Big Wall Climber/Soloist
What MH are you wearing now?
At this moment, a Butterman Shirt and Talus Pant, Nut Cadet Hat, Montrail flip flops, blue painted toe nails and finger nails courtesy of my daughter Lilliana.
Which season do you enjoy most and why?
I embrace all seasons, but the changing of seasons and the contrast of each are truly magical. I am inspired by the changing of seasons and the beauty of this planet and its offerings. The seasons and their change are part of the gift of life. Though I would take subzero arctic temps before hot and humid jungle any day.
Do you have a pet?
A white German Shephard, a pot belly pig, three cats, ducks, parrot, and rabbits.
Is there one thing you always take with you while climbing?
I have two necklaces, one has been on my neck for over 15 years without taking it off, the other has been on my neck for over 5 years without taking it off.The first is one my mom gave me of St. Michael, she told me I won’t die in the wilderness with it on, so far so good. The other is a little girl figurine that is my daughter, she is always with me everywhere I go. I recently added a new piece on the cord around my neck that never comes off, it is a claw/toe nail from my dog Talus that tragically died two years ago. All three of these stay with me at all times, 24-7, they never, ever come off. Also, of course, on expeditions specifically, the current Chinese New Year/Zodiac mask (dragon, snake, rabbit, ox, etc.) for the summits!
Do you have a dream project? If so, what is it?
To see my daughter grow up healthy and happy and live her dreams to the fullest. To keep living in the now, and answering the question consistently: Why ration passion? To always live with the fact that this is not only living life, but living the quality of life. To dream big and live (climb) those dreams. To always remember that death and/or old age is coming, and that we must live a sweet life! To find more virgin Earth and meet more amazing cultures and people around the world. To travel with my daughter and show her the magic of the people, flora, fauna, and beauty of our planet, and help her to realize and become a part of global citizenship. To stand on many more summits and shout to the universe my thanks for this miraculous life! To be encompassed by optimism.
To keep living in the now, and answering the question consistently: Why ration passion?
To always live with the fact that this is not only living life, but living the quality of life. To dream big and live (climb) those dreams. To always remember that death and/or old age is coming, we must live a sweet life! There is not one reason or valid excuse that can stop us from doing whatever we truly desire in our heart of hearts. To embrace enthusiasm, appreciation, optimism and reciprocation with any life choice, and the end result will be success.
Any advice for folks wanting to become involved in your activities of choice?
To keep living in the now, and answering the question consistently: Why ration passion? To always live with the fact that this is not only living life, but living the quality of life. To dream big and live (climb) those dreams. To always remember that death and/or old age is coming, we must live a sweet life! There is not one reason or valid excuse that can stop us from doing whatever we truly desire in our heart of hearts. To embrace enthusiasm, appreciation, optimism and reciprocation with any life choice, and the end result will be success.
What can you tell today’s youth about life in the outdoors?
Safety, safety, safety. Safety again. Must come back alive.
Favorite Quote?
“There comes a time when one musk risk something or sit forever with one’s dreams” – Trevor Petersen.
“Death and/or old age is coming, we must live sweet” - Mike Libecki
Personal Highlights:
To see my daughter happy, healthy and how much I learn from her and my commitment as an amazing father. To have the opportunity to be an amazing father and have such an amazing daughter.
Winning Father of the Year Award.
Being healthy.
Solo expeditions and solo first ascents to Greenland, Antarctica, Baffin Island, Papua New Guinea, Africa, China, and Russia. The solo trips are especially special to me. All of my expeditions to remote Earth I am very proud of and honored to make special connections with my partners, and meet wonderful humans all over the world. The gift of life.
Embracing appreciation, enthusiasm, and optimism.
Living in the now.
Career Highlights:
#1 life highlight, being a father to my angel daughter.
All of the expeditions over the years that have spanned to all the continents and that I have come home safely. The solo expeditions have been the most challenging and rewarding by far. Though my #1 career highlight is the wonderful opportunity to meet so many people locally that I work with and the amazing people culture I have had the honor to meet and learn from.
Mike Libecki closes all of his correspondences with the words “Pursue Passion—Dream Big…..and Live Those Dreams—The Time is Now.” This is exactly how he lives his life. Mike was born near the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California where he grew up hunting, fishing, and camping with his family, as well as excelling in speed mathematics from grammar school through high school. His childhood life planted the seed for his obsession with an utterly adventurous lifestyle.
Now in his adult life, Mike spends most of his time traveling to the most remote, exotic and untouched locations on the planet to pursue his passion of big wall and alpine first ascents, traverses, and other offbeat adventures, many of them completely alone. Libecki has established multiple first ascents in such areas as Baffin Island, Greenland, China, Madagascar, Kyrgysztan, Venezuela, and Antarctica. He made the first traverse across the Taklamakan Desert in Western China, also known as the “Sea of Death” by the local people. He’s spent two months at a time soloing first ascents in Greenland, Baffin Island and China. Most recently, he and his partner spent 8o days completing the first major ski and big wall climbing expedition in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. He is currently reconnoitering such virgin lands as Franz Josef Land, Russia, Uzbekistan and remote islands off the coast of New Guinea, some other areas are top secret at the moment. He just arrived home from the very border of China and Kyrgyzstan and is starting to pack for his next big expedition back to Queen Maud Land, but this time, completely alone to satisfy yet another solo extravaganza.
When Mike is not exploring and photographing the ends of the Earth, you will find him at a local Mountain Hardwear dealer giving one of his uniquely entertaining multimedia presentations. He spends two months a year on the road sharing his adventures, and they are well worth catching. Mike lives near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah with his daughter, dog, cat, and rabbits.