{"id":109849,"date":"2025-04-30T11:30:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T07:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:26:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T08:26:17","slug":"ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/","title":{"rendered":"Ararat proved that it is far more than just a symbol."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ararat has always been more than just a mountain to me; it was an &#8220;unreachable path to glory.&#8221; I never imagined that one day I would actually stand upon its summit. It wasn&#8217;t even a dream it was simply something beyond the realm of possibility.<\/p>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">On my very first day of work, I came across Nare Manukyan\u2019s \u00a0story about the ascent of Mount Ararat. Reading those stories, something clicked inside me I knew right away that I wanted to create a story of my own. That was the moment my preparation began for what would become one of the most significant climbs of my life.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_98204\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-98204\" class=\"wp-image-98204 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?resize=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1 1030w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?resize=705%2C470&amp;ssl=1 705w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-arajin-1.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-98204\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan<\/p><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l5s31x-3f1fedf7c960a335834402506cd47f17\">\n#top .hr.av-l5s31x-3f1fedf7c960a335834402506cd47f17{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-l5s31x-3f1fedf7c960a335834402506cd47f17 .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nborder-color:#edae44;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n.hr.av-l5s31x-3f1fedf7c960a335834402506cd47f17 .av-seperator-icon{\ncolor:#edae44;\n}\n.hr.av-l5s31x-3f1fedf7c960a335834402506cd47f17 .av-seperator-icon.avia-svg-icon svg:first-child{\nfill:#edae44;\nstroke:#edae44;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-l5s31x-3f1fedf7c960a335834402506cd47f17 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">From Symbol to something else<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ararat had always been a symbol\u00a0 of patriotism to me something to be admired from a distance, yet kept at arm&#8217;s length. I expected that reaching the summit would only make the mountain seem more grand and imposing for me. But the reality shifted my perspective entirely. Ararat became something deeply personal; it transformed into a mountain with which I now share a profound, living connection.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-qmdf05-3fbb35cb72f0084ae9bded454e284cc8\">\n#top .hr.av-qmdf05-3fbb35cb72f0084ae9bded454e284cc8{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-qmdf05-3fbb35cb72f0084ae9bded454e284cc8 .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nborder-color:#edae44;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n.hr.av-qmdf05-3fbb35cb72f0084ae9bded454e284cc8 .av-seperator-icon{\ncolor:#edae44;\n}\n.hr.av-qmdf05-3fbb35cb72f0084ae9bded454e284cc8 .av-seperator-icon.avia-svg-icon svg:first-child{\nfill:#edae44;\nstroke:#edae44;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-qmdf05-3fbb35cb72f0084ae9bded454e284cc8 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_gallery  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physically, the ascent was manageable thanks to my experience as a seasoned hiker. I knew exactly where we would camp and what lay ahead of us. However, psychologically, it was a far more profound trial. The journey was a constant flux of emotions ranging from intense excitement to a deep, inner silence. Especially at the summit, when you finally reach it, the euphoria you were expecting is replaced by a kind of quiet yet profound feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-7ucak9l-2f27fff95ea3fb10081b5c56286dad75\">\n#top .avia-gallery.av-7ucak9l-2f27fff95ea3fb10081b5c56286dad75 .avia-gallery-thumb a{\nwidth:50%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-gallery av-7ucak9l-2f27fff95ea3fb10081b5c56286dad75 avia_animate_when_visible  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr  avia_lazyload avia-gallery-animate avia-gallery-1'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><meta itemprop=\"contentURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/\"><div class='avia-gallery-thumb'><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?fit=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" data-rel='gallery-1' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8-495x400.jpg' class='first_thumb lightbox  ' data-onclick='1' title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"wp-image-98210 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-98210\"  data-avia-tooltip='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\"  title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><div class='big-prev-fake'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-98210 avia-img-lazy-loading-98210\"  width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nka8.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' \/><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?fit=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" data-rel='gallery-1' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar-495x400.jpg' class='lightbox  ' data-onclick='2' title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-98213 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-98213\"  data-avia-tooltip='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\"  title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><div class='big-prev-fake'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-98213 avia-img-lazy-loading-98213\"  width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/web-nkar.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the entire ascent, we were dancing, singing, and sharing every moment together. Now, whenever I hear the melodies of Armenian folk dances, I am instantly transported back to that climb.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-j1klmd-710923ed1f241a26294467488bed7204\">\n#top .hr.av-j1klmd-710923ed1f241a26294467488bed7204{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-j1klmd-710923ed1f241a26294467488bed7204 .