Four Peaks
On August 18–20 we managed to complete the ascent of the 4 peaks of Aragats. Only we know how we prepared for this ascent and what path we went through so that we could make the ascent as safely as possible and with good self-confidence. Regardless of everything, there is still always a risk, but this group of children’s preparedness, including their discipline, endurance and acclimatization program, made us believe that we would be able to conquer the height of the 4 peaks of Aragats. Before reaching these ascents, we had walked from Lake Rapi to Mtnalich, reaching an altitude of 3,500 m; we had climbed the South summit of Aragats, 3,887 m high, and then Mount Aluk, which is 3,707 m high. Before reaching these high mountain ascents, we had of course also climbed lower peaks.
On August 18, 14 children started walking from Lake Kari toward the dream. Walking with a load heavier than usual, carrying significant weight on their backs: three days of food, a sleeping bag and a mat. The difficulty of the first day was reaching the West summit with exactly that weight. It was surprising, both in spirit and in good physical condition, but in three hours the children reached the West summit with that heavy backpack. After a short rest, we descended from the West summit to the West-East saddle, left the backpacks there, and set off lightly to climb the East summit. We didn’t stay long on the East summit either, since the weather suggested it was better to descend quickly because of the risk of a thunderstorm. Thunderclouds were rolling in from afar, and we descended successfully, picked up the backpacks and set off toward the crater. There our senior friends, Samvel Manukyan, Tigran Abgaryan and Ashot Papoyan, had set up the tents in advance, and all that was left for us was to settle into them. Tigran and Ashot went back down that same day. The night was windy and cold.
On August 19, at 7:30 we started walking. Taking into account the risk of rockfall, on Samvel’s decision we first climbed the West summit. We climbed this summit quite calmly too, and set off inspired toward the North summit. The weather had been very good since morning, and we had to make use of it so as not to make the passage across the glacier harder. We reached the glacier, divided into four groups, and began crossing it in turns, in groups of 4. We can’t even describe how much concentration and fear-overcoming crossing the glacier requires. We can say with confidence that the accompanying instructors were more “tense” than the children. And so we managed to reach the North summit, stand at Armenia’s highest point at 4,090 m, and make the dream come true. After the summit we started descending toward the crater. We spent that night in the crater too.
On August 20, although we had set the alarms for 08:00, we woke up earlier, to the sound of a mountain stream. A little above us there were also tents, and a mountain stream had come near them. After a morning breakfast we started packing up and set off toward Gegharot. After cooling off for a short while at the Gegharot waterfall, we then set off by bus toward Aragats village, and from there to Yerevan.
Throughout all these days, the children’s activity didn’t decrease at all; on the contrary, it grew in geometric progression.
Thus, the 2nd group of the club’s children managed to complete the ascent of the 4 peaks of Aragats, for which we congratulate them and express our gratitude to everyone who contributed to the implementation of the program, and especially to the parents.
Would you like to join us?
We regularly organize hikes and camps for children. See what is coming up and join us.
Upcoming hikes and camps →