Water Sources in the Mountains

Water is life. If a person can live without food for a month, then without water he will not survive even three days. And that’s just in urban conditions. In the mountains, during hikes, dehydration can develop much faster and lead to serious consequences. We have already talked about dehydration many times, since it has its effect on almost all problems, be it hypothermia, mountain sickness, or sunstroke. If during a one-day hike we can take the necessary amount of water with us, then on multi-day trekkings we will need to figure out how to find water sources in the mountains.

The main problem is choosing a place of overnight. Because we will need a large supply of water for preparing dinner, washing dishes and replenishing supplies for the next day. There are two main ways to find water, which are the most sensible and practical. That is, we will not consider exotic methods shown in survival films, where water is extracted from the trunk of an elephant or from the bark of a tree.

How to Find Water Sources in the Mountains 

You can:

• find a natural source of water: lake, river, mountain spring
• melt snow or ice (if any)

As a last resort, you can also collect rainwater or morning dew in waterproof fabric, but let’s admit that this method is not so practical, and is not really needed in Armenia.

The knowledge of the first two ways should be enough for us for the rest of our lives. However, there is another important point – water filtration. We will also talk about this.

The hydrographic network in Armenia is very dense due to the mountainous terrain. The water in the fast flowing mountain streams is also relatively clean. That is why rivers, large and small lakes and snowfields are always found on routes. Water in alpine rivers and streams flowing from snowfields is potable. However, its mineralization is very low, and in order to avoid dehydration, it is better to drink such water with the addition of isotonics, or at least a little salt, sugar and citric acid.

By the way, the same can be done when melting snow or ice. Be a little more careful with the lakes, especially if it is a small, endorheic shallow lake, for example, Lake Nazeli (Badi), Lake Gosh and so on. Remember this point, at the end of the article we will definitely talk about water filtration. Now we will present you the routes of Mount Aragats and the Geghama Mountains, with well-known sources of water, where you can replenish your supplies.

Mount Aragats

There are two well-known routes: the standard one, starting from Lake Kari, and the second – along the Gegharot gorge from the village of Aragats. If you start an overnight hike from the Gegharot gorge, you can collect a supply of water directly from the river, but you need to use it only after filtering. Continuing the way up the gorge, you need to look for snowfields where you can melt the snow and turn it into water. But you need to consider that in summer months, the snowfields disappear, or are very dirty. Therefore, this is not the best option. However, if you find yourself in a situation where there is a question of survival, then the snowfields and lakes located under the Northern peak can save your life.

From Lake Kari to the southwestern saddle and crater there are two accepted places for having an overnight. One of them is located right on the saddle, the other in the crater. The crater has streams flowing from snowfields and forming one large stream that flows down and forms the Gegharot River. Water from the crater stream is drinkable (40.50872 ° N, 44.19115 ° E). But this water also needs to be mineralized, and you need to be attentive to the yellow-whitish parts of the stream. It is better not to drink water from there, since these yellow traces contain sulfur, which is very toxic.

If you decide to spend the night on the saddle, then there is also a snowfield, which basically persists all summer. A little lower, close to Lake Kari, there are streams that flow under the stones and in some places come to the surface, flowing over the stones.

There is one very convenient place on Aragats, where the stream flowing over the stones resembles small waterfalls, which is very convenient for collecting water. (40.49885 ° N, 44.17096 ° E)

This stream is especially suitable when you are returning from the North or West peaks of Aragats, when you are tired enough, the water supplies have run out, or the water in the bottle has warmed up and got an unpleasant taste from plastic. Hikers love to stop here to wash up, drink plenty of water, replenish supplies and continue their way. According to the calculation of the middle group, you need another two to three hours to go to Lake Kari, and there is no more convenient place on the route, so this source should in no case be missed.

A little lower from Lake Kari, in a clearing on the left side of the road, there is a small source of water by a small pond. (40.47247 ° N, 44.18675 ° E)

Geghama Mountains

Let’s look at the accepted route “Sevaberd – Lake Akna – Azhdahak – Lake Vanki – Goght”.

Starting from Sevaberd, before reaching Seghanasar, there is a water source in the very first Yezidi camp. Yezidis say that they don’t drink water from there and bring drinking water from the village. Our entire group, including children, drank water from this spring, because we had to spend the night there, and we had no other choice. Oddly enough, nothing happened to us. But the water, of course, is a little dirty and needs to be filtered. The following water sources are located directly on the western slope of Mount Seghanasar. These sources are two small endorheic but clean lakes. Again, you can drink water after filtering it. (40 ° 16’19 ″ N 44 ° 52’45 ″ E)

Then follows Lake Akna, where the water is also drinkable. On the northern shore of the lake, where there is a gazebo under the eastern slope of the volcano Shushan, streams with drinking water flow. (40 ° 16’19 ″ N 44 ° 52’45 ″ E)

