by Merah Slagle and Clint Pumphrey
2022
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
