Miroslav Šmíd
Illustration — Memorial to Miroslav "Míra" Šmíd Miroslav Šmíd (1952, Police nad Metují, Czechoslovakia – 11 September 1993, Lost Arrow, Yosemite National Park, USA) was a Czech rock climber, solo climber, mountaineer, mountain cinematographer and photographer. He also organized climbing and cultural events. In 1981 he founded The International Festival of Mountaineering Films (Mezinárodní horolezecký filmový festival) in Teplice nad Metují.
Also recorded as Miroslav Smid
Miroslav Šmíd
JAn Dudík · Public domain
- Born
- 1952 · Police nad Metují.
- Died
- 1993 · Yosemite National Park.
- Nationality
- Czechoslovakia
- Occupation
- rock climber · photographer · ecologist · mountaineer
- Honours
- Honoured Master of Sports
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Illustration — Memorial to Miroslav "Míra" Šmíd Miroslav Šmíd (1952, Police nad Metují, Czechoslovakia – 11 September 1993, Lost Arrow, Yosemite National Park, USA) was a Czech rock climber, solo climber, mountaineer, mountain cinematographer and photographer. He also organized climbing and cultural events. In 1981 he founded The International Festival of Mountaineering Films (Mezinárodní horolezecký filmový festival) in Teplice nad Metují.
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Miroslav Šmíd (1952–1993) was a Czechoslovak ecologist, mountaineer and photographer, among other activities. Born in Police nad Metují, the ecologist died in Yosemite National Park. Miroslav Šmíd received Honoured Master of Sports.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q11781720 · wikipedia · Miroslav Šmíd
In this article
Life and climbing career
Life and climbing career
He also wrote several books.
Šmíd started climbing in the Ostaš climbing area and continued in Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, where he climbed a number of famous first ascents. In the High Tatras, Slovakia, he completed 230 ascents (80 of which were in winter and 25 first ascents, including a solo ascent of the Poslední dostih route on Veľká Javorová veža in 1976). In Scotland he completed the first winter ascent of the Glover's Chimney route on Ben Nevis in 1981. He also completed several solo climbs in Caucasus. He tried to make his solo climbs a secret as they were not approved of by the Socialist Party officials who lead the country at that time. When the solo ascents were revealed, it was very difficult to settle the disagreement. Still, Šmíd received an honor for his sport activities despite the solo climbing controversy. Miroslav Šmíd climbed in various mountain areas and made a number of important ascents: the Alps (first ascent in the north face of Eiger in winter in 1978), the Dolomites (north face of Cima Grande in 1975), Norway (Trollryggen in winter 1976), Caucasus (solo winter ascent of Donguz Orun 1983), Pamir Mountains (solo ascent of Peak Korzhenevskaya in 1977 and first ascent in 1979), Fann Mountains, Andes (first ascent of Yerupajá Sur, solo climb, 1980) Yosemite (solo ascent of Dihedral Wall on El Capitan 1978), Patagonia (Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, 1990) and Alaska (Mount McKinley 1989, 1991 and 1993) He ascended Mount Kenya in Africa in 1986. He also participated in expeditions to the Himalayas (Lhotse Shar, Dhaulagiri 1984, Mount Everest 1987) He also undertook demanding solo ascents (e.g. Ama Dablam in 1986). Šmíd was allured by everything adventurous, and he also became a pioneer of mountain paragliding in Czechoslovakia. His well-known descent from Bzeduch Mountain in the Caucasus mountain range resulted in a broken pelvis after landing on a moraine. Šmíd died on 11 September 1993 while solo climbing on the Lost Arrow in Yosemite National Park. Apparently he fell just below the top while climbing unbelayed. All his equipment was found on the last ledge below the top. The body was found at the bottom of the gorge between the massifs and the spire by one of his friends. On the basis of a denture, the body was identified as Šmíd’s.
Identity
Identity
Miroslav Šmíd is recorded with the occupation photographer. Recorded with the occupation rock climber. Recorded with the occupation mountaineer. Recorded with the occupation ecologist. Recorded as rock climber, photographer, ecologist and mountaineer.

Miroslav Šmíd, Ostaš-pomník-Miroslava-Šmída-u-kaple2019
Ben Skála, Benfoto
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1952
Miroslav Šmíd born at Police nad Metují.
1993
Miroslav Šmíd died at Yosemite National Park.
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Police nad Metují.
Birth place
Yosemite National Park.
Death place
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reference work
- “Miroslav Šmíd”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q11781720: Miroslav Šmíd
General reference · Wikidata
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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