From Slopes to Stories: Metodi Chilimanov on Macedonia’s Ski-Touring Past🎿 |
⛷ What happens when the ski lifts stop working, and you’re left staring at the untouched slopes above? You hike, of course! 🥾🤣
🤗 For this newsletter, we interviewed one of our local guides, Metodi Chilimanov, to get a glimpse of the history of North Macedonia’s ski-touring scene.
🏔 A story of perseverance, reinvention, and powder as seen through his eyes👇
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🕰 Let’s take you back to the fall of communism. Ski resorts stuck in the 80s, lifts perpetually broken, and frustrated skiers staring longingly at pristine peaks. AHhh I can just feel the frustration😫.
⛷ Ski-touring legend (and our local guide😉) Metodi Chilimanov sums it up perfectly:
You’re stuck at the base, looking at these beautifully
powdered slopes above you, and the lift is never working.
👉 The solution? Stop waiting, start hikiiiing.
🇲🇰 A whole generation of Macedonian skiers decided to trade reliance on outdated resorts for freedom on the mountains. “It was liberating,” Metodi recalls. Thus, ski-touring in North Macedonia was born—a sport fueled by ambition, self-reliance, and a love for the great outdoors.
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🤔 From Frustration To Sustainability |
🏃Fast forward to the late 90s and early 2000s, and the Balkans were buzzing with a new kind of adventurer. Ultra-marathon runners and climbers found themselves lured by North Macedonia’s untouched snowfields.
🏞 Regions like the Sharr Mountains and Pelister National Park (have you checked our last newsletter? 🤓 ) became hotspots for steep descents, rugged terrain, and pristine powder.
🎿 What started as day-trips up North Macedonian peaks turned into multi-day escapades spanning Albania, Kosovo, and beyond. The untouched slopes and sparse crowds make this region a hidden gem 💎 for thrill-seekers. As Metodi puts it:
Even on Korab Mountain, the highest peak,
sometimes all we can see is our own tracks from the previous week.
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👀 Why Ski-Touring Should Be on Your Bucket List |
Let’s face it: North Macedonia isn’t your average ski destination—and that’s its charm.
📍 No Crowds: Just you, your tracks, and the silence of the mountains.
❄️ Untouched Powder: This isn’t your groomed-resort kind of skiing—it’s raw, wild, and exhilarating.
😇 Eco-Friendly Fun: Adventure without the guilt.
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🤟 Ready To Ditch The Lifts? |
🚠 Whether you’re a seasoned ski-tourer or an adrenaline junkie looking for your next thrill, North Macedonia promises experiences you’ll never forget. The mountains are calling, the slopes are waiting, and the adventure is endless.
🎒So, pack your gear and your sense of adventure—it’s time to explore the untamed beauty of the Balkans!
P.S. If you get to the top of Korab Mountain and all you see is your own tracks… snap a picture and call yourself a legend. You’ve earned it. 😉
(And send us that pic too!😍)
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🚀 If you'd love to start planning your next adventure, we are here for you, just text Giulia on WhatsApp and she'll help you out 🥰👇
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New Trips Announcements! 🥳 |
As the first snowflakes hit the ground (finally! ❄️), our excitement is through the roof for the adventures ahead— and we hope yours is too! 🤩
This season, we’ve packed in a lineup of epic trips and jaw-dropping destinations, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Each week, we’ll be unveiling new adventures on our stories, but first, we’re bringing some fun to the mix— a guessing game! 🎉
Think you know where we’re off to next? Jump into the polls, drop your best guesses, and get in on the action before the big reveal! ⛷
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📸 Pics from the community |
Discover Mapo Tapo through our travelers' eyes! In each newsletter, we'll be featuring a selection of our favorite snapshots taken during our trips worldwide.👇 Here's a sneak peak of our last trip to Nepal🇳🇵
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@ Mapo Tapo S.r.l. at Viale Piceno 6, 20129, Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
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