Who am I?

I am Boaz Pauw, living in Rotterdam and 28 years old. My background in terms of education is Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. I also did a lot of training and development around communication. I grew up as a child in Rotterdam, together with an older brother and sister. I always played outside a lot, ‘outdoors’ was in it from an early age. Unstoppable energy as a child, sometimes to the worry of my parents.

Hobbies and daily life mix. I like climbing, walking or running outside (not on asphalt), chores, cooking and wine. I am secretly a gear enthusiast and spend 90% of my free time walking in what people call “outdoor clothing” (Rab or Patagucci). Together with my girlfriend and two cats, I live in an apartment in Rotterdam Noord.

If you had to draw a cartoon of yourself, what would it look like?

Blonde lavish crest or lock, slightly slouchy yet sporty blue Rab vest and just-too-worn beige pants. And Nike Air max underneath.

What drives you in guiding?

Imagine being able to facilitate people to expand their own comfort zone. That people tell you with a smile that they come here to relax as well as to be challenged. That you yourself are challenged time and again to go that extra mile. To be able to have beautiful conversations with people who quickly go a step deeper and further than you do in everyday life. And that during all of this you walk in beautiful nature and environments. I found out that that was possible. And right here, in guiding people into the mountains. Wonderful!

Do you have a great anecdote or special wilderness experience worth sharing?

I have had lenses since I was 11 years old. I don’t remember being able to see sharply without lenses (or glasses, but I didn’t wear those). My dream for a long time was to get my eyes lasered and then sleep under the stars with my own eyes without “aids. Last fall I had my eyes lasered and last summer was the day. I slept under the stars in the high Caucasus in Georgia. And shooting stars … about 80 or maybe more. And the brightest I’ve ever seen. Oh ánd, Milky Way from left to right. It was beautiful!

Which wilderness destination is still on your bucket list and why?

Alaska is very high up anyway. I have a strong attraction to wild and rugged places that still exist on their own. Sarek already came close to this, but Alaska is one step further, in my opinion. In addition, I already have a lifelong interest and passion for wolves and bears, and let them live there. I think it would be wonderful to be in that landscape and walk around and immerse myself in that wilderness. A feeling of tremendous abandonment and yet standing tall.

Do you have a message to the people reading this?

To be honest, I was never much of a group traveler myself. I didn’t like the concept much and the trips always seemed less interesting and adventurous than I could do on my own. But what I came across at Rewild, and why I started working with Rewild, is because here it is completely different. Here, trips with adventure, a story and special encounters are the standard (a very special standard if you ask me). Self-sufficiency is mostly at the heart of travel without pushing people too far beyond their limits. I have already seen so many people’s comfort zone expand, and I love the smiles that accompany this in everyone!