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nborder-color:#edae44;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n.hr.av-j1klmd-710923ed1f241a26294467488bed7204 .av-seperator-icon{\ncolor:#edae44;\n}\n.hr.av-j1klmd-710923ed1f241a26294467488bed7204 .av-seperator-icon.avia-svg-icon svg:first-child{\nfill:#edae44;\nstroke:#edae44;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-j1klmd-710923ed1f241a26294467488bed7204 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_gallery  el_before_av_gallery  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"1\">The Unifying Power of Ararat<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the climb, Ararat revealed its unifying power to me. We met people of different nationalities &#8211; Kurds and tourists. We started sharing our cultures, songs, and dances. As we danced with those who started as strangers, sharing our heritage, they no longer felt like outsiders; it was as if we were old friends. On a mountain that had once been an unreachable symbol to me, I found a community and even became a part of their own cultural journey.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-5o2dy3d-da42e036469b8b226fa12be0da3ebb8d\">\n#top .avia-gallery.av-5o2dy3d-da42e036469b8b226fa12be0da3ebb8d .avia-gallery-thumb a{\nwidth:50%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-gallery av-5o2dy3d-da42e036469b8b226fa12be0da3ebb8d avia_animate_when_visible  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_gallery  avia_lazyload avia-gallery-animate avia-gallery-2'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><meta itemprop=\"contentURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/\"><div class='avia-gallery-thumb'><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?fit=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" data-rel='gallery-2' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-495x400.jpg' class='first_thumb lightbox  ' data-onclick='1' title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-98238 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-98238\"  data-avia-tooltip='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\"  title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><div class='big-prev-fake'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-98238 avia-img-lazy-loading-98238\"  width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' \/><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?fit=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" data-rel='gallery-2' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2-495x400.jpg' class='lightbox  ' data-onclick='2' title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-98235 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-98235\"  data-avia-tooltip='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=800%2C1200&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\"  title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=687%2C1030&amp;ssl=1 687w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=470%2C705&amp;ssl=1 470w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=450%2C675&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><div class='big-prev-fake'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-98235 avia-img-lazy-loading-98235\"  width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/verjin-2.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' alt='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the summit, Ararat gifted me with emotions that are truly difficult to put into words. It was a whirlwind of excitement, gratitude, fear, and joy. In that moment, I stood at the peak overwhelmed and exhausted, yet filled with a profound inner light.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-762vntl-c43594bdde7c892a151bd022c8d975a2\">\n#top .avia-gallery.av-762vntl-c43594bdde7c892a151bd022c8d975a2 .avia-gallery-thumb a{\nwidth:50%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-gallery av-762vntl-c43594bdde7c892a151bd022c8d975a2 avia_animate_when_visible  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_gallery  el_before_av_hr  avia_lazyload avia-gallery-animate avia-gallery-3'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><meta itemprop=\"contentURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/\"><div class='avia-gallery-thumb'><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?fit=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1 1030w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=705%2C470&amp;ssl=1 705w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" data-rel='gallery-3' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1-495x400.jpg' class='first_thumb lightbox  ' data-onclick='1' title='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-98217 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-98217\"  data-avia-tooltip='Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\"  title='sona web 1' alt='\u0531\u0580\u0561\u0580\u0561\u057f\u057e\u0561\u056e\u0576\u0565\u0580 \/ \u054d\u0578\u0576\u0561 \u054e\u0561\u0580\u0564\u0561\u0576\u0575\u0561\u0576' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 990w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><div class='big-prev-fake'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-98217 avia-img-lazy-loading-98217\"  width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" title='sona web 1' alt='\u0531\u0580\u0561\u0580\u0561\u057f\u057e\u0561\u056e\u0576\u0565\u0580 \/ \u054d\u0578\u0576\u0561 \u054e\u0561\u0580\u0564\u0561\u0576\u0575\u0561\u0576' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-1.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 990w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?fit=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1 1030w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=705%2C470&amp;ssl=1 705w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" data-rel='gallery-3' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2-495x400.jpg' class='lightbox  ' data-onclick='2' title='Climbing Mt. Ararat\u00a0'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-98220 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-98220\"  data-avia-tooltip='Climbing Mt. Ararat\u00a0' src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\"  title='sona web 2' alt='\u0531\u0580\u0561\u0580\u0561\u057f\u057e\u0561\u056e\u0576\u0565\u0580 \/ \u054d\u0578\u0576\u0561 \u054e\u0561\u0580\u0564\u0561\u0576\u0575\u0561\u0576' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 990w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><div class='big-prev-fake'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-98220 avia-img-lazy-loading-98220\"  width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" title='sona web 2' alt='\u0531\u0580\u0561\u0580\u0561\u057f\u057e\u0561\u056e\u0576\u0565\u0580 \/ \u054d\u0578\u0576\u0561 \u054e\u0561\u0580\u0564\u0561\u0576\u0575\u0561\u0576' srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/sona-web-2.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 990w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Ararat proved that it is far more than just symbolism; it must be accepted exactly as it is. It taught me that only you can truly forge your own unique bond with the mountain.<\/p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-rkd9n9-03f08db50f1339852e2546b6d34d127d\">\n#top .hr.av-rkd9n9-03f08db50f1339852e2546b6d34d127d{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-rkd9n9-03f08db50f1339852e2546b6d34d127d .