On March 28 we went for sport climbing in Noravanq canyon. The sky with heavy clouds couldn't brake our optimism that good weather may come.

We set off at 11 a.m. instead of 9am, so to give the weather some chance to get fair.  Finally the sun rays were noticed somewhere in the sky, however, we got the canyon and started climbing the rout “Kret” it started raining again. Even so… :) we managed to climb the routes “Kaitsak” 20m, and ”Danak” 60m, also.

I would like to warn those who want to climb “Danak” in what follows: there were lots of holds breaking on left crack of the second pitch, though I had climbed it on May 2007, but at that time that part of the rock seemed to be more solid.  And there are also some blocks lying freely on the shelf of the beginning of the third pitch of it. 

 

During both of the times of climbing “Danak”  I have chosen the line left from the crack on the third  pitch at the same time escaping the second bolt. This way you have the deep pendulum chance till you reach the top anchor but your way gets funnier to face climb than climbing by a broken crack.   

Rock and Ice climbing

  • “Toilet pan” V0

    Yesterday together with Mkrtich Nazarian we went to Hrazdan gorge to take pictures of the rocks “Spitak” rescue team territory for topo. 

     
  • Old friends of the mountains meet in Armenia

    “Amazing Armenia” – this was the title of a big article published in the “Rock & Ice” magazine in the US in 2010.

     
  • Armenian Bouldering Open Championship 2025

      On October 19th, with the support of the Armenian Alpine Club and our title sponsor Unibank OJSC the Boulderland Yerevan climbing gym organized and held the Armenian Bouldering Open Championship. 

     
  • Chichkhan WI3

     During this warm winter in Armenia there was a short period of cold days in early Feb, and we went to “Trchkan” waterfall to which no ice-tool pick has been touched before.

     

Mountaineering and Backcountry skiing

  • Ski Season 2026

    Ski season 2026 is still going on, check for the updates of the pictures and the article! 

     
  • Expedition on mount Alamkouh(4850m), Iran

    On Aug 14 our team arrived at Tehran. After lodging at our friend Arayik’s place and having a rest, with Sourik we set of to Meydanm Monirie where a lot of mountaineering equipment stores are located.

     
  • Ski Season 2021

       One of the best seasons in terms of snow abundance and stability during the past decade in Armenia. Although without ski-touring tourists this winter, we made it quite fun anyway!

     

     
  • 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.

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