It is hard to stop going to Indian Creek and Yosemite once you have experienced that already. There are so many climbs to do and the local climbing culture itself makes you feel like you will be missing something if not to go these places even once in a season.

Rumors about this amazing program of rock climbing and mountaineering in Armenia and Georgia had been started in between American Alpine Club and Alpine Club of Iran years ago, in 2011..
The dreams seems to be really powerful. How else would you describe your first climbing trip in US, where Jim Donini drives you to Yosemite, Indian Creek, Red Rocks, Black Canyon and Eldorado canyon..?

Jacob Balzani Loov an Italian photographer and journalist visited Armenia for the work, and at once appeared to our climbing circle to fill his weekends with a joy.

Here is the second part of the project “Rock Us in the Caucasus 2015”, which was held in Chaukhi mountains and Mt. Kazbeg in Georgia.
The initiator of this ski touring program Andre Souvignet, and Up the Rocks was hosting Andre’s team with a pleasure in Georgia.

On Feb 12, Jared Nielson, Andranik Miribyan and Mkhitar Mkhitaryan went to the project - the fourth pitch WI 4 of the cascade ice falls in Arpa gorge, Armenia.
When Sam Bie emailed me about their wish to visit Armenia with Alex Chabot and establish new routes on basalt columns then I realized that the rock climbing is going to rise on the new level in Armenia.
A new line on corroded part of the rocks on "Old School" sector.
Armenian Alpine Club organized an ice climbing training in Azat (Garni) gorge.

On cold November 22, with Dani and Lucia I finally went to the Granite Circus, which they had discovered a year ago.

Mystic basalt columns and limestone had been the initial motivation to travel to Armenia, but the potential for outdoor adventures took us by surprise as did the culturel experience.
The Armenian Mountaineering and Skiing National School was born as a result of the transformation of Up The Rocks club, on October 1st, 2024. The School's umbrella organization is the Armenian Alpine Club SNGO.
In the scope of a workshop for development of incoming tourism to Armenia, Yves Exbrayat, Christophe Raylat from Grenoble, Manu Armand and Julie Lebeurre from Chamonix where our guests.
8/38 Margaryan str., 0036 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Tel: +374-93-337-937, +374-93-318-006.