Passion and love for nature, sporting spirit, adrenaline, and excitement brought Naida, Aldin, and eight-year-old Nia in the true sense of the word to one of the rooftops of the world.
The three-member family from Sarajevo is known as passionate lovers of sports and pushing boundaries, and they crossed one such boundary this May when they climbed the highest mountain peak in North Africa.
It was a feat with which the Avdic family, in a way, also wrote pages of the climbing history of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the African continent, because Nia, at only eight years old, according to official data, became the youngest BiH citizen to successfully climb the 4.167-meter-high peak of Toubkal in Morocco.
“The climb to the peak of Toubkal usually takes three days. We managed to complete the ascent in two days. Everything went according to plan, without any unforeseen situations. On the first day, we went from the base village at 1.800 meters to 3.200. At that location we slept in a tent, and then in the morning around four o’clock we headed toward the very summit. The peak is at 4.167 meters of altitude and we reached it around seven o’clock. Usually, after climbing the peak, people return to the hut at 3.200 and sleep over, then return to the village. However, we immediately returned to the starting point, and then went to Marrakesh, which is actually the central city from where everything begins,” says Aldin Avdic, who together with his wife Naida has years of experience in conquering some of the highest peaks.
Nevertheless, in Morocco, the main star was eight-year-old Nia. A girl who from an early age has shown talent in sports, swimming, gymnastics, and karate, drew admiration from everyone.
“People were truly delighted, they gave her support, and we as parents are proud. Nia is the youngest person from BiH who has climbed the peak of Toubkal and is certainly one of the youngest in the world since this peak cannot be climbed without a permit from an agency, that is, the Government of Morocco. Namely, the tourist agencies that organize the ascents are required to register all climbers, this was introduced by the Government to reduce the number of accidents,” emphasizes mother Naida, who two years ago became the first woman from BiH to climb the summit of Ama Dablam.
The Avdic married couple has in their collection of feats also the highest peak of Europe, Elbrus, and are already making plans for new achievements together with their daughter.
“The goal for this year is for Nia to collect all the peaks of the Balkans. She has already been on Triglav, Maglic, the highest peak of Bulgaria – Musala, in Croatia on Dinara… Next up are Serbia, Albania, Romania, Greece,” explained Aldin Avdic, who announced that the long-term plan is Mount Everest.
