Miki Knižka
Mountain guide IFMGA / UIAGM
Miki Knižka
Mountain guide IFMGA / UIAGM
Founder of Mountain Pro Guiding. Adventurer, skier, alpinist… over 10 years of exploring in Canada, ascents to many peaks of South and North America, and various ski touring adventures around the world and in our High Tatras.
The beginnings – Mountain sherpa
I was born and grew up under the High Tatras, so I have always been very close to the mountains.
Since childhood, I have wandered along the trails in the Tatras, where in addition to the beautiful nature, the mountain sherpas (porters) have won my admiration. I longed to become one of them.
My dream came true when I was 17, when my first delivery was to Téry’s Hut. Being a sherpa was everything to me. I pushed the limits of my physical abilities while enjoying the beautiful views of the majestic peaks of the High Tatras.
After a while, it wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the views only from the trails, so I wanted to climb the peaks. This is how I gradually got into climbing and ski mountaineering, which I completely fell in love with and found my life’s path in.
With wife and their first son on the top of Lomnicky Peak.
“Years of thinking about what I want to do in my life led me to the realization that I want to be a mountain guide.
I really like my job and my satisfaction comes from fulfilling dreams of those that love to climb peaks or just experience new adventures while accompanied by an experienced guide.”
On one of many mutli-day ski traverses in Canada.
Learning about the world and myself
In 1997, I traveled the world for the first time – I spent some time in the USA, earned some money and managed a trip to Alaska. After returning home, I realized that traveling was exactly what I was looking for in life.
Two years later, I found myself in the majestic environment of the Canadian mountains. In Canada, I learned about the possibility of moving to this beautiful country, which was a great challenge for me and it gave me a great desire for adventure.
After returning to Slovakia, together with my friend Juro, we started arranging emigration visas… Unfortunately, Juro never lived to realize this, he was buried in an avalanche in our Tatras.
It was a huge blow for me and it took me almost a year before I finally decided to travel alone to fulfill our shared dream.
The beginnings were difficult, but Canada allowed me to fully realize myself in what I loved the most. I began to devote myself intensively to climbing, skiing and gradually traveled all over the world for adventure.
Later, I gradually managed to pass the course of certified international mountain guides. Also, this big life test directed me back to Slovakia, where I decided to start a family and an agency Mountain Pro Guiding.
Achievements I value
The best thing is that I manage to fulfill my dreams in my personal and family life.
Those in the mountains are the icing on the cake:
- 5 x Sherpa Rally winner
- Multiple podium finishes in ski mountaineering races in North America
- Mount McKinley (Denali) – Messner Couloir and West Buttress
- Multi-day ski mountaineering traverses in Canada – Pemberton Icecap traverse, Misty Icefield traverse, McBride traverse, Bugaboos traverse, Bostock-Revelstoke traverse
- During the expedition in South America: climbing the peaks of Artesonraju, Chopicalqui, Huayna Potosi, Parinacota, Quitaraju, Ranrapalca, Sajama, Tocllaraju, Ishinca, Vallunaraju, Pequeno Alpamayo
Miki teaching an avalanche safety course.