- Heike Schmitt
- From: Aosta Valley
- Ambassador since: 2019
- Outdoor activities: Climbing, Mountaineering
Achievements:
- Earning the UIAGM guides patch.
- Climbing the Eiger North Face as well as the Grand Jorasse North face over the Colton McIntyer.
- I have climbed about 1000 icefalls including a lot of WI 6.
- An outstanding experience was Svartberg, a 300-meter ice line in Gudvangen, with the team putting everything on the line.
- Climbing Jedi Master, Le Tabernac, Shooting Star, La Goutte, Nuit Blanche, Hydnefossen, Søylefossen among many others, were memorable days.
Heike Schmitt is a world-renowned ice climber and mountain guide. Born in South Africa and raised in Germany, Heike has traveled the globe in search of frozen water, eventually finding her home in the heart of the Aosta Valley, Italy. A member of the Norrøna family since 2019, she brings a deep, transformative perspective to every ascent.
Where did you grow up?
South Africa and Taunus, Germany.
Activity
Ice Climbing.
What year did you join the Norrøna family?
2019.
What do you actively do to cut back on your carbon footprint?
Living in the Aosta Valley, my playground is directly in my backyard. For most of my guiding tours, as well as all my mountain activities - climbing, trail running, biking or alpine climbing in summer or ice climbing and ski touring in winter, I don‘t need to drive very far. I have also been a vegetarian for over 25 years.
Can you recommend an adventure?
The GPX track shows the Tour del Gran Paradiso as a Single Push thereby not passing the Chabod and the Pontese Hut. I did the Tour del Gran Paradiso twice as a single push. In 2017 I was able to complete the Tour together with Tanja Schmitt and Matthias Scherer in 19h06min.
Was there someone or some event that inspired you to get involved in your sport/activity?
I read many mountain books in my youth. The ones by Reinhold Messner, as well as Heinrich Harrer’s, “The White Spider”, made big impressions on me.
Favorite place in the world?
Norway and Canada.
What would be the theme song describing your life?
“Don’t take anything for granted!”
If you could have dinner with 3 people (living or deceased) who would they be and why?
It would be interesting to spend some time with Master Yoda. Not only because I am a Star Wars Fan, but also because mastering our mind and overcoming our mental boundaries seems to be a useful skill on ice and in the mountains - but maybe even more in the real world!
If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and why?
It would be great to be able to transmit experiences to another person just by touching their hand. Often it seems that deep experiences cannot be passed on by words and it is often hard to see that mistakes need to be redone.
What is a skill that everyone should master and why?
Knowing and overcoming your deepest fear! Because only if you do so can you become truly free!
What advice would you give your 10-year-old self?
ALWAYS listen to your inner voice! Don’t get too distracted and confused by what you see. Remember what Saint-Exupéry wrote: “The essential is invisible to the eye. Trust in your own strength! Don‘t take the world and the talk of others too serious!
Heike Schmitt in action
