Komarkova was born in Písek and at the age of 16 she got to the Charles University in Prague to study botany, from which she eventually graduated.

[7] Komarkova was an "enigmatic" personality on the mountain, reportedly unfazed by the avalanches and unimpressed by group discussions or collaborative leadership.

Although other climbers like Blum and Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz were in favour of women-only summit attempts, she pushed to have Sherpas Mingma and Chewang join them.

[7] Komarkova led The American Women's Expedition up Dhaulagiri in 1980, but were pushed back by storms, avalanches and the death of a team member.

She retired from climbing after a successful expedition to Cho Oyu with Dina Štěrbová and Sherpas Ang Rita and Nuru, becoming the first woman to reach the summit.

[3] After gaining her degree Komarkova and her three friends made a female group called Šlápoty ("The Footmarks") to walk from Czechoslovakia to Mexico City for the 1968 Summer Olympics.

[3] After Czechoslovakia was invaded by the Soviets and the borders closed, Komarkova emigrated to the United States taking her third husband with her.