I am a member of the American Alpine Club, and have been all around the world. I must say that Macedonia is the most vertical place I have ever been to, even when compared to the Himalayas. The mountains here may not be as high as the Swiss Alps, say, but they are certainly steeper. And, because of the amount of white marble in them, they are quite dramatic-looking.
We arrived at the hunting area, where we were housed in a very modern lodge. This was no log-cabin facility. It was a stylish work of architecture, with all the modern comforts and conveniences one could desire. The rooms were quite spacious and beautifully appointed. There were none of those little annoyances you often run into at a place. Everything worked here, from the windows to the heating system. And the meals they served were Paris-quality, gourmet affairs presented with flair at the table. They also had satellite TV with CNN in English. We spent the evening here, and I started my chamois hunt the next day.
We drove up the mountains on a very steep road, then climbed on foot to a mountain ridge at about 2,500 to 3,000 feet. The ridge broke out into an open meadow; below it, there was a steep drop and rocks. We saw a number of chamois there. My guide and I lay down by a tree and waited for a large chamois buck. There were lots of them, so I had my choice of good animals. I shot one at 425 yards. My first shot hit too low because my guide did not understand exactly how to aim my range finder.........(continued)
