CITY College EXED

EMBA student conquers Mont Blanc

After a 4-day expedition EMBA student, Mr. Goran Nikoloski reached the summit of Mont Blanc and proudly held the CITY / Sheffield flag on the mountaintop, at 4.808m.

Mr. Goran Nikoloski, Manager in Product Management Area in Makedonski Telekom AD - Skopje (MKT) is both a successful businessman and an adventurous mountaineer. He started mountaineering in his early 30’s and has climbed many mountains since.
Mr. Nikoloski embraced the intense challenge of Mont Blanc with great success and spoke about his adventure.

How did it feel stepping on the top of the mountain holding the CITY/ Sheffield flag?
The feeling when you reach the top is indescribable. It was a great adventure and a great accomplishment too. I had the strength to climb, carrying with me things that mean a lot to me: the flag of the college I admire (CITY College / University of Sheffield) and the names of my family and friends. I had them in my mind while climbing of course, but bringing their flags and names with me I think meant a lot to all of them.

Was this the first mountain that you've conquered?
No. I have conquered many mountains in Macedonia (Korab, Solunska Glava, Titov Vrv, Magaro), Bulgaria (Vihren on Pirin mountain), Serbia (Midzor), Slovenia (Triglav, Grintovec, Turska gora, Dolgi Hrbet, Skuta, Velika and Mala Mojstrovka), Austria (Grossglockner, Ankogl), Italy (Marmolada), Switzerland (Breithorn), France (Mont Blanc). How long did it take you to conquer Mont Blanc (4.808 m.)?
Climbing Mont Blanc was a 4 day adventure. We departed from and arrived in Chamonix in France, we slept in two mountain huts ;one at 3.167 m. and one at 3.875 m. on the way up and down.

How do you prepare for such a trip?
Besides climbing on weekly basis, I also cycle and work out regularly.
What did you carry with you in your backpack while climbing?
We usually carry two or three rucksacks with us, but on the way to the peak we carry only one big rucksack with mountaineering equipment (harness, axe, helmet, ropes), clothes (underwear, jacket, cap, gloves), water, food, cameras and flags. I had the CITY / Sheffield flag with me and was really proud to hold it on the top of the mountain.
Was there an especially dangerous moment during your trip?
There are always dangerous moments in this kind of trips. For instance, due to warm weather, there are deep cracks in the glacier, sometimes covered with thin snow. We are walking through passes so small that the mountaineer must walk one foot in front of the other trying not to look in the abysses below. Since we are tied with ropes someone’s life depends of the strength of my hands. My life, too.