Children’s Hike in Javakhk: Perseverance and Victory
A new milestone for 4 Peaks: 29 km, 1,300 m of elevation gain, and the youngest member of the group just 8 years old.
«Ну, что – слабо?» (“So, are you up for it?”)
On May 9–11 we were in Javakhk. This was the club’s third trip abroad, and it promised to be memorable and challenging. There is an interesting phenomenon in the club: the harder the hike, the more enthusiastically the children take part. This time was no exception. We set off with 30 people. The first stop was in Gyumri. When we reached Vardanants Square, the city hadn’t woken up yet: there were very few people in the streets, and all the restaurants were either closed or just preparing to open. After resting and eating in Gyumri, we reached the Bavra checkpoint and crossed the border easily. Abul was the first to greet us, in all its grandeur. With its head covered in snow, the mountain looked like a giant from below. The fields and small hills, the low peaks were completely green, while the high peaks gradually turned from green to white. The small and large lakes we met along the way, which had also taken on the green color of the mountains, conveyed a different mood.
The second stop was Lake Parvana. We arrived, chose a spot for the tent camp and started setting up the tents. Apart from games and a pleasant time, we hadn’t planned anything for this day. What plans could there be, if the next day we had to walk from Lake Parvana to the summit of Abul and back to Parvana again. Football, volleyball, a walk, conversations, a calm lake, the smell of grass and sheep coming back from the pasture, the sky delicately colored by the setting sun, a campfire, moonlight, whispers heard in the tents before falling asleep… that was May 9, which would warm our hearts.
May 10 began with honey-sweet sun, the blue calm of the sky and our determination to reach the summit of Abul. Mount Abul is an extinct volcano in the Abul-Samsar mountain range. It is the highest (3,301 m) extinct volcano in the Javakhk highlands. The road passed through rolling fields, where the chirping of birds mixed with the rustle of the gentle breeze. The scent of spring nature could be felt everywhere: in the smell of the grass, in the birdsong and in the children’s smiles. In the distance, the mountain stood proud and calm, covered with the last snow of spring. When the slope began to rise and Small Abul and Abul appeared in the distance, standing side by side like giants, nature changed its breath. The mountains seemed to be quietly waiting for us, as a challenge and a reward. The green gave way to grey slopes and snow-covered peaks, where the air was warm but breath was short, not only because of the altitude, but also from fatigue and emotion. This silent giant raised questions in the children’s minds: will we really get there, how will we cover the long road to giant Abul, how will we overcome the steep slopes, and most importantly, will they manage to play football again. The children climbed with persistent steps, some sweating, others quietly focused. When the last steps led to the summit, the excitement was impossible to hide. Abul was no longer a distant mountain: it had become a dream come true. The children covered 29 kilometers, overcoming 1,300 meters of elevation gain. But these numbers don’t tell the whole story. They walked with spirit, with comradeship and with a hiker’s real courage. The road was sometimes flat and gentle, sometimes rocky and windy, but their eyes were always directed forward. It really was a difficult hike, but the children managed to overcome this challenge too. For more than an hour on the way back we walked by the light of headlamps, impatiently waiting for when we would finally reach our tents. Near the tents, the children’s excited comments about the hike could be heard. But it is especially worth mentioning the youngest participant of our group, 8-year-old Athena, who was the greatest hero of this hike. We will write about her separately.
The third day was planned for waking up late, but by 7:30 the camp was already busy. We packed up the tents and set off for the cave city of Vardzia. Vardzia is a unique rock-cut complex, where more than 600 rooms have been carved into the vertical rocks: churches, dining halls, wine cellars and storerooms. The complex was built so that the enemy could not easily see it, like a secret stone city. Vardzia is also famous for its beautiful stone church, inside which wonderful frescoes have been preserved, including a portrait of Queen Tamar. After getting to know all this, we returned to Armenia.
For the children, the hike to Mount Abul became not only a physical victory, but also a path of inner growth. They overcame the 29-kilometer road and 1,300 m of altitude with spirit, friendship and enthusiasm, proving that even the hardest road becomes possible when you walk together. In the embrace of Javakhk’s nature they lived a real adventure, and in the cave city of Vardzia they felt the breath of history. Experiences like these shape a strong, brave generation full of love.
- Distance covered: 29 km
- Elevation gain: 1,300 m
- Summit height: 3,301 m
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