From here we continue our journey to Mount Azhdahak. After climbing we go down to the southern foot of Azhdahak. Here, from the southern slopes, streams flow from snowfields, which a little lower turn into narrow, but quite abundant water streams. This is a very convenient place to have an overnight, because firstly, there is a source of water nearby, and secondly, it offers a fascinating view of the mountain peaks of Spitakasar, Nazeli and Vishapasar. (40.21835 ° N, 44.96194 ° E)

The next water point is the area called 7 springs. It is located in the gorge leading to Lake Vanki, at the foot of Mount Vishapasar. This area is quite wet and marshy, but there are streams with clean water, as well as springs created by local shepherds in order to collect water. The place is convenient for having an overnight. There are many flat surfaces for camping. (40.17380 ° N, 44.93358 ° E)

The next source of water is near Lake Vanki. Not far from the lake there is a small metal bridge under which the river flows. After crossing the bridge, turn right and go along the river, then near the shore you will see a pipe from which comes clear drinking water. There are usually shepherds there. If you ask, they will show the exact location of this source. (40.16179 ° N, 44.90414 ° E)

There is a long way from Lake Vanki to the village of Goght, and the need for another overnight stay arises. The road from the lake leads down. After passing about two kilometers, we reach a ravine covered with greenery. A river flows here, and thyme and wild mint grow around. Right in the ravine, under the rocks, there is a convenient place for camping. You can have an overnight here or just replenish your water supplies. (40.14254 ° N, 44.88344 ° E)

From here you have a long road down to Goght. Almost at the end of the road, at the last turns, there is a large willow tree with a spring and a gazebo under it. This is the last source of our route.

Water Filtration 

We have learned where to find sources of water in the mountains, now let’s understand how to filter water.

Water pollution can be of three types:

• mechanical – muddy water, the presence of large particles, soil, dirt
• biological – microbes, viruses and infections
• chemical – various toxic substances, heavy metals

There is also radioactive pollution, but we will not consider this type, since it is a slightly different area, and in the mountains of Armenia this problem is unlikely to threaten us. If mechanical pollution can be seen with the naked eye, then biological pollution can not. The chemical pollution depends on the composition of the water and on whether the substances dissolved in it have changed the color or smell of water. Fortunately, in high mountain streams and lakes we are mainly concerned only about mechanical pollution of water and partly biological. These two are relatively easy to deal with.

*Boiling water

Boiling water effectively and almost completely kills microbes, viruses and other organic contaminants. That is the advantage of it. However, boiling water requires a large amount of energy and time, the possibility of which is limited in autonomous hikes. However, boiling water does not neutralize chemical and mechanical pollution. The likelihood of chemical pollution in mountain lakes is very small, since in such places there are no chemical plants and other man-made objects that can pollute water. Livestock can be the main cause of water pollution in the mountains. Be careful, they like to lie and cool down in small ponds and pollute the water with their secretions.

*Chlorine

Chlorine effectively kills germs and bacteria. And, unlike the boiling method, it takes several minutes and saves “precious” gas. You can take chlorine tablets and chlorine bleach with you. Be careful that that it is fragrance-free and contains only chlorine. Chlorine should be gradually added to water. As soon as you feel a slight smell of chlorine from the water, then this is already enough. Wait about 15 minutes and you can drink water. Water undergoes such treatment at water supply stations before it reaches our taps. Today there are special tablets based on chlorine and iodine that are designed to disinfect water.

*Lifestraw filter

Here, we would like to highlight the portable LifeStraw water filter. Filters of this type operate through membrane layers. The porosity of the membrane is very small – 2 microns in diameter, which stops any mechanical and biological pollution.

These filters are so small and light that you can even carry them in your pocket. The length of such filter is 22 cm, and the weight is 5 grams. Initially, these filters were created for African villages, which have a serious problem with drinking water. LifeStraw filters purify turbid water and make it completely clean and transparent. Now they are widely popular among hikers, tourists, lifeguards. Considering the relatively low price, it is definitely worth having such thing in your backpack.

*Self-made filters

The simplest filter for cleaning mechanical pollution can be made by yourself. To do this, you will need a bandage, crushed stone, activated carbon and cotton wool. Take a 1-liter plastic bottle, cut off the bottom and arrange these materials in order. First cotton wool – at the very bottom, then coal, crushed stone and several layers of bandage on top. Your filter is ready. It is the simplest filter that purifies water from mechanical impurities, and activated carbon partially removes dangerous chemical elements. In such filters, the components must changed frequently, because after passing a large amount of dirt through them, the filter becomes clogged and loses its cleaning properties.

Be careful, do not forget to drink plenty of water and always always keep an eye on your water supply.

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