Armenia and its mighty Mount Aragats
Expedition to Elbrus gave us so much momentum that we simply had to travel to Armenia and see this amazing and wonderful country. A lot of people ask me, why we had to go there. Well, travellers are a different kind of people, we never have enough. Just assume that we will also visit something else when we say that we’re only going to Elbrus. This trip became so much more. We also visited Armenia. Of course, how couldn’t we, we travelled almost past it. Wonderful, green and also white in the beginning of May and on the other side dirty, with neglected villages, rubbish around and around, socialist buildings in the cities and factories that aren’t even working anymore. Oh, and their gas lines are constructed so a tractor can safely drive onto a field every few metres. Communication? If you’re lucky, they spoke Russian. And a part of our team also spoke Russian, so we were lucky.
Former paradise of Soviet Union
Armenia, former paradise of Soviet Union, is a country that left a positive impression on us, despite all that you read above. It’s the way it is and if you accept it, the country can be beautiful with every trash. We just saw what most tourists visit, we didn’t have time for any deeper exploring. Well, we did a little more than the others, because we climbed the highest hill. We were by the lake Sevan, 80 kilometres long, saw some churches, a temple... And of course the capital Yerevan, full of historic and cultural attractions. Before we left Yerevan, we wanted to buy the famous Armenian cognac. Yum, caramel taste, it really is excellent. And then we started our real adventure. We’re not regular travellers, we are also keen hikers and we like to join that with our travels. Looking at Mount Aragats from the bottom... “No, no, we want to watch from the top.”
Before climbing Mount Aragats
We were travelling on a very steep road with a van. There was more and more snow and even the van wasn’t visible from the “snow tunnel”. We were optimistic and almost got to the finish with our summer tyres. Yes, almost. We stopped around 100 metres before the finish and got stuck in the snow. Skid chains and the strength of six people and me behind the wheel didn’t move the van. One member of our group went to the cottage to get help and soon they pulled us out. Then they offered us a room where we could stay. We put all our things on the floor and the kind people offered us a kitchen to make ourselves some dinner. After an exciting day, an excellent dinner and an Armenian wine we didn’t really get much sleep. But that was all right. The next day was without a single cloud on the sky, windy and the view to the Mount Aragats was tempting.
Climbing Mount Aragats
Mount Aragats is the highest mountain of Armenia with 4090 metres. It is an extinct volcano with four peaks that form a circle around the crater. We started to make our way early in the morning. You have a feeling that the peak is close and that the path is really simple but you soon figure out that it will take some time to get to the top. The wind was making us some trouble but it was all worth it when we looked at the view. Yes, the view gave me a new idea. We will have to climb to Mount Ararat. It was a wonderful day, the view was clear, only the thoughts were a bit confused. Even when you struggle, you have to convince yourself that you can do it. You just have to climb on top, it will be an extra bonus for your travel.
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The trip went by quickly. A team of seven, six men and me, with a big age difference, got along more than we wished and imagined. Everyone wished to climb the highest mountain and we did it, everything else was just a bonus. We stood on Mount Aragats, and under it is beautiful Armenia.
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