Armenian Mountains above 3500 meters

Hikers Hrach Ara-Ivanyan and Aghasi Martirosyan climbed almost all Armenian mountains above 3500 meters and continue to discover the mountains of Armenia. Since 2017, within the framework of various hikes, they have climbed almost all possible peaks of Armenian mountains located at an altitude of more than 3500 meters. Hikers who look at the world from the peaks of Armenian mountains at first just participated in hikes, but then they set themselves a goal to climb higher and higher mountains.

Armenian Mountains above 3500 meters

Hrach Ara-Ivanyan notes that there are 22 peaks above 3500 m in Armenia, most of which he has already climbed. Within the framework of this project, he also climbed one of Artsakh’s mountains, located at an altitude of more than 3500 m – Mount Tsrasar, which was transferred to Azerbaijan after the war.

“It is impossible to climb 7 out of these 22 peaks in Armenia, since they are located on the border of the country. I climbed all the other peaks, except Yekeghyats and Sev. They are located in the Zangezur Mountains and are very close to each other. Therefore, you can climb both peaks with one ascent”, said Hrach.

“Above 3500 meters, that’s when you feel like a real mountaineer”

He thinks that no matter what height you climb, any ascent gives a certain experience. “Mountaineers always strive to climb higher mountains. Naturally, there are more difficulties on higher mountains, the horizons are more beautiful at this height, and other mountains are more visible. These high mountains are very beautiful. There, you are far from forest and grassy areas, and closer to rocky parts. Above 3500 meters, that’s when you feel like a real mountaineer, especially when you reach the top”.

Hrach thinks that climbing higher and higher mountains is a self test, when you constantly challenge yourself to reach higher peaks.

Hikes alone and with friends

Hrach is one of the most active members of our hiking club. He often hikes and climbs mountains. He says that he even climbed mountains alone, but now prefers to do it with friends, given the difficulties and the happy moments that he wants to share with his close friends.

Very often Hrach and Aghasi climb mountains together. However, Hrach thinks that this has its advantages. “For example, the two of us walk much faster. Therefore, we have time to do much more, for example, to go from one peak to another. Me and Aghasi climbed many peaks together, we walked a lot, we know each other well in the mountains. In many cases, there is no need to talk about which direction should we go etc. In case of big groups, the pace can be different, and the goals can also be different”.

An unscheduled ascent of Mount Aluk

Speaking about whether there are Armenian mountains above 3500 m, which they climbed first, Hrach noted that there are almost no mountain directions in Armenia that a person has not stepped on. “At least local stockbreeders have definitely been in these peaks. You can even go to the high points of many mountains by car. However, there was one peak in the Zangezur Mountains – Aluk, which at first seemed to be on the borderline. It is located very close to the border, so it was not clear whether it was possible to climb it or not. One day I joined ArmGeo and went to the Lake Tsakkar. We looked at the maps and it became clear that it is possible to climb Aluk. During this trip, me and one of the participants of the hike climbed to the top of Mount Aluk”.

Hrach noted that for mountaineering, Mount Aluk (3707 m) is the highest peak available in Armenia after Aragats. He said that for the second time he climbed this mountain with the members of our hiking club Gevorg Harutyunyan and Garnik Poghosyan. This is a unique mountain, as from its top you can see the other 5 higher peaks of the Zangezur Mountains, which are located on the borderline and climbing them is impossible. Hrach is not sure if it is possible to climb Aluk now. He also said that in the list of mountains above 3500 m there are also mountains that they climbed, but after the war it is still not clear whether it will be possible to climb them again. This applies to the mountains of the Syunik Highland – Trasar, Tsghuk and Ishkhanasar.

Winter ascent to the highest point in Armenia

Hrach Ara-Ivanyan thinks that all hikes and ascents are unique with memories, interesting challenges and hiking friends with whom you walk this path and reach the top. Talking about the most difficult climb, the hiker remembered the winter ascent to the highest point in Armenia – Northern peak of Mount Aragats (4090 m).

“Together with ArmGeo we went on a winter hike to the Northern peak of Aragats. It was an ascent of another level, very different from others. The most desirable thing in mountaineering is the absence of unforeseen and unexpected things. Since this is one of the most difficult directions in Armenia, our team was very well prepared, we were all friends who walked hundreds of kilometers together, and, fortunately, everything went well”, said Hrach.

The mountains are always calling

Having overcome such heights, the hiker is not worried that there will be no more peaks left in Armenia to overcome. “For me, it is not an end in itself to climb some mountain, state the fact that I was there and close this page. I return to the places where I have already been several times. I always want to visit these places more than once. That’s why I am not worried that the peaks will end, that I will feel emptiness inside. Especially when the best emotions are not always experienced during the first ascent of any mountain. For example, in 2020, with ArmGeo I climbed the mountains from the list – Trasar, Ukhtasar and Tsghuk. In two days we climbed the peaks of these mountains, which was not the first time for me. The Syunik Highland, which I knew quite well, surprised me”.

The hikers who have explored the world from mountain peaks above 3500 meters are ready to return to the same mountains again and again, as they never stay the same.

List of Armenian mountains above 3500 meters

ARAGATS (Northern peak) – massif located in the west of Armenia, between the Akhuryan and Kasagh rivers. Aragats has 4 peaks. The Northern peak is the highest point in Armenia (4090 m).

ARAGATS (Western peak) – 3995 meters

ARAGATS (Eastern peak) – 3908 meters

ARAGATS (Southern peak) – 3887 meters

KAPUTJUGH – mountain peak (3905 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Nakhichevan. It is the highest peak of Zangezur Mountains.

GAZANALER – mountain peak (3829 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Nakhichevan, in the southern part of Zangezur Mountains, 3.5 km south-west of the Gazan pass.

SISAKAPAR – mountain peak (3826 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Nakhichevan, in the southern summit of the Zangezur Mountains, in the upper reaches of the Kajarants River.

PARAKAN – mountain peak (3826 m) in the Syunik region, at the junction of the Zangezur and Meghri Mountains, 10 km south-west of Kajaran.

SHIKADZOR – mountain peak (3752 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Nakhichevan, in the southern part of Zangezur Mountains.

ALUK – mountain peak (3707 m) in the Syunik region, in the southern part of Zangezur Mountains, 6 km south-east of Kajaran.

YEKEGHYATS – mountain peak (3621 m) in the Syunik region, in Zangezur Mountains. It is located on the right bank of the Pahakadzor River, 6.5 km north-west of Kajaran.

AZHDAHAK – mountain (3597 m) on the border of Gegharkunik and Kotayk regions, the highest peak of the Geghama Mountains.

TRASAR – mountain peak