A courageous ascent to Mt. Aragats

On the mid of July, the adventurous employees of Baker Tilly Armenia organized a tour to conquer one of the highest peaks of Armenia and Caucasus - the South summit of Aragats (3879m). Though it is the lowest and from the Lake the nearest of four summits (North – the highest, 4090m; West – 4080m; East – 3916m)  and we could reach it in three and a half hours, but the extreme and emotions were unforgettable. For some of us, who did not have such climbing and hiking experience, those two and a half hours were a strenuous physical challenge; while we had a few persons among us who had a fortune to conquer all four summits, or had reached some of the peaks a few times. Thus, we were steering their course throughout the whole way and we did not need other guides. 

Our tour started at 10:00 a.m. near the charming Qari Lake (Stone Lake) that expands between the four peaks. Weather was windy and the sky over the mountain was cloudy; however, the sun was shining behind the clouds. After the sweltering fervor in Yerevan, the chilly wind of the mountains was quite pleasing. We were walking over stones, rocks, snow, and water; even there were small wild flowers grown up between the stones and surviving in the severe climate of the region. It seemed that we experienced all the seasons of the year: the slopes were snowy; overall, it was windy and a little bit rainy; then, time after time, the sun was shining behind the clouds and overwhelming us with its tender warmth. On our way, we also meet ancient dragons carved near the water sources.

At about 12:30p.m we were on the peak admiring with the beautiful scene surrounding us. We were allured with an inexplicable feeling: it seemed that we had overcome all the intricacies of this life; we felt ourselves victorious.  We were so close to the sky and to the clouds; we could touch the clouds; we were in the clouds… 
This panorama of the irresistible mount Aragats will always stay in our memory.