Climbing Mount Korab, the Highest Peak in Macedonia, with Our Six-Month-Old Son

For those parents who are wondering and hesitating about whether they should take their newborn babies and young children to the mountains, the answer is - YES. However, they must be careful, experienced, and respect the rules of the mountain.

For those who have excuses that they cannot hike due to their responsibilities towards their children, the team at Kajak.mk challenges you today with the story of Michaela and her husband Filip, who, along with their six-month-old son Isaac, climbed the highest peak in Macedonia, Mount Korab.

Michaela says that she and her husband Filip Ilioski are avid mountain lovers. Their hiking journey began the day they met. Since then, they have been hiking frequently and have visited many peaks across Macedonia.

She adds that when she returns from the mountain, it feels as though she’s coming home after a long journey. The mountains fulfill her and give her strength, recharging her batteries to face the fast-paced life of everyday life. It is on the mountain that she truly finds herself.

They have been hiking together for 4 years. So far, they have visited Selechka Mountain (Tome Temelkoski Mountain Hut, Chule Peak, Ustrelec, Livada), then Solunska Glava, Ljuboten, and the highest peak in Macedonia, Korab, where they brought their six-month-old son Isaac.

“Hiking is the only sport that gives you the chance to see the world from above. To reach the peak, look down below, realize who you are, and reflect on yourself,” says Michaela.

The Kajak.mk team asked how they decided to take Isaac hiking, to which Michaela gave the following response:

"It was Friday, and we were sitting with my husband, discussing which peak to climb. He suggested it should be Korab. At first, I hesitated, I was honestly scared. I thought about everything – the difficulty of the hike, the baby's adaptation to the altitude, the thin air, and many other things, but in the end, I said, let's go. We started from the checkpoint where there is a road for cars and moved upwards. Along the way, everything went great. Isaac was placed in a special child carrier, suitable for children from 6 months and up, and Filip carried him. We had feeding breaks three times, but it wasn’t anything serious; it’s one of those usual things that happen every day."

After 4.5 hours of hiking, we reached the highest peak in North Macedonia. Before us appeared a green sign that read "Korab 2764 m above sea level." Isaac woke up from his sleep because he had been asleep earlier and started to laugh. To be honest, we were all surprised, as he is so small but already understands and enjoys the mountain. There were about 20 people at the peak from different countries, all speaking English, congratulating us and offering support and compliments for our achievement. One of the hikers even asked in English to take a photo with Isaac, which we gladly agreed to. Then, we all ate together at the peak before heading back. Isaac slept for most of the trail. It wasn’t until we reached the hut that he started to feel hungry. We stopped, fed him, and continued. We had a great time that day. Honestly, I’m amazed at how quickly a baby can adapt, even faster than an adult. The experience of having a baby on the mountain was excellent, especially when both parents are hikers. Still, the mountains can be very harsh. They have their own rules, which we all must respect. We must never underestimate the power of the mountains,” Michaela shares.

Michaela advises parents not to hesitate about taking their children to the mountains. It is important to ensure they have the proper equipment and take everything they need with them. First, bring 1.5 liters of water for the baby (for food preparation), two baby bottles filled with water or tea to prevent dehydration, a hat, scarf, gloves, wet wipes, baby food, fruit, diapers, leggings, 3-4 pairs of socks, a ski suit, shoes, two pacifiers, baby sunglasses for sun protection, and a blanket. These are just some of the basic items to bring when hiking with a baby, and this gear is also necessary during the summer. As we mentioned earlier, the mountains can be unpredictable and harsh. It can be 25°C in the valleys when you start your hike, but at the peak, it might be only 1-2°C.

"The baby backpack is the best investment we have made. Previously, when Isaac was only 2.5 months old, we took him to Pelister to the Lovec Mountain Hut, which unfortunately recently burned down. It is located at 2000 meters above sea level. After that, we went to the Toma Temelkoski Mountain Hut, to a place called Kazantash, and to Toptash," adds Michaela.

In addition to their successful hikes, Michaela mentions that they had an unsuccessful attempt to summit Solunska Glava, where strong winds started blowing just 100 meters from the finish, and they had to turn back. This highlights the importance that hiking should never be forced; it requires discipline and awareness, especially when traveling with young children.