2nd “Tent Camp”
And once again we set off for Stepanavan, called by “Tent Camp” 2…
Day 1
We left Yerevan early in the morning. We packed the tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and backpacks properly and set off. Stepanavan welcomed us with lush greenery, fog and rain (it had rained hard the day before we arrived too, and the previous day as well). And we had to pitch our tents — build our 7-day camp settlement. Given the conditions, we decided to spend the night not in tents but in the guesthouse our hosts kindly offered us instead. After a lesson and a round of “Reds and Blacks,” we went out for a walk. Fresh, damp air, the sweet scent of nature, beautiful scenery, the kids’ many different conversations, close and trustworthy people — what else do you need for good days? This camp’s first-day discovery was the game Simba — a pretty interesting one. The campfire has become our traditional way of saying goodnight, and once again we wrapped up our day around it.
Day 2
8:00 AM: some are already awake, some are stubbornly refusing to get up. But getting up is unavoidable, since breakfast is at 9:00. The food here shouldn’t just be talked about — it has to be tried, but take our word for it, it’s very tasty and satisfying. After breakfast we took an orientation walk around Stepanavan, a town known for its cleanliness, tidiness and the hospitality of its people. From the bridge we admired the height of the Dzoraget gorge, the view, and the rush of the river reaching us from deep below. Today we finally pitched the tents and arranged our things. It’s ideal weather. Lying on the grass, drinking tea, reading a book and resting — now that was bliss. Of course the day is still going, but that’s it from us for today.
Day 3
Without any help from an alarm clock, we were all already awake by 8 in the morning. The fresh air, gentle sun, quiet and inner contentment made the morning even more beautiful. Today’s plan is a hike. After breakfast we arranged our backpacks and started walking. You draw strength from the forest and the mountains almost without meaning to — you feel inspired. In the forest, mushrooms in their own beauty and leaves in their lovely colors greeted us. The kids helped each other along the way (an older one taking a younger one’s hand, tying an undone shoelace) as they walked. Some were on their first ever hike, but that didn’t hold them back. Some of the kids even started walking barefoot. Chatting the whole way, we reached the river, took off our shoes and stepped into the water. For feet that had warmed up, the river’s coolness was ideal. Forest, mountains, a river, children lying in the grass, girls hunting for stones in the river, sincerely happy faces — all of it irreplaceable. This is the best way to break away from the noise of the city and blend into nature, to get to know your homeland, to talk with friends about something other than computer games — about what view will open up from the peak ahead…
And of course collecting litter on the way back was a small, if modest, help to nature, but it was also a way to plant in the kids a culture of not polluting their surroundings.
It was a productive day, full and beautiful.
Day 4
The story has to start from the night before. Around 1 AM the weather started changing — rain, lightning, thunder. In that moment the only thought was to keep the kids from being scared, and once we’d checked the tents once more, we were reassured the rain wouldn’t get through. There wasn’t a sound from a single tent — everyone was sleeping soundly. Neither the rain nor the thunder managed to unsettle the children, since they were in a deep, peaceful sleep. In the morning even the wet grass came as a surprise — that it had rained.
After a delicious breakfast we had a lesson on altitude sickness and acclimatization. And after lunch we finally did the long-awaited climbing session. Here, on the grounds of the Lori Rescue Squad, which also houses the Lori Active Recreation Center, everything is designed for active recreation and learning. The climbing wall is vivid proof of that. Height itself is a challenge, since that’s when fear starts raising its head. And that’s not enough on its own — you also have to be able to trust the rope and the person keeping you safe. After some initial explanation, the fear eased somewhat and confidence grew stronger. We started climbing. During climbing almost every muscle works, balance develops, and you need to be able to concentrate and climb correctly. The children actively tried to help their climbing friend, hinting which rock to grab or which one to put a foot on. After watching the first climber, it seemed like the fear retreated. Tomorrow we’ll wake up with sore muscles, but it will definitely be a pleasant feeling.
Day 5
And this time, once again, nature came out the winner. The relentless overnight rain, which also resumed gently in the morning, kept us from leaving the camp grounds. And of course we couldn’t just sit idle, so we decided to watch the film “Everest,” based on true events. If you haven’t seen this film, watch it — you’ll learn a lot from the characters’ mistakes. After the film, the table tennis “Tent Camp Championship” began, in which our own Ashot became the undisputed champion))). A few minutes later we’ll light the campfire and roast corn. And all of this in air freshened, damp and clean from the rain.
Day 6
A hike to Lori Fortress. Despite the threatening look of the clouds, we set off anyway. Despite a little chill, the weather was still quite pleasant for walking. Lori Fortress is an impregnable medieval fortress located at the point where the Dzoraget and Urut gorges meet. It’s included in the list of Lori Fortress’s immovable historical and cultural monuments.
Standing on a plateau 1,490 m above sea level, a very beautiful view opens up toward the gorge. The long, stretching gorge, from whose depths the rush of the hurrying Dzoraget River rises, while the deep gorges are lined with huge cliffs, makes you want to stand there a long time, gazing at that beauty without blinking, and find peace. And seeing that inaccessible gorge, you understand that nature is the most perfect sculptor and painter there is.
We walked 14 km with the kids, and as a result, after lunch it was very quiet in camp, since everyone was resting — a rare occurrence in our case.
Day 7
After a rainy night, in the morning we started drying out the tents, packing our things and enjoying our last hours in Stepanavan. The camp became the start of a good friendship for the kids, one that will continue from Yerevan all the way to England — it’s the perfect time to exchange contacts. We said goodbye to hospitable Stepanavan and headed back to Yerevan, already looking forward to next year’s camp.
