Reaching the snows of Kilimanjaro
Prilep, 8 April 2021 (MIA) - Ernest Hemingway wrote “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”. But, 32-year-old hiker and social worker Marijana Gjorgjievska from Prilep has her own story of reaching the summit underneath the everlasting snows. Her story is, for now, the only story of a woman from Prilep who’s climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.
A month and a little more ago, more precisely on February 26, 2021, at 7:20 am according to local Tanzanian time, Marijana reached the highest point of Africa at 5,895 meters, Uhuru Peak, on the mountain of three volcanos, at the peak with eternal snow in Africa.
It all comes from a lifelong mountain climbing desire, which grew into a desire for high altitude climbing three and a half years ago. The challenge is irresistible – being at the top, looking at the world from above. As tough as it is, the pleasure is timeless and inevitable. The feeling of freedom, width, endlessness, leaving a mark to remember, pleasing one’s personal need to prove that one can is indescribable and a once in a lifetime experience.
That’s how Marijana started talking about the unique experience. She said that the Serbian-Macedonian Kilimanjaro expedition was supposed to start last year, but it was delayed due to the pandemic.
“Kilimanjaro was my love. It’s one of the Seven Summits. Every hiker with self-respect, who wants to achieve something in their climbing, has to have this agenda to climb seven summits on seven continents, one of them being Kilimanjaro in Africa. Before it, I’ve climbed Elbrus in Europe and Aconcagua in Argentina, South America. Kilimanjaro was next, a mountain with an eternal mark in literature, and it’s a part of the Seven. The expedition was supposed to start last year, but the pandemic delayed the plans. So, this new feat started in February this year,” Marijana says.
The preparations, informational and conditional, were like all others, strengthened with protective measures. They didn’t need negative PCR tests and didn’t have any bigger obstacles.
“We’ve followed every healthcare measure even during prep. I didn’t face any big obstacles. I kept myself active during 2020, climbing local mountains. I cycle to keep myself active for other feats. My crew has five members: two people from Macedonia and Serbia and our Serbian guide. We also had a crew of local guides. We didn’t need to get a PCR test done for entering Tanzania, we had no issues when we took off and landed there. There were some complications upon returning that were solved with communication with embassies,” Marijana says.
Kilimanjaro is part of the literature of the world, as well as of the climbing map of the world. Usually, this climb is called easy, but I say it isn’t when people ask me, Marijana says. Why?
“The mountain is easy, there are no moments where you need special climbing techniques. But, the weight of the climb itself is in the fact that we have a quick entrance to and exit from the national park. After two and a half days in the national park, we headed to the last climb, to the highest point on the crater ridge of Kibo. The fact that we didn’t have acclimatization, that we climbed alpine style, that’s what made it difficult. Kilimanjaro is the mountain with the biggest height difference. It’s not a part of a mountain range, it’s independent. It’s amazing that the bottom of the mountain and the initial stages are in a tropical environment, full of amazing flora and fauna. But then we encountered snow the higher up we went. They say the snows are eternal,” Marijana says.
Each peak gives you a different feeling, due to the trail you walk and all the thoughts that run through your head.
“Because each trail is different, so is our attitude. Each climb is an independent story, a different experience, completely incomparable to anything else,” Marijana adds.
She was astonished by the local coronavirus protection habits.
“Their hygiene habits are different to what we’ve got. They’re not as strict, they don’t practice social distancing and they don’t wear masks. Hygiene levels are low. They just disinfect to protect from the coronavirus. It is what it is. Local governments say the infection rate is low, but it was my responsibility to protect myself and keep climbing towards my dream,” Marijana says.
She confirms to be the first woman from Prilep to have climbed Kilimanjaro. She says that she’s climbed three of the seven summits herself. Her wish is to go to the other continents as well.
“I’ve climbed Elbrus in Europe, Aconcagua in South America and Kilimanjaro in Africa. I’m almost halfway there, just missing North America, Australia and Oceania, Asia and Antarctica. Health comes first, though,” Marijana says with a smile.
The social worker from Prilep who works at the Center for Social Work in Prilep, is not a homebody during weekends. She does sports, cycles, hikes. The pandemic hit her hard, limiting her travels outside of the country last year in particular. Now that she’s climbed the peak of Kilimanjaro, she feels liberated, full of energy and the need to continue climbing peaks.
“I’m the first woman from Prilep who’s climbed Kilimanjaro. I’m not too sure about this, but I think I’m the second woman from Macedonia who’s climbed three of the seven summits. Ilina [Arsova] has climbed all seven, as well as other Macedonians. Health comes first, then everything else. Every mountain climber wants to climb more and conquer more summits. But let’s get stabilized first and know where we’re at. I want to climb the other summits. Four continents remain. I hope the institutions help us out in the future for such feats. So far, we’ve had no financial support, or support of any kind from the Mountain Sport Federation, nor the Agency of Youth and Sport. I make do with a sponsor. But I hope it’ll happen,” Marijana says with a smile and enthusiasm. Her quest to the top started in August 2017 when she climbed Mont Blanc. Who knows where her path will take her.
“I grew up with advice that clean air, being in nature, and mountain climbing are healthy, especially during a pandemic. Thank God everyone at home is being safe, and we’re all healthy. Let’s hope it stays that way for everyone. They could join us in nature, in fresh air, in conquering. Whatever it is. It doesn’t have to be on high altitudes, it’s just important to have a desire to make one’s wishes a reality. That’s the balance of a healthy, fulfilled life, to accomplish a big part of our lives’ goals, if not everything. My list is very long, and I am not giving up on it. I want to cross off many things. Health and perseverance,” Marijana Gjorgjievska, mountain climber from Prilep says, always full of optimism that wasn’t stifled by the pandemic, rushing to fulfill her dreams – to have part of existence noted, and to fulfill the meaning of life, by conquering heights if necessary.
