I Want to Inspire People with the Beauty of Macedonia

When spring shines outside, yet the snow continues to fall, what remains for us is to focus on the inspiring stories of female heroes who conquer mountains in Macedonia. Today, we want to introduce you to Sanja, a woman who has climbed many peaks across the Balkans and Europe over the past few years and serves as a true motivator for those interested in starting mountain hiking.

Sanja has been present in the mountains for eight years, six of which have been intense, and she can say this without missing a single weekend.

She fell in love with hiking in 2013 during a trip to Velden on Lake Wörthersee, one of the most famous resorts in Austria. There, she managed to climb several peaks up to 2,000 meters in elevation, stay in a mountain hut, and visit several lakes that characterize the region.

After returning to Macedonia, she decided to continue exploring the mountains and the beauties that Macedonia offers. She began hiking through the 'I love hiking' society, which is now an official club she is a member of.

Her beginnings were on easier trails, such as hiking and cycling on Vodno, Skopska Crna Gora, Kitka, and easier mountain trails around Skopje, after which the mountain became her passion.

Sanja receives support from her loved ones. She says they support her because they know she truly loves it.

When asked about her toughest climbs, Sanja mentions Mount Ljuboten, which she climbed in 2018 by bicycle, and it remains one of the more challenging routes in Macedonia. This year, she plans to visit it again to see if it was really as tough as she remembers.

She loves traveling with a good team. Her favorites for hiking adventures are Dejan, Filip, and Daniel, with whom she has had many shared climbs, adventures, and friendships. For now, she wouldn't change them for anything, not even in the long term.

If she goes hiking with her favorite team, motivation is not needed. She says the only motivation is reaching the peak. The research and preparations for the trip are done together with the team before each mountain adventure. However, if she goes hiking with a less prepared team, she is usually the one who motivates the others.

Sanja spent the year 2021 in the Macedonian mountains. She says they have stunning beauties that are worth visiting. She has visited many places that she would love to return to.

She advises everyone who is thinking about starting hiking not to hesitate. She adds that hiking and mountain biking are sports that require physical preparedness. Therefore, in her opinion, it is best to start with physical training in the area where they live.