A Journey That Unites

To be honest, the dream of climbing Ararat wasn’t originally mine.

I had never really dreamed about it, although I always knew that ArmGeo offered such an opportunity. I read the stories of those who had already climbed the mountain, and was always curious about their experiences.

The real dreamer was my friend Lilit. For many years, she had wanted to climb Ararat, and one day we decided to make that dream come true together.

Our first attempt was supposed to take place in August 2024, but life sometimes has plans of its own. Due to Lilit’s health issues, we had to postpone the climb. The dream was put on hold, but it never disappeared.

In Search of My Own Ararat

I already had experience climbing high-altitude mountains and felt confident that I would not face any major physical challenges. Because of that, I found myself thinking less about the difficulty of the climb and more about the feelings Ararat might awaken in me.

By reading the stories of previous climbers, I knew that every Armenian sees Ararat in a different way. For some, it is a symbol of national identity, for others, a childhood dream or the old giant that watches over Yerevan from afar.

I wanted to discover what Ararat would mean to me.

One thing was clear: Ararat brings together very different people around a single goal- a climb, whether personal or symbolic. We started as strangers, but the mountain forged us into one. We became each other’s limbs – the legs that carried us, the hands that held us, and the heart that kept us going.

Tears on the Summit

There were many memorable moments during the climb, but the most emotional one for me came at the summit.

Our group included participants from different countries, and witnessing their emotions was deeply moving.

At that moment, it became clear that Ararat knows no borders. It has the power to touch people regardless of their nationality, language, or life journey. Sometimes that feeling becomes so powerful that tears speak louder than words.

When Ararat Itself Becomes Your Strength

During the most difficult moments, my greatest source of inspiration was Ararat itself. It was enough to look at its powerful slopes and realize that every step was bringing me closer to the goal. That realization gave me the strength to keep going.

At that point, Ararat no longer felt like just a mountain. It became a feeling, a force greater than myself that pushed me forward.

When I finally reached the summit, the first thing I felt was peace. I was the last person in the group to get there and perhaps that is why my joy felt especially profound. I looked around and realized that we had all reached our goal together. That realization mattered more than any personal achievement.

At that moment, everything fell into place.

My “5165”

Afterward, I tried to understand what remained with me from this journey.

If I had to describe it with a single number, it would be 5165.

5 – the five pillars of strength: body, mind, heart, soul, and faith.

16 – sixteen hearts that became one family along the way.

5 – the five gifts of the summit: gratitude, peace, confidence, courage, and inspiration.

If I met someone today who was still wondering whether to climb Ararat or not, I would say only one thing:

Ararat is not just a mountain. It is a journey toward a stronger, more resilient and more courageous version of yourself. The summit is not reached by the strongest people. It is reached by those who are willing to take one more step when they feel they have no strength left. And sometimes, that single step can change an entire life.

You return home after Ararat, but you are no longer the same person who left.

 

Gohar Arzumanyan