Elizabeta Mitreska
Translated by Dragana Knezhevikj
It all comes from a lifelong mountain climbing desire, which grew into a desire for high altitude climbing three and a half years ago. The challenge is irresistible – being at the top, looking at the world from above. As tough as it is, the pleasure is timeless and inevitable. The feeling of freedom, width, endlessness, leaving a mark to remember, pleasing one’s personal need to prove that one can is indescribable and a once in a lifetime experience.
That’s how Marijana started talking about the unique experience. She said that the Serbian-Macedonian Kilimanjaro expedition was supposed to start last year, but it was delayed due to the pandemic.
“Kilimanjaro was my love. It’s one of the Seven Summits. Every hiker with self-respect, who wants to achieve something in their climbing, has to have this agenda to climb seven summits on seven continents, one of them being Kilimanjaro in Africa. Before it, I’ve climbed Elbrus in Europe and Aconcagua in Argentina, South America. Kilimanjaro was next, a mountain with an eternal mark in literature, and it’s a part of the Seven. The expedition was supposed to start last year, but the pandemic delayed the plans. So, this new feat started in February this year,” Marijana says.
The preparations, informational and conditional, were like all others, strengthened with protective measures. They didn’t need negative PCR tests and didn’t have any bigger obstacles.
“We’ve followed every healthcare measure even during prep. I didn’t face any big obstacles. I kept myself active during 2020, climbing local mountains. I cycle to keep myself active for other feats. My crew has five members: two people from Macedonia and Serbia and our Serbian guide. We also had a crew of local guides. We didn’t need to get a PCR test done for entering Tanzania, we had no issues when we took off and landed there. There were some complications upon returning that were solved with communication with embassies,” Marijana says.
Kilimanjaro is part of the literature of the world, as well as of the climbing map of the world. Usually, this climb is called easy, but I say it isn’t when people ask me, Marijana says. Why?
“The mountain is easy, there are no moments where you need special climbing techniques. But, the weight of the climb itself is in the fact that we have a quick entrance to and exit from the national park. After two and a half days in the national park, we headed to the last climb, to the highest point on the crater ridge of Kibo. The fact that we didn’t have acclimatization, that we climbed alpine style, that’s what made it difficult. Kilimanjaro is the mountain with the biggest height difference. It’s not a part of a mountain range, it’s independent. It’s amazing that the bottom of the mountain and the initial stages are in a tropical environment, full of amazing flora and fauna. But then we encountered snow the higher up we went. They say the snows are eternal,” Marijana says.
Each peak gives you a different feeling, due to the trail you walk and all the thoughts that run through your head.
“Because each trail is different, so is our attitude. Each climb is an independent story, a different experience, completely incomparable to anything else,” Marijana adds.
She was astonished by the local coronavirus protection habits.
“Their hygiene habits are different to what we’ve got. They’re not as strict, they don’t practice social distancing and they don’t wear masks. Hygiene levels are low. They just disinfect to protect from the coronavirus. It is what it is. Local governments say the infection rate is low, but it was my responsibility to protect myself and keep climbing towards my dream,” Marijana says.
She confirms to be the first woman from Prilep to have climbed Kilimanjaro. She says that she’s climbed three of the seven summits herself. Her wish is to go to the other continents as well.
“I’ve climbed Elbrus in Europe, Aconcagua in South America and Kilimanjaro in Africa. I’m almost halfway there, just missing North America, Australia and Oceania, Asia and Antarctica. Health comes first, though,” Marijana says with a smile.
The social worker from Prilep who works at the Center for Social Work in Prilep, is not a homebody during weekends. She does sports, cycles, hikes. The pandemic hit her hard, limiting her travels outside of the country last year in particular. Now that she’s climbed the peak of Kilimanjaro, she feels liberated, full of energy and the need to continue climbing peaks.
“I’m the first woman from Prilep who’s climbed Kilimanjaro. I’m not too sure about this, but I think I’m the second woman from Macedonia who’s climbed three of the seven summits. Ilina [Arsova] has climbed all seven, as well as other Macedonians. Health comes first, then everything else. Every mountain climber wants to climb more and conquer more summits. But let’s get stabilized first and know where we’re at. I want to climb the other summits. Four continents remain. I hope the institutions help us out in the future for such feats. So far, we’ve had no financial support, or support of any kind from the Mountain Sport Federation, nor the Agency of Youth and Sport. I make do with a sponsor. But I hope it’ll happen,” Marijana says with a smile and enthusiasm. Her quest to the top started in August 2017 when she climbed Mont Blanc. Who knows where her path will take her.
“I grew up with advice that clean air, being in nature, and mountain climbing are healthy, especially during a pandemic. Thank God everyone at home is being safe, and we’re all healthy. Let’s hope it stays that way for everyone. They could join us in nature, in fresh air, in conquering. Whatever it is. It doesn’t have to be on high altitudes, it’s just important to have a desire to make one’s wishes a reality. That’s the balance of a healthy, fulfilled life, to accomplish a big part of our lives’ goals, if not everything. My list is very long, and I am not giving up on it. I want to cross off many things. Health and perseverance,” Marijana Gjorgjievska, mountain climber from Prilep says, always full of optimism that wasn’t stifled by the pandemic, rushing to fulfill her dreams – to have part of existence noted, and to fulfill the meaning of life, by conquering heights if necessary.
Elizabeta Mitreska
Translated by Dragana Knezhevikj 
