Sky's the Limit for 5-Year-Old Hiker

August 1, 2008— -- Weekends of tea parties and play dates aren't in the forecast for 5-year-old Yunona Bukasov. She's too busy scaling some of the world's highest mountains.

Despite her young age, the Salt Lake City resident has already summited some of the world's highest peaks, including central California's Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the continental United States with a summit of 14,496 feet.

Yunona's father, Rostislav Bukasov, told ABCNews.com that Yunona's extraordinary hiking abilities were not noticed overnight.

After a series of successful hikes during the past two years, including Utah's 11,300-foot Mount Pfeiferhorn and 11,750-foot Mount Timpanogos, and even Mount Olympus in Greece, at 9,000 feet, her parents marveled at her unique skill for her age.

"Each time Yunona beat our expectations," Bukasov said from his office at the University of Utah, where he and his wife, Olena, are both Ph.D. students. "What for many adults is perceived as too dangerous, is fun for her."

Yunona, who turned 5 in June, is a prodigy in more ways than one. The little girl can read in two languages, recognize about 50 countries on a globe and name most of their capitals, and add and subtract four-digit numbers, according to her father.

He believes hiking can be a very positive learning experience. "There are obstacles, and you need to plan in advance what you need to eat, when you need to rest," said Bukasov.

"It brings up patience and self control in children. You must be focused and concentrated and attentive in what you're doing." These are the traits he hopes to instill in his children.

Because the family does not have either a home phone or a cell phone, Yunona was not available to speak to ABCNews.com. But she told ABC affiliate ABC4 that climbing the mountains makes her feel good and said, "I like to eat when I get to the top."

Bukasov surveyed 40 of his students to find out how many of the 56 national parks they have visited and found that most have not been to more than four or five. Yunona and her family have been to 21 national parks in the past 13 months.

And Yunona isn't the only Bukasov daughter to trek nature's peaks. Her 3-year-old sister Alice is a hiker "to some extent," said Bukasov.

While hiking can be a dangerous activity, Bukasov said he prepares his family for their long hikes and makes sure that he does not over-exert Yunona and Alice.

"I would never put my children in any danger," he said. "Day care is more dangerous for their health then hiking."