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nborder-color:#edae44;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n.hr.av-rkd9n9-03f08db50f1339852e2546b6d34d127d .av-seperator-icon{\ncolor:#edae44;\n}\n.hr.av-rkd9n9-03f08db50f1339852e2546b6d34d127d .av-seperator-icon.avia-svg-icon svg:first-child{\nfill:#edae44;\nstroke:#edae44;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-rkd9n9-03f08db50f1339852e2546b6d34d127d hr-custom  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_gallery  el_before_av_hr  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Ararat truly changed my life, making me stronger, more at peace, and filling me with memories that will stay with me forever. Now, Ararat is like an old friend no longer a distant dream, but a place where I have truly been.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Sona Vardanyan<\/em><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_111278\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/climbing-ararat\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-111278\" class=\"wp-image-111278 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ararat-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\u0531\u0580\u0561\u0580\u0561\u057f 2026\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ararat-2.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ararat-2.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ararat-2.jpg?resize=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1 1030w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ararat-2.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-111278\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ararat 2026<\/p><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-7tw7u2p-d39fcce30927f7cc0d751abb5296d3d0\">\n#top .hr.av-7tw7u2p-d39fcce30927f7cc0d751abb5296d3d0{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-7tw7u2p-d39fcce30927f7cc0d751abb5296d3d0 .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n.hr.av-7tw7u2p-d39fcce30927f7cc0d751abb5296d3d0 .av-seperator-icon{\ncolor:#edae44;\n}\n.hr.av-7tw7u2p-d39fcce30927f7cc0d751abb5296d3d0 .av-seperator-icon.avia-svg-icon svg:first-child{\nfill:#edae44;\nstroke:#edae44;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-7tw7u2p-d39fcce30927f7cc0d751abb5296d3d0 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_blog  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue82a' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">HIKING MEMOIRS<\/span><\/h3>\n<div  data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:false,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;once&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:5,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:90}\" class='avia-content-slider avia-content-grid-active avia-content-slider1 avia-content-slider-odd  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last  av-slideshow-ui av-control-default   av-no-slider-navigation av-slideshow-manual av-loop-once av-loop-manual-endless '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Blog\" ><div class=\"avia-content-slider-inner\"><div class=\"slide-entry-wrap\"><article class='slide-entry flex_column  post-entry post-entry-111674 slide-entry-overview slide-loop-1 slide-parity-odd  av_one_third first real-thumbnail posttype-post post-format-standard'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-valentina-adulyan\/' data-rel='slide-1' class='slide-image' title='Climbing Mount Ararat this summer'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"933\" height=\"758\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kayqi-glxavor-32.jpg?resize=933%2C758&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-111726 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-111726 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kayqi-glxavor-32.jpg?w=933&amp;ssl=1 933w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kayqi-glxavor-32.jpg?resize=300%2C244&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kayqi-glxavor-32.jpg?resize=768%2C624&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 933px) 100vw, 933px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"slide-content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Slide: Climbing Mount Ararat this summer\"><h3 class='slide-entry-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-valentina-adulyan\/' title='Climbing Mount Ararat this summer'>Climbing Mount Ararat this summer<\/a><\/h3><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kayqi-glxavor-32.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>758<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>933<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/55549671_2457333277827249_2112487318169321472_n.png<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-04-30T11:30:37+04:00\" >2026-04-14 17:12:21<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-05-14 17:32:50<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>Climbing Mount Ararat this summer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><article class='slide-entry flex_column  post-entry post-entry-108723 slide-entry-overview slide-loop-2 slide-parity-even  av_one_third  real-thumbnail posttype-post post-format-standard'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-diana-tavadyan\/' data-rel='slide-1' class='slide-image' title='From a dream to reality on the summit of Ararat'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/diana-1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-109096 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-109096 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image\" alt=\"Diana Tavadyan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/diana-1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/diana-1.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"slide-content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Slide: From a dream to reality on the summit of Ararat\"><h3 class='slide-entry-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-diana-tavadyan\/' title='From a dream to reality on the summit of Ararat'>From a dream to reality on the summit of Ararat<\/a><\/h3><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/diana-1.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>758<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>933<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/55549671_2457333277827249_2112487318169321472_n.png<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-04-30T11:30:37+04:00\" >2025-10-07 20:03:50<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-04-16 11:26:16<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>From a dream to reality on the summit of Ararat<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><article class='slide-entry flex_column  post-entry post-entry-105007 slide-entry-overview slide-loop-3 slide-parity-odd  av_one_third  real-thumbnail posttype-post post-format-standard'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-devon-keshishian\/' data-rel='slide-1' class='slide-image' title='My life changing experience'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Devon-Gxavor-ang.