Everyday Hiking Hero: Remy Kloos
Meet Remy Kloos – she uses her high-altitude adventures as a vehicle to raise funds for and inspire the next generation through her #JustClimb initiative and the Dlala Nje Foundation.
HSA: Name, age, city/town where you live?
RK: Remy Kloos, I am 30 and currently living in Cape Town.
HSA: Where and when did you start hiking?
RK: Hiking was introduced into my life at a very young age. Even before I could walk, I was in a backpack on my dad’s back, mostly exploring local spots around Cape Town. But, to be honest, hiking wasn’t always my first-choice activity as a young girl. It wasn’t until I was at a low and broken place in my life that I decided to turn to the mountains – the spaces where I find a deep sense of healing. The bigger the peak, the more at home and at peace I felt. I realised my true strength, inner power and what I was capable of.
Hiking the Whale Trail.
HSA: Who introduced you to hiking?
RK: My dad. He has also climbed Kilimanjaro and trekked the Chadar in the Himalayas when he was 60 years old!
HSA: You are doing the famed Seven Summits. Tell us where you are in this achievement and why you are doing it?
RK: I have now completed three of the seven. My ultimate dream is to climb them all. I feel like this goal is something so much bigger than me and the mountains. I’m proud to represent the growing (albeit slow) number of young female high-altitude climbers, and I want to empower young women to dream big and conquer their own fears. The slogan from Nike’s recent commercial featuring women athletes comes to mind and is more relevant than ever: “Show them what crazy dreams can do.” I want to pass on the lessons I learn to motivate and encourage everyone to push themselves to heights they never thought possible.
Mt Elbrus Summit.
HSA: Your most recent summit is Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Southern and Western hemispheres. How difficult was this compared to the often-climbed Kilimanjaro?
RK: They are worlds apart. Aconcagua is a hardcore expedition: you are on the mountain for two to three times longer than Kilimanjaro; you must set up your own tents, porters are not part of the deal, the weather is far more unpredictable and colder, and you are required to have more technical skills. Basically, Aconcagua is one fierce lady, and Kili is more like her younger, occasionally moody sister!
High camp on Aconcagua.
Kilimanjaro summit day – the weather was extremely rough the entire trip!
HSA: What preparation and equipment is required to summit Aconcagua?
RK: Leading up to the expedition I mixed up my training with long and short hikes, running down steep slopes (to strengthen my knees), yoga, spinning and strength training. I always keep fun as my focus. Mental strength is also paramount, so I pushed myself and signed up for things that made me feel uncomfortable. Equipment-wise: many layers of good quality clothing, ice axe, harness, helmet, double boots, crampons and other standard items. Oh, and a pee bottle was crucial – there’s no way you want to get out of your tent at 6000m when you’re snug in a -40°C sleeping bag!
HSA: What were the most difficult and most rewarding parts of the experience?
RK: Getting through a snow and wind storm at Camp 1 (just under 5000m) – wind speeds peaked at 130 km/h, our tent ropes broke and we had to fix them, and other teams even lost some tents. It was wild! It reminded me of Aconcagua’s true power. Besides being surrounded by so much soulful beauty, what made the experience incredible was having the most amazing climbing squad and leader. I climbed with a company called Climbing the Seven Summits – I highly recommend Mike and his team! Check them out at www.climbingthesevensummits.com.
HSA: Tell us more about the #JustClimb initiative and your relationship with the Dlala Nje Foundation.
RK: As I continue to summit mountains, I want to inspire our next generation of leaders to summit their everyday peaks in education and in life. My goal is to motivate our youth to take their dreams to extraordinary heights and to unlock their inner warriors. With this in mind, I launched the #JustClimb initiative to raise funds for the Dlala Nje Foundation. “Dlala Nje,” a Zulu phrase meaning “just play,” is an NPO based in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Funds raised have gone towards expanding and renovating Dlala Nje’s children’s community centre. To date, I have raised over R250,000 through BackaBuddy, generous corporate sponsors, and Growthpoint Properties, one of the flagship supporters. Learn more at www.dlalanje.org.
#JustClimb.
HSA: Your favourite hike or hiking area(s)?
RK: South Africa has so many soul-enriching gems – the Drakensberg and the Cederberg are world-class wilderness areas. Last year, I ventured solo to Norway – the views, the fjords, the overwhelming beauty – all left me in a trance-like daze of wonder. I will be back! Russia surprised me too; the Caucasus Mountains were hypnotic – I’ve never witnessed such exquisite sunsets. But nothing beats the Himalayas – home to the tallest mountains on Earth; I was humbled and inspired by the ancient peaks surrounding me.
Hiking in Norway – this was Trolltunga.
Hiking in Russia.
Sunset over the Caucasus mountain range – this was the view from base camp.
Everest Base Camp trek – looking up at Everest.
HSA: What would be one piece of encouragement you’d share with other adventurous women (and men) out there in terms of taking the leap and making adventure a way of life?
RK: Adventures are deeply revitalising and energising – take the leap into the unknown and go on that wild adventure you thought might be too tough for you. You’ll be surprised to realise what you are capable of! I suffered from severe anxiety, and going on adventures (mostly solo) helped free me from a disease that had left me feeling trapped for so long. Know that your human spirit is unstoppable, unbreakable, unshakable – so get out there and be fuelled by the greatness of adventure.
Descending Mt Elbrus (highest mountain in Europe).
Contact: kloos.remy@gmail.com
Instagram: @remykloos
Aconcagua highlights clip: