Margaret Sargsyan

What’s your profession?

I’m a geographer. I work for “Norfolk Consulting” customs clearance company.

What made you take part in hiking trip for the first time? What did you feel when you appeared out of your comfort zone?

It was in 2004, when our group of students decided to climb Arteni Mountain. That was my first hike. I perfectly remember my excitement. I wanted to be the first one who reaches the peak of the mountain and enjoys the views from the top. What I saw there was very exciting. The view was incredible. On one side there was Mount Aragats with its 4 peaks, and on the other side there was Western Armenia and Ararat. I was very excited. From that day on, Arteni is my favorite mountain in Armenia.

I never felt out of my comfort zone in nature. I spent my entire childhood in a village and I have always been close to nature.

Why do you climb mountains? What do they give you?

We can talk about this topic endlessly. I climb the mountains, because I like to feel the height. I like enjoying the views from the top looking at the horizon. There is great freedom in the mountains. I go to the mountains to enjoy this freedom. There is limitless strength in mountains, which is transmitted to me. There is purity in the mountains, and there I’m honest with myself. I find peace in the mountains.

Do you have a favorite quote about mountains?

The happiness is not beyond the mountains, it’s in the mountains.

Do you have a desire to climb more difficult and higher mountains?

I would like to hike to one of the mountains in Western Armenia. I have a big desire to climb Mount Dizapayt. I think in near future I will have an opportunity to do that.

What was your most memorable hiking trip and what made it special?

It is difficult to single out one trip that I liked more or less. All my hiking trips with Armenian Geographic are memorable for me. They were very different from each other, but all of them were interesting and beautiful in their own way. I remember all the hiking trips, especially overnight trips in Artsakh.

Anyway, I will try to remember one of my most impressive trips. It was a hiking trip to Svaneti. I have never felt so close to the Caucasus Mountains and I never looked for Mount Ushba with a dream to see it even from the distance. We spent the night on the slope of the mountain from where we could see the whole mountain range. Clouds were below us, and under the clouds there was a beautiful town. Under the full moon we enjoyed this amazing scene. I will never forget that hiking trip.

What advice do you have for those who want to start to go hiking but don’t dare to do that?

People, be closer to nature. Start walking, go to mountains without fears. Everything is so pure and beautiful there. I’m sure that after spending a day in the mountains, you will become their “captive”.

Members of ArmGeo Club