After 13 years, the Serbian flag has once again been spotted on the coldest peak on the planet – Denali (McKinley), North America’s highest point located in Alaska.
Mountaineers Igor Milošev (Belgrade Alpinist Section, EST) and Marko Nikolić (Radnički Mountaineering Club, Skyrunning Serbia) successfully summited on May 22, 2025. Igor reached the peak first at 8:30 PM local time, followed by Marko a little later at 10:15 PM.
Denali is considered one of the most complex peaks to ascend, not only due to its height and harsh weather conditions but also because expeditions are carried out completely independently – without the aid of guides, Sherpas, infrastructure, or agencies. Climbers carry all necessary items – tent, food, equipment, and fuel – on their backs and in sleds, often weighing more than 45 kilograms in total.
In addition, the mountain is known for avalanches, dangerous crevasses, and extreme temperatures that often drop below -40°C, accompanied by strong winds from the Arctic. The team was blocked at Camp 4 for nearly 7 days due to a storm.
With this ascent, Serbia now has a total of 11 mountaineers who have set foot on Denali’s summit. The last previous ascent was recorded in 2012, when Nina Adjanin became the first and only woman from Serbia to climb this peak.
The year 2025 has been exceptionally successful for Serbian high-altitude mountaineering; in May, our alpinists, in addition to Denali, also summited Everest, Dhaulagiri, as well as the famous north face of the Eiger in the Alps.
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Source: Telegraf, Photo: Igor Milošev, Marko Nikolić