{"id":84505,"date":"2023-11-13T16:12:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T12:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/arsen-hambardzumyan\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T17:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:35:44","slug":"arsen-hambardzumyan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/arsen-hambardzumyan\/","title":{"rendered":"Decisive steps to the top of Ararat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The story told by Arsen Hambardzumyan is a story about the power of human will and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unshakable determination<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Arsen had been dreaming of conquering Mount Ararat for a long time, but unfortunately he could not make his dream come true. Arsen finally climbed the top of this formidable and majestic mountain on August 22, 2023 during an ArmGeo tour. This day was really great. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let Arsen tell his story himself<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3>Ararat: dream and goal<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I had been literally mad about climbing Mount Ararat over the past three years. I would come to meetings of mountain hikers,\u00a0 pack my backpack, but\u00a0 was forced to give up at the very last moment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was a big barrier between me and Ararat &#8211; shortage of time. I used to fail to concentrate and prepare properly for climbing because of the constant change of my responsibilities at work and some important business at home. Finally, I got enough energy and motivation to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">achieve my goal<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3>Transformative journey<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climbing Mount Ararat is not only a challenge, but also a spiritual journey that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">changes your personality for the better<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You struggle during all the journey &#8211; from the initial preparation to the actual ascension. It\u2019s only after you have left all doubts behind and have decided to leave your comfort zone you are ready to understand yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I find it funny enough that my thoughts about my future ascent to Ararat turned out to be quite accurate and realistic. Of course, I had some concerns at first, but I was lucky enough to get into the group of Gevorg, who truly loves his job. Gevorg is an experienced hiker who has already successfully climbed Mount Ararat several times. He willingly shares his experience, transferring his confidence to me and other participants of the hike.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, communication with Gevorg and other people who had experience of climbing the top of Ararat encouraged me and gave me some confidence, but as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a beginner <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0I still found <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it quite hard to climb such a high mountain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>\u201cWhen I was climbing Ararat, my thoughts were boiling \u2026\u201d<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I clearly remember that I got thoughts of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stopping halfway<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and returning back to the camp several times, but some kind of inner force did not allow me to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-81945\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Decisive steps to the top of Ararat\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?resize=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1 1030w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?resize=705%2C470&amp;ssl=1 705w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I also remember that a few meters from the top I felt wild delight. Joy bubbled in my heart, I felt a surge of emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3>5165 m &#8211; you are on the top of Ararat<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standing on the very top of Ararat &#8211; it\u2019s 5165 meters above sea level &#8211;\u00a0 you feel that is your triumph. You are a winner. The ascent to Mount Ararat has made me believe that nothing is impossible if you are strong-willed and determined enough.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I returned from the mountain hike full of joy and with a sense of accomplishment. Climbing Ararat changed me a lot. I may even say I have become a different, better sort of person. Now I am able to overcome any difficulties and ready to go until the end. The top of the majestic Mount Ararat has become my symbol of triumph.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_82464\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-82464\" class=\"size-full wp-image-82464\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Decisive steps to the top of Ararat\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?resize=1030%2C687&amp;ssl=1 1030w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?resize=705%2C470&amp;ssl=1 705w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.armgeo.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_6336-1.jpg?resize=450%2C300&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-82464\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">At the top of Ararat<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The top of the majestic Mount Ararat has become my symbol of triumph.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3>Ararat &#8211; the beginning of a new path<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, when I look at Ararat a smile appears on my face and a desire to climb higher mountains is born in the heart.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3>What would you advise to people who are dreaming of climbing Mount Ararat?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get ready purposefully. Make a plan for preparing for the hike and identify the easiest tasks that can be accomplished right now. For example, in my case the first step was purchasing special clothing and equipment for climbing. Remember that step by step you are gradually getting closer to fulfilling your dreams<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><em>Arsen Hambardzumyan\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n<h3>Read more about Ararat ascent <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/climbing-ararat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span>.<\/h3>\n\n<h1>Hiking and trekking tours in Armenia<\/h1>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The story told by Arsen Hambardzumyan is a story about the power of human will and unshakable determination. Arsen had been dreaming of conquering Mount Ararat for a long time, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":109080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[571,704],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84505","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 v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Decisive steps to the top of Ararat - Armenian Geographic<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cDecisive steps to the top of Ararat\u201d is a story about climbing Mount Ararat told by Arsen Hambardzumyan, organized by ArmGeo.\" \/>\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\/arsen-hambardzumyan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Decisive steps to the top of Ararat - 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