Are we ready?
The first questions you will usually ask yourself: are we ready for the mountains? Are we fit? Will the children endure? Will we endure? Could we get lost? Will there be a storm?
If you are a resident of Skopje, you can check your readiness for hiking or mountain biking quickly and easily – at Vodno. If you need no more than 1 hour from Vodno Middle Station to Krstovar Peak (Olympic or Penzionerska trail) or from Panorama to Krstovar Peak 2 hours, then you are ready for all hiking trails (up to 6 km in the direction / 1000 m altitude difference). For the highland paths that exceed the stated values, you will need to climb from Panorama to Krstovar Peak at least 4 times (weekends) in a row.
GPS and navigation
On all our posts we publish GPS Download, a link that actually provides a download of a gpx file with coordinates from the particular trail. And what do I do with the file?
The best option is to get a separate GPS navigation device. By far the best option for us is the Garmin GPSMAP 62s – an older model that uses ordinary batteries. There are a variety of GPS navigation devices on the market today from different manufacturers – the choice is yours. In your device, you usually import all your favorite gpx files via USB, and that’s it. Advantages: the battery lasts for days, and if it does not last, you put new ones. Disadvantages: expensive.
The second option is your smartphone. Choose your favourite navigation application, but make sure there is an option for offline maps because in most mountains the network coverage with GSM signal is missing (our suggestion: OsmAnd). Import your favourite gpx files and off you go. Advantages: cheap option. Disadvantages: battery.
Cartography: Forget Google and all the other popular cartography services. For this purpose, the most accurate cartography is on OpenStreetMap or OSM (open source).
Weather forecast
The weather conditions must be taken very seriously, especially on the mountain. Always keep this in mind, even if it is warm, sunny and the calmest in the world. Be sure to check the weather conditions and forecasts that are most accurate usually one day before departure. Even on Vodno it can be seriously dangerous if unfavourable weather conditions prevail – this is from our experience.
One of the better apps (Android + iOS): Storm Radar
For more serious high-altitude ventures, check out:
Equipment
(Coming soon)
Disclaimer
If you are unsure of your ability to climb a mountain on your own, we strongly recommend that you hire a hiking guide or sign up for an organized tour (although most mountaineering associations are a bit sceptical about children’s participation). There are several mountaineering clubs that publish their tours on FB.
turnimedakinisam.mk dissociates itself from all possible accidents and injuries that could occur as a result of non-compliance with the rules of conduct on the mountain, or as a result of force majeure or severe weather conditions. All content on this blog is informative and we deny any responsibility that may arise by undesired events.
- Tips for hiking with children (read more ..)
