Robby Kojetin has been at home in the outdoors since his days as a scout with First Germiston in Johannesburg. After being awarded the Springbok Scout, Robby was very active on a provincial level training youth and young adults as a member of Gilten Patrol Leader Training Unit, where he met John Black. It was not long before John and Robby hatched the SA Scouts 3 Peaks Expedition (2000)to summit the 3 highest mountains in Africa. Their first expedition was a success despite not summiting Mount Kenya and Mount Stanley. The group succeeded in tackling Kilimanjaro and received a hero’s welcome upon their return to Johannesburg just 4 weeks later.

Having started climbing in 1994, this trip was just what Robby had been striving for. This led to another 3 successful summits of Kilimanjaro in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Also in 2002, Robby and John together with 3 other South Africans, went to climb Aconcagua in Argentina. Standing 6962m high, Aconcagua or “Ac” is the one of the Seven Summits being the highest mountain outside of the Himalaya range. Unfortunately, bad weather and a chest infection turned the team around that year.

After 12 months of training and better mental preparation, Robby, John and Dirk Uys stood on top of Aconcagua after 10 days of harsh weather and frigid temperatures.

2004 Saw the usual suspects setting their sights on Mount Elbrus, a twin peaked ice cap in Russia standing 5642m above sea level. After a bar fight, a lot of Vodka and a heart warming cover of “Forever Young” in Moscow, all 4 SA boytjies stood atop Europe, and Robby and John’s 3rd of the Seven Summits. http://www.ersh.sp.ru/news/year2004/elbrus/elbr04sa.html

2005 saw 2 expeditions, one to Kili and another to Peru. Robby, Warren Eva and Dirk Uys set off to the Cordillera Blanca to gain experience on ice but their main objective, Alpamayo, was out of condition for the season but they still managed to reach its high camp at 5500m as well a secondary peak, Pisco at 5700m.

On 24 April 2006 disaster struck. Robby took a 5m fall during a training session at an indoor climbing gym, breaking both ankles badly and rupturing several tendons. This was a blow for the team who were considering a return to Mount Kenya later that year.

After 4 surgeries, and extensive physiotherapy, Robby has made a remarkable recovery with only a slight limp and a few scars as a reminder of that fateful evening.

Robby is taking on the challenge of Everest in the 2008 with both guns blazing. Once again, Robby and John will be attempting together with Gilad Stern, a Cape Town businessman. Both climbers believe that having a trusted climbing bond on the mountain will increase their chances when facing the biggest mountain on earth.

Robby looks forward to being part of an international team headed up by the legendary Russell Brice from Himex Expeditions. Should all go well, these South Africans look forward to the remaining peaks around the world, with no sign of retirement in sight.