Heart transplant patient conquers Andes climb

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Perkins and her husband were joined on the climb by Argentine guide Ramiro Calvo. A Boulder, Colo.-based documentary filmmaker, Michael Brown, filmed the ascent while climbing in a parallel group with two other people.

Calvo said he was amazed by Kelly Perkins’ prowess.

“At the beginning, I was a little concerned, but then I saw her start to climb and it surprised me how well she climbed. She is impressive. I didn’t feel she was any different from anyone else,” he said.

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Calvo also said Craig Perkins was instrumental to the team’s success.

“These two have an attitude about life that is just incredible,” the guide said. “He takes such great care of her, and they just give off really great vibes.”

The climbers tested their teamwork in warmup climbs, discarding one attempted route as too dangerous because of loose rock. They ultimately settled on a sheer mountain face with a difficult route up hundreds of yards of rock face roughly shaped like the letter “C.”

Perkins said the “C” route reminded her of the word “corazon” — Spanish for “heart” — and she led the initial ascent.

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“We found a line and made a way up the best we could,” she added, noting chunks of rock broke off easily and every toehold and fingerhold had to be taken with extreme care.

Craig Perkins, who has given his wife a gold charm for every major mountain climbed since her transplant, gave her another atop the “Charmed Heart” route — this one of a woman mountaineer leaping for a peak and grabbing it by one hand. A tiny sparkling ruby represents her heart.

Craig Perkins said he hopes his wife’s accomplishments encourage others who have gone through life-changing surgery or organ transplants to not give up.

“Kelly had a heart transplant on Nov. 20, 1995. A little over a decade later and she’s opening new routes and doing some amazing things you’d never expect,” he said. “Even after a transplant you can be a very, very strong person, and Kelly is a prime example of that.”

Asked what mountain she’ll target next, Perkins said she hasn’t thought that far ahead. But she added, “I’m going to keep on going as long as I can. ... I’m going to go as long as my body will let me.”

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