Mount Ararat (5137 m) is the highest peak of the Armenian Highlands and the Lesser Caucasus. It consists of two extinct volcanoes fused at their bases: Greater and Lesser Ararat. It lies in Turkey, 16 km from the Iranian and 32 km from the Armenian state borders. The mountain is in the ethnogeographic region of Kurdistan.
It is a cult place, wrapped in legends. According to the Bible, Noah’s ark, which had saved him from the worldwide flood, came to rest on the summit of the Ararat mountains, and Noah, having left the ark, built the first altar after the Flood and made a sacrifice, giving thanks to God for his salvation. According to the Bible, on Mount Ararat God made a Covenant with Noah and promised that he would no longer punish humankind by destroying people with the waters of a new flood, if people stopped destroying each other. According to a surviving legend, Noah planted a grapevine on Ararat, and from the harvest he got, instead of ordinary grape juice, new wine, and for the first time he became drunk on fermented grape juice, thus laying the foundation of winemaking. To this day scholars of different countries argue, and expeditions are fitted out in search of the remains of the legendary ark.
On 27 September (9 October) 1829 the first ascent was made of the western summit (5137 m) of the “biblical” Mount Ararat, which at that time lay in territory belonging to Russia. The group of pioneers was led by the 62-year-old academician of the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences Johann Friedrich Parrot, a Russian physicist of German origin who had worked in Russia since 1800.
From the summit of Greater Ararat there is a magnificent view over Armenia, Iran and Turkey.
Why are we going to Ararat?
We decided that in 2012 we simply had to climb to the place where “this light” began after the flood.
The biblical catastrophe and the predictions of modern oracles will meet for us at the point 5137 at the end of June 2012.
There are a few more reasons:
- The climb is simple: easier than Elbrus, though the height is almost the same.
- It is warmer there, and the equipment needed is simpler.
- We want to hire cars in Istanbul (one for each participant) and drive around Turkey, looking in on the most beautiful places
Programme of the journey.
Day 1:
Flight Kyiv – Antalya. Night in a hotel.
Day 2:
Buying food and gas. Car hire, a journey along the coast. Overnight near Ceyhan. Swimming in the sea. Overnight on the coast in tents.
Day 3:
Journey to Lake Van. Excursion, swimming. Overnight in the same place.
Day 4:
Doğubayazıt. Transfer to the village of Eli (2200 m). Agreement with a guide. Hike to the first camp (3200 m). Overnight in tents.
Day 5:
Acclimatisation day. Going up to 4200 m. Return to the camp at 3200 m. Overnight in tents.
Day 6:
Hike to the camp at 4200 m. The luggage is carried on mules or horses. Sessions on using the equipment needed for the climb. Equipment check. Overnight in tents.
For those who are not climbing, walks in the surroundings.
Day 7:
At about 1 a.m. the start of the climb to the summit of Greater Ararat (5137 m). From about 4500 m snow and ice begin. Descent to the foot of the mountain (7-12 hours). Transfer to Eli. Overnight in tents.
For those who are not climbing, descent to Eli.
Day 8:
Trabzon. Rest by the sea. Overnight in tents.
Day 9:
A drive along the coast to Samsun. Excursions, getting to know the country. Overnight in tents.
Day 10:
Transfer to Karasu. Rest by the sea. Overnight in tents.
Day 11:
Istanbul. Excursions. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 12:
Troy, Ephesus. Wonders of the world. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 13:
Pamukkale. Hot springs. Transfer to Antalya. Returning the car to the hire company. Overnight in a hotel.