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-109307 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-109307 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ararat memoirs \/ Davon Kesishyan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Devon-Gxavor-ang.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Devon-Gxavor-ang.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"slide-content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Slide: My life changing experience\"><h3 class='slide-entry-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-devon-keshishian\/' title='My life changing experience'>My life changing experience<\/a><\/h3><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Devon-Gxavor-ang.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>758<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>933<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/55549671_2457333277827249_2112487318169321472_n.png<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-04-30T11:30:37+04:00\" >2025-09-24 10:27:18<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-04-07 16:14:59<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>My life changing experience<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><\/div><div class=\"slide-entry-wrap\"><article class='slide-entry flex_column  post-entry post-entry-108428 slide-entry-overview slide-loop-4 slide-parity-odd  av_one_third first real-thumbnail posttype-post post-format-standard'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-anna-abrahamyan\/' data-rel='slide-1' class='slide-image' title='Climbing Ararat was my one true dream'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/anna1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-109108 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-109108 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image\" alt=\"Anna Abrahamyan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/anna1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/anna1.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"slide-content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Slide: Climbing Ararat was my one true dream\"><h3 class='slide-entry-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-anna-abrahamyan\/' title='Climbing Ararat was my one true dream'>Climbing Ararat was my one true dream<\/a><\/h3><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/anna1.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>758<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>933<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/55549671_2457333277827249_2112487318169321472_n.png<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-04-30T11:30:37+04:00\" >2025-09-17 12:46:14<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-04-06 18:47:59<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>Climbing Ararat was my one true dream<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><article class='slide-entry flex_column  post-entry post-entry-108825 slide-entry-overview slide-loop-5 slide-parity-even  av_one_third  real-thumbnail posttype-post post-format-standard'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-ani-tovmasyan\/' data-rel='slide-1' class='slide-image' title='Called by a Dream to Mount Ararat'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ani1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-109084 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-109084 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ani Tovmasyan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ani1.jpg?resize=495%2C400&amp;ssl=1 495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ani1.jpg?resize=845%2C684&amp;ssl=1 845w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"slide-content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Slide: Called by a Dream to Mount Ararat\"><h3 class='slide-entry-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-ani-tovmasyan\/' title='Called by a Dream to Mount Ararat'>Called by a Dream to Mount Ararat<\/a><\/h3><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ani1.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>758<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>933<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/55549671_2457333277827249_2112487318169321472_n.png<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-04-30T11:30:37+04:00\" >2025-09-11 12:20:37<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-04-06 18:49:02<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>Called by a Dream to Mount Ararat<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><article class='slide-entry flex_column  post-entry post-entry-109952 slide-entry-overview slide-loop-6 slide-parity-odd  post-entry-last  av_one_third  real-thumbnail posttype-post post-format-standard'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-razmik-aharonyan\/' data-rel='slide-1' class='slide-image' title='Every journey to Ararat starts with a dream.'><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"933\" height=\"758\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Razmik-Aharonyan-ang-web.jpg?resize=933%2C758&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-109985 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-109985 attachment-portfolio size-portfolio wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Razmik-Aharonyan-ang-web.jpg?w=933&amp;ssl=1 933w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Razmik-Aharonyan-ang-web.jpg?resize=300%2C244&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Razmik-Aharonyan-ang-web.jpg?resize=768%2C624&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 933px) 100vw, 933px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"slide-content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\" aria-label=\"Slide: Every journey to Ararat starts with a dream.\"><h3 class='slide-entry-title entry-title '  itemprop=\"headline\" ><a href='https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-memoirs-razmik-aharonyan\/' title='Every journey to Ararat starts with a dream.'>Every journey to Ararat starts with a dream.<\/a><\/h3><span class=\"av-vertical-delimiter\"><\/span><\/header><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><span class='hidden'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Razmik-Aharonyan-ang-web.