Miki Knizka - Mountain Guide UIAGM
I was born in Poprad - a town under the High Tatras, so I was always close to mountains.
I was wandering Tatra hiking trails since my childhood, where I admired not only beautiful nature but especially mountain sherpas. I admired them so much that I wanted to become one of them. My dream came true when I was 17, and my first trip as sherpa was to Teryho chata. Being a sherpa meant everything to me and it gave me a chance to spend a lot of time inTatras. I was very demanding and I enjoyed marvelous and unique scenery of the Tatra peaks.
Time was passing by and I realized that it was not enough for me to enjoy the beauty of the Tatras from hiking trails and I dreamt of climbing peaks. And that is how I gradually became fond of climbing and ski-mountaineering, which later became my addiction and my way of life.
In 1997 I travelled for the first time to USA, where I stayed for couple of months, earned some money and made a trip to Alaska. Right after my return home I found out that travelling is what I was looking for in my life. Two years later I found myself in an incredible beauty of canadian mountains. While staying in Canada I found out about a possibility to emigrate to this beautiful country and that was a big challenge for me and also a chance to experience a great adventure.
After my return to Slovakia, I did all I could to get visa to emigrate to Canada ,together with my friend Duro,and in May 2000 we both already had them in our pockets.Unfortunately Duro could not make this trip to Canada, since he died in the avalanche on his hike as sherpa to Terycho chata. It was a big shock for me and it took me almost a year to decide and travel to Canada by myself to make our dream come true. It was hard at the beginning but Canada gave me a chance to do what I was dreaming about. I became very active in climbing, skiing and step by step I start to travelled for adventure all over the world.
Years of thinking of what to do in my life leaded me to a conclusion that I would like to become a mountain guide. I would like to use all my skills and my long-term experience and pass them to others.My goal is to fulfil dreams of those who wish to climb various peaks and long for adventure with the assistance of a mountain guide.
The best achievements of Miki's success:
5 times the winner of Shepa Really
Ski-mountaineering competition:
Whistler - 2nd place
Stevens Pass - 3rd place
Alpental - 3rd place
Clystal Mountain - 3rd place
Mount McKinley (Denali) - Messner Couloir and West Buttress
Ski-touring traverses in Canada / Pemberton Icecap traverse, Misty Icefield traverse, McBride traverse, Bugaboos traverse, Bostock-Revelstoke traverse
Expeditions to South America - ascent ot Artesonraju, Chopicalqui, Huayna Potosi, Parinacota, Quitaraju, Ranrapalca, Sajama, Tocllaraju, Ishinca, Vallunaraju, Pequeno Alpamayo
