Basalt Column Climbing BAN

After how our guests Will Nazarian and Katy Anderson arrived in Yerevan on March 26, we tried to make a short schedule together as to which climbing areas we would go for a climb and explore.

With Will we decided to explore the destinations of upcoming event “Arev” Armenian First Ascent Open Festival.

So the first day we went for a warm up at the bouldering section of Hrazdan gorge, located in Yerevan.

For the next two days the plan was to climb the Garni gorge columns. While getting up the basalt columns Will couldn’t hide his emotions “… this is fuckin' climbing paradise, man…”. He was first to free climb Joe Morgan’s “Margarita’s family” route, 35meters high.

He decided to give it the name “Doudouk” – Armenian musical wind instrument. We ended up the day with Garni temple (1^st c) – it is something marvelous even in the twilight.

The next morning we got disappointed seeing a snow from the window and decided to try to compensate it by a walking tour in Yerevan.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.uptherocks.com/index.php/uptherocks-archive/144-doudouk-ffa-5-10d-35m-garni-gorge#sigProIdbf1cc84d41

WE FLY CROWS

We choose Black Diamond

MOUNTAIN GUIDING

Rock and Ice climbing

Dancing the vertical and horizontal lines of Armenia

Before reading an article in Rock & Ice and watching Sam Bie’s excellent film on Armenian climbing, we virtually knew nothing about this little land locked country, except for the genocide and their world famous wrestlers.
Promo project with Massimo Cappuccio

Massimo Cappuccio, a photographer, traveler and dreamer, visited Armenia this time.
Attempt on "Take off" 7c max, 140m

A small photo and video report of the attempt of "Take off" in Noravank canyon.
After the Festival…(AfterFest)

With the end of the Festival our motivation didn´t end! We saw so many lines, still unclimbed that we decided to spend one more week in Armenia for more first ascents!

Mountaineering and Backcountry skiing

Rock Us in the Caucasus - Georgia

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.
Ski-touring review 2016/17

Winter 2016/17 was a season for joy and exploration of new ski touring areas and tracks in Armenia and Georgia.
Dobré a bezpečné lyžování v Arménii

With Jan Pala, we had planned this ski-tour trip in Armenia around a year ago.
Ski Touring in Georgia 2015!

The initiator of this ski touring program Andre Souvignet, and Up the Rocks was hosting Andre’s team with a pleasure in Georgia.