A Denali mountain guide died last week in an avalanche in Colorado.
Heidi Kloos, a climbing guide for Mountain Trip Expeditions, was found in avalanche debris on Friday. She was a highly experienced and certified mountain guide and was the recipient of the National Park Service’s Denali Pro Award in 2008 for her efforts in a difficult rescue on Denali the previous summer.
According to reports, Kloos set out alone with her border collie to backcountry ski and climb near Ouray, an area north of Telluride, Colorado on Tuesday. When she didn’t return from the trip, a search was launched.
Her dog and backpack were found Wednesday. The dog is fine and will be adopted by a friend. Kloos’ body was recovered on Friday and an autopsy was performed.
Kloos, 41 years old, was well-known in the mountain climbing and expedition community. Kloos had 15 years of guiding on big mountains around the world and had guided in Antarctica.
This message from Mountain Trip and Todd Rutledge: Please join us today to raise a glass of Malbec in celebration of the life of one of our closest.
Tragically, our senior guide, favorite climbing partner, and dearest friend, Heidi Kloos was taken from us on Tuesday by a huge avalanche near her home in the San Juan Mountains. Heidi had taken advantage of a day off from helping run a bustling alpaca ranch to go for a ski into an area where she had recently pioneered a probable new ice route with a close friend the week before. Her untimely arrival at her destination coincided with a natural release of snow from high above and a massive slide that would have given her no warning of its approach.
In a profession defined by difficult decision making, Heidi made the job of guiding big mountains seem easy. Her depth of experience, attention to detail and conscientious care she managed to give to each climber on her team resulted in her being one of our most highly respected and appreciated guides. She was the consummate leader, who could always help you find the inner resolve to keep pushing a bit farther.
Heidi had 15 years of experience guiding big mountains around the world, had led ten expeditions up Denali, a similar number of trips up Aconcagua, had climbed extensively in Nepal and had taken a team to the highest point in Antarctica. It seemed she was always jumping in her truck to drive five hours to help a friend or taking over the lead on an ice climb when her partner just couldn’t quite pull it off. Between adventures she looked after a ranch of 70+ prized alpacas, her two horses, chickens, pigs, and a Bactrian camel.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of this amazing lady will be held today at the ranch she lived and worked at in Ridgway, Colorado. Stories, slides, hugs and tears will be shared and we’ll all raise a toast to our friend who helped us all become better in some way.
The Mountain Trip family will carry a string of prayer flags inscribed with thoughts, memories and prayers to the top of Denali this summer and let the winds of the high places carry their messages along the jet stream. If you would like to add your tribute, please let us know.
In 2009, four disabled athletes, three of whom were wheelchair bound, joined Heidi for a week of adventure in Alaska, including skiing, climbing and camping on the glaciers of the Alaska Range. A memorial fund has been established in Heidi’s name to help others participate in this program she helped develop in Denali National Park. A donation form can be found on the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program’s website at: www.tellurideadaptivesports.org