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='height'>758<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='width'>933<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"publisher\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='logo' itemscope itemtype='https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span itemprop='url'>https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/55549671_2457333277827249_2112487318169321472_n.png<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><span itemprop='name'>armeniangeographic<\/span><\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2025-04-30T11:30:37+04:00\" >2025-09-05 11:39:04<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"dateModified\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/dateModified\" >2026-04-06 18:50:07<\/span><span class='av-structured-data'  itemprop=\"mainEntityOfPage\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/mainEntityOfPage\" ><span itemprop='name'>Every journey to Ararat starts with a dream.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ararat has always been more than just a mountain to me; it was an &#8220;unreachable path to glory.&#8221; I never imagined that one day I would actually stand upon its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":109907,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[571,704],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-109849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hiking-memoirs-en","category-ararat_stories-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan ArmGeo.am<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ararat has always been more than just a mountain to me; it was an &quot;unreachable path to glory.&quot; I never imagined that one day I would...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan ArmGeo.am\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ararat has always been more than just a mountain to me; it was an &quot;unreachable path to glory.&quot; I never imagined that one day I would...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Armenian Geographic - ArmGeo.am\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/armgeo.project\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/armgeographic\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sona-Vardanyann.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"933\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"758\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"armeniangeographic\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@armgeographic\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@armgeographic\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"armeniangeographic\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan ArmGeo.am","description":"Ararat has always been more than just a mountain to me; it was an \"unreachable path to glory.\" I never imagined that one day I would...","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan ArmGeo.am","og_description":"Ararat has always been more than just a mountain to me; it was an \"unreachable path to glory.\" I never imagined that one day I would...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/","og_site_name":"Armenian Geographic - ArmGeo.am","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/armgeo.project","article_author":"https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/armgeographic","og_image":[{"width":933,"height":758,"url":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sona-Vardanyann.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"armeniangeographic","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@armgeographic","twitter_site":"@armgeographic","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"armeniangeographic","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/"},"author":{"name":"armeniangeographic","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#\/schema\/person\/612884449c866d958ccb9f160268351c"},"headline":"Ararat proved that it is far more than just a symbol.","datePublished":"2025-04-30T07:30:37+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-07T08:26:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/"},"wordCount":880,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sona-Vardanyann.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1","articleSection":["Hiking Memoirs","\u0531\u0580\u0561\u0580\u0561\u057f\u057e\u0561\u056e\u0576\u0565\u0580"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/","url":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/","name":"Hiking Memoirs \/ Sona Vardanyan ArmGeo.am","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sona-Vardanyann.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1","datePublished":"2025-04-30T07:30:37+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-07T08:26:17+00:00","description":"Ararat has always been more than just a mountain to me; it was an \"unreachable path to glory.\" I never imagined that one day I would...","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sona-Vardanyann.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sona-Vardanyann.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1","width":933,"height":758,"caption":"Sona Vardanyan"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/ararat-is-not-just-a-symbol\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/homepage\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Hiking Memoirs","item":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/category\/hiking-memoirs-en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Ararat proved that it is far more than just a symbol."}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/","name":"Armenian Geographic - ArmGeo.am","description":"Armenian Geographic","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#organization","name":"Armenian Geographic","url":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/logo.png","width":796,"height":796,"caption":"Armenian Geographic"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/armgeo.project","https:\/\/x.com\/armgeographic","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/armenian_geographic\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/armeniangeographic\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCkIdhPWWFOb3RdmGu196ucQ"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/#\/schema\/person\/612884449c866d958ccb9f160268351c","name":"armeniangeographic","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53e6c19145381603cfe8fa10f792267be5677fec4be8f791b26c95afb2cb3de7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53e6c19145381603cfe8fa10f792267be5677fec4be8f791b26c95afb2cb3de7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53e6c19145381603cfe8fa10f792267be5677fec4be8f791b26c95afb2cb3de7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"armeniangeographic"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/armgeographic"]}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sona-Vardanyann.jpg?fit=933%2C758&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109849"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":111294,"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109849\/revisions\/111294"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}