Damavand: Ascent of the Year

The mountains of the Armenian Highlands: Ararat (5165 m), Sabalan (4811 m), Aragats (4090 m) and Sipan (4058 m), as well as the Greater Caucasus Mountains: Kazbek (5047 m) and Elbrus (5642 m) are widely popular among fans of mountain tourism. The Armenian Geographic team has made many trips to the mountains and implemented a number of projects, such as “Ours” and “Tsovu Bolor” (“Around the Sea”) over the 10 years.

A completely new stage in the development of mountain tourism in Armenia began on July 7, 2022. On this day, our group of 25 people completed the ascent to the top of Mount Damavand (5610 m), the highest dormant volcano in Asia.

This ascent was a result of our work over the past years. The result may be expressed in the following words: 10 years of productive work, 10 years of valuable experience, 10 years of strong friendship and mutual trust.

The Volcanic Seven Summits Project

25 Armenians on the top of Damavand

Let’s begin the story with the fact that our Iranian guides were not sure if all of us, 25 people, were able to complete the ascent. Of course, that prediction did not stop us. Our team of 25 members returned 3 days later.

So, Hrach Ara-Ivanyan, a member of the ArmGeo team, who had reached some mountain peaks with the guys did not share the guides’ skepticism: “I knew the guide was underestimating us. I was sure we would succeed in our ascent even before we began it. This confidence stayed with me all the way. And here we are: all of us, 25 people standing on the top of Damavand!”

Although the upcoming ascent did not promise to be easy, Astghik Torosyan neither believed the guide’s words:“It was ridiculous. The guide probably thought we were too self-confident and underestimated the difficulty of the ascent. But we succeeded, so the guide was wrong.”

And for Lena Zakarian, the guide’s mistrust even was a source of motivation:“I was one of those people whom the local guide was skeptical about, but his words only spurred me on.”

Shortly before the ascent to Damavand

Most people in our group had completed the ascent to the summit of Sabalan (4811 m), the second highest mountain among the mountains of the Armenian Highlands, literally 2 weeks before. Of course, this achievement did much to strengthen their resolve.

Sabalan: the story of the ascent

It also should be mentioned that guys had been preparing for the ascent to Damavand during several years by regularly participating in some mountain hikes and training. Ani Hakopyan took the upcoming ascent very seriously: “Although I had participated in many hikes, trained hard and even passed a special medical examination, I was still anxious.”

Damavand became the first five-thousander for Lilit Tonoyan: “I didn’t know what to expect and how my body would react to such a height. The decision to complete the ascent to Damavand after climbing Aragats seemed too daring and risky. But then anxious thoughts went away, giving way to a feeling of self-confidence.”

High Peaks of the Armenian Highlands

There were some experienced hikers among us who had climbed the mountain peaks of the Armenian Highlands, but climbing Damavand became a new stage for them. According to Ani Hakobyan and Lena Zakarian, the main goal of the ascent to the dormant Damavand volcano was “the desire to challenge oneself” and “to reach the top of the mountain at any cost.”

Ascent to Ararat

Astghik Torosyan had reached the peaks of the four highest mountains of the Armenian Highlands: “In general, mountain tourism may be compared to climbing stairs: you always understand that you may stop halfway or continue climbing from step to step. It all depends on your desire only.”

Garnik Poghosyan, an experienced hiker, was preparing with great enthusiasm for the ascent to Damavand: “Just imagine: you are on the top of the highest volcano in Asia, or you visit the capital of Iran to soak up the atmosphere! What an experience!”

July 4th. Mount Damavand Day

The day of our ascent turned out to coincide with a national Iranian holiday, Mount Damavand Day. Hrach Ara-Ivanyan: “Events we took part in and people we met in the city of Damavand were incredible! We met thousands of fans of mountain tourism, and the vast majority of them were locals. It means the mountain hiking community of Iran is pretty active and people follow good traditions.” 

“I have never seen so many tents in one camp. It was nice to know that many people celebrate Mount Damavand Day by going on a mountain hike or an ascent. It’s also worth mentioning that there were more middle-aged people than young people,” says Garnik Poghosyan.

Ascent to Damavand

Lena Zakarian: “On the day of acclimatization, I saw people walking like zombies on the way back from the mountain top. It made me remember my ascent to Sabalan. I was sleepy while returning, but I felt relaxed at the same time. I felt I belonged to something really great then.”

The most beautiful moment of the ascent

All 25 members of the team called the most breathtaking “the moment when we finally reached the summit of Damavand.” Ani Hakobyan emphasizes: “We, 25 friends, climbed that mountain together”. Garnik Poghosyan adds: “Victory may only be celebrated when the whole group is standing on the top of the mountain.”

This result certainly indicates that each participant was ready for the ascent both physically and psychologically. As you know, group cohesion is one of the keys to success.“Damavand was my first five-thousander. When the guys and I finally got up, we hugged tightly and warmly congratulated each other. At this touching moment, my heart was filled with emotions, I even had tears of happiness, I had a feeling of pride in myself and a feeling of unity with the team,”  ̶̶  says Lilit Tonoyan.

Damavand: majestic and dangerous

To imagine how difficult the ascent was, one should consider the features of the terrain in the area of the Damavand volcano with its periodic emissions of sulfurous dust. Although this natural phenomenon is generally unfavorable for the human body, some mountain hikers may even enjoy the view of it.

“At first I didn’t want to go forward because of this sulfur. In addition, we realized that the sulfur stains would not soon be washed off from our clothes. But the sulfur emitted by the volcano was a beautiful yellow-green hue,” says Lena Zakarian.

For Astghik Torosyan, the most difficult thing was standing on the peak shrouded in smoke: “I couldn’t control my breathing for almost 15 minutes. Excitement added to the feeling of suffocation. The only thought was pounding in my head: I climbed Damavand! I burst into tears because my emotions were too much. My friends hugged me and congratulated me on reaching the summit. Of course, after that I felt better. And I thought that for this amazing moment it’s worth climbing Damavand again.”

Despite being dangerous, sulfur emissions may be very impressive. Hrach Ara-Ivanyan tells about the natural phenomenon this way: “The view on the top of the volcano was fantastic. Everything looked somehow unreal as if we were on an foreign planet.”

A new ascent to complete and a new challenge to take up

Lilit Tonoyan knew from the very beginning that the ascent to Mount Damavand would be a test of strength and a source of new experience for her: “At first I was asking myself constantly: why on earth am I into it? The only answer was I want to challenge myself and strengthen my will. I want to prove that everything is possible.”

Ani Hakobyan stayed determined despite it felt like the world was against her: the guide’s skepticism, the suffocating smell of sulfur and many other difficulties of the ascent: “Since the very beginning I knew for sure I would reach the top of the Damavand volcano.”

As Hrach Ara-Ivanyan says: “We have summed up the results of the last 10 years with our ascent. It became a test of our strength and a start for new ascents. Metaphorically speaking, we started our ascent with just one backpack behind us, and returned with two or three backpacks filled with experience.”

As the experience of each person is unique, we might keep on telling the story about the ascent to Damavand for a long time. But let’s just summarize it with the quote by Astghik Torosyan: “Trusting the people around you makes you stronger. And if you know that they are strong not only physically, but also spiritually, this gives them “wings.”

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