Basalt Column Climbing BAN

With an aim to explore a new Ski-tour route for Geographic Travel Club Andranik Miribyan, John Clinton and me set off to the village Aragats.

The plan was to include skiing on the slopes of the Northern (4090m) and Eastern (3916m) summits in the program. It was also decided to start the Ski-tour early in the morning from the start point (hydroelectric plant on the slopes of the mount above village Aragats). But Ando’s Niva got stuck in the caterpillar snow trench on the way and we spent hours there to tow it back to the village.

However, we started to move at 2:30pm from the point near the village and tried to keep staying in a good mood thinking all the troubles were behind and good weather with fun skiing are ahead.

We really did enjoy the first day: there was no wind and no any cloud in the sky, though we couldn’t reach the camp point below the north-west saddle which was planned for the first day. On the second day in the afternoon it started to blow. We didn’t manage to reach the camp point on that day either. After having some fun in the night storm we finally managed to set the camp on 3460m and to get in the tent at about 9pm.

Third day was stormy too, so three of us stayed in 2+ Marmot “Up High” tent all the day long.

The morning of the forth day was a present for us. After the storm it was a sunny and clear day. John was sick and tired of this uncomfortable stormy trip and also needed to get to office for a work, so there was no other option but going back down. We had some 12 km slope with good snow.

We will try to perform the program after March 10, so we hope next time the summits will work out!

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.uptherocks.com/index.php/uptherocks-archive/189-ski-touring-aragats#sigProId32016b257d

Details: Category: Backcountry Skiing; Published: 28 February 2010

WE FLY CROWS

We choose Black Diamond

MOUNTAIN GUIDING

Rock and Ice climbing

Back from Vacations

Ok, now I’m happy with a sustainable climbing partner Jared Nielson, a Big Wall climber from California.
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.
D-2, Climbing in Tuscany and Val Pellice

After Mt Weissmies I got back to Florence to my friends Ale, Dani, Lau and nice guy Giacomo.
With Jacob Balzani Lööv

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.

Mountaineering and Backcountry skiing

"The Awake Path"

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.
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.
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.
"Fox Mountains" ski-touring

Dani and Miriam Domingo’s were just purchased their Black Diamond ski-touring equipment, and we had to find an appropriate destination to “celebrate” that event ;))