It’s that time of year for cook outs, hot dogs, potato salad, sparklers, and fireworks…oh wait, we’re talking about Macedonian Independence Day! So that means it’s time for an 18 kilometer hike to the highest mountain in Macedonia. That’s right, you heard me! Every year for Macedonia’s Indepenence Day, people from all across Macedonia and other Balkan countries (and America!) gather to hike Golem Korab meaning “Big Korab,” the name of the tallest peak here. And you guessed it, I joined the group this year!
Quick history note, in case you didn’t know. September 8th was when Macedonia declared it’s independence from Yugoslavia, just in 1991. So, Macedonia is quite a new country.
Quick history note, in case you didn’t know. September 8th was when Macedonia declared it’s independence from Yugoslavia, just in 1991. So, Macedonia is quite a new country.
My bucket list here in Macedonia includes many things, and I can now cross off hiking the tallest mountain, but I would still love to say that I’ve hiked the top 3. Ima vreme (there is time). Mount Golem Korab is located on the west side and borders Albania. On Saturday I traveled to my friend’s place in Gostivar where I stayed there with a few PCVs and an EVS volunteer (European volunteer) who is in my town. We planned to go to bed early and wake up in time for our 5:15 bus to take us to the mountain on Sunday morning. Well, instead of going to bed early, we went out, had a few drinks, and talked with local friends. Finally we fell asleep after making a “superbed” made from two couch beds (if you didn’t know this, volunteers love cuddling. We get very limited human contact and anytime we can snuggle with other volunteers, it’s a good day) and after we had a puppet show using a head light while giggling in bed. And you bet this shadow puppet show included my big flat feet! | |
Anyway, after barely three hours of sleep, we woke up and caught our bus with the Gostivar hiking club. We arrived at the trailhead around 7:15 and began hiking soon after. To summarize hiking up, it was very tough for me. I ordered my friends to go ahead even though they’re awesome and kept waiting for me at different points. There were people of all ages hiking and it was great to pass others who encouraged me or vice versa-it was a very positive environment to be in. The views were amazing, mountains rolling into others, overlapping each other-mountains were all we could see for miles. Again, I was walking in between Macedonia and Albania, just like the hikes the previous two weekends.
Finally, after a couple of hours and a few breaks, the peak looked reachable. “I can do this!” I kept telling myself. The peak is a little over 9,000 feet, so not as high as many mountains in the states, but it was still tough. The last stretch was the most difficult, where baby steps were all that I could manage. When I reached the top, there were happy people everywhere! Groups took turns taking their pictures at the Golem Korab sign with their country’s flags. Of course we had to get an American flag picture as well. Unfortunately there were man different PCV groups who came at different times, so we didn’t get a group picture with everyone but there were about 15 of us who hiked it. And we most definitely had to enjoy some rakija at the top to celebrate. We continued to rest as we sat with the hiking club we came with until it was time to head back down the mountain.
Finally, after a couple of hours and a few breaks, the peak looked reachable. “I can do this!” I kept telling myself. The peak is a little over 9,000 feet, so not as high as many mountains in the states, but it was still tough. The last stretch was the most difficult, where baby steps were all that I could manage. When I reached the top, there were happy people everywhere! Groups took turns taking their pictures at the Golem Korab sign with their country’s flags. Of course we had to get an American flag picture as well. Unfortunately there were man different PCV groups who came at different times, so we didn’t get a group picture with everyone but there were about 15 of us who hiked it. And we most definitely had to enjoy some rakija at the top to celebrate. We continued to rest as we sat with the hiking club we came with until it was time to head back down the mountain.
As our jello-ed legs carried us down the mountain, we past many other Peace Corps volunteers along the way, so the encouragement continued! We finally made it the bottom and were greeted with a nice luke warm beer to end the journey. We conversed with a couple we met from my town and rested until our bus took us home. There wasn’t much movement we all could do that night, so we ate delicious pancakes and crashed early. It was a very fulfilling weekend.
Below are a few pictures from the walk down. It's never a hike in Macedonia without seeing sheep and their shepherd! Also, this Macedonian flag was giant! People were camping next to it and it was a great way to descend the peak. I definitely was feeling patriotic towards Macedonia.
Below are a few pictures from the walk down. It's never a hike in Macedonia without seeing sheep and their shepherd! Also, this Macedonian flag was giant! People were camping next to it and it was a great way to descend the peak. I definitely was feeling patriotic towards Macedonia.
Also, if you want to check out some even better photos of the hike, check out my friend David's blog (he's the one pictured here-remember the pre hike stretch photo?) He's very talented and has awesome pictures of the hike and other places:
Go to his blog and then click the pictures labeled "Mavrovo National Park"
https://dstrouse.wordpress.com/photos/macedonia/
Next post is about my new apartment-coming soon!
XOxo
-R
Go to his blog and then click the pictures labeled "Mavrovo National Park"
https://dstrouse.wordpress.com/photos/macedonia/
Next post is about my new apartment-coming soon!
XOxo
-R