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

Unbelievable “Rendezvous”

Last summer in July-August, 2007 I spent my holiday in Armenia, Hrazdan town, not far from Yerevan with my relatives.
“CCCP” cascade ice climbing in Arpa Gorge

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.
First Noravanq climbing this season

This time we went to climb the route "Soyuz", a 4-pitch route in Noravank (Gnishik).
Armenian Alpine Club's ice climbing training

Armenian Alpine Club organized an ice climbing training in Azat (Garni) gorge.

Mountaineering and Backcountry skiing

French Ski-tour in Armenia

From Feb 25 to March 5, a French group was hosted by Up The Rocks for ski-touring program in Armenia.
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.
Ski Season 2025

The 2024/25 ski season photo report in Armenia, with videos of exploring new ski lines.
Aghvan Chatinyan (Armenian hard man)

Aghvan Chatinyan was born on December 14, 1926 in Vardapluri, a village near Stepanavan, Armenia.