One of the oldest mountaineers from Macedonia fulfilled his wish: He climbed to this place a thousand times (PHOTO)

When Sali Buranedin (67) from Skopje climbed Thessaloniki head (2.540 meters above sea level) on the mountain Jakupica four decades ago, he couldn't even imagine that he would climb this mountain peak in Macedonia a thousand times. 

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However, as he was conquering mountaintops, the mountains conquered him, and in time, he wished to climb Thessaloniki head one thousand times. That wish came true on September 22. He climbed to the top of mountain Jakupica, walking on goat trails and steep rocks. 40 of his friends from the mountaineering society Bistro from Skopje came with him. Gojko Gegovski (86) from Gostivar was among them, and they celebrated the 1000th climb with a bottle of champagne.

He climbed that top of 2.540 meters for the first time 42 years ago, to be precise, on October 12, 1976. He climbed it fifty times as a member of the traditional marathon Boogumil - Ceples - Vodno, which is 80 km long. He crossed 4.000 km in these marathons.

Foto: sdk.mk

In the beginning, Buran didn't have any desire to break down the records, just as an exercise. The mountain is his love, and he used each free day to go there. He used to climb the mountain several times a month, and around 10 years ago, he wishes to conquer the mountain 1000 times, and he used to climb the top of the mountain Jakupica 3 times in a single day. 

- I was at the top 954 times so far at the start of this year. And then the desire to conquer the top 1000 times grew even stronger. That is not some feat, but it means a lot to me. In September I reached three nines, and I decided to leave the 1000th climb for September 22nd, together with the members of the Mountaineering society Bistra from Skopje - he said to portal sdk.mk, a couple of days before he accomplished his goal.

Foto: karas4training.com

There was a great surprise waiting for him when Buran climbed to the highest point on September 22. His friends from the mountaineering society placed a metal board which said: "Thessaloniki head, 2540m, 1.000 climbs, 22.09.2018, Buran".

When he saw that, Buran almost cried, and he celebrated this record with his friends and with a bottle of champagne. 

Foto: karas4training.com

This persistent mountaineer is retired, and he spent his entire work era in General Affairs and Common Affairs Office of the Macedonian Government.

So far Buran has won the highest peaks in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Twice he was at the highest volcanic peak in Asia, Damavand in Iran (5,671 meters above sea level) and the top of Mount Ararat in Turkey (5,137 meters), as well as on the highest peaks in Africa, Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) and Mount Kenya (5,199 m). 

Foto: karas4training.com

- Twice I climbed to the highest peak in Europe, Mont Blanc and ten times to Triglav, the highest peak of the Julian Alps in Slovenia. From ten to twenty times I have climbed to the highest Balkan peaks - Musala (2,925 m) and Vihren (2,914 m) in Bulgaria, Mount Olympus in Greece (2,918 m) and the highest peak in Macedonia, Korab (2,764 m).

Together with the mountain climber Stojance Kostovski from Kriva Palanka in 1996, we crossed the whole territory of Macedonia along the 900 km borderline, praised Sali Burandenin, and told young people to engage in mountain climbing and to be persistent in climbing, because this physical activity can only benefit them.

Foto: karas4training.com

(Telegraf.co.uk / D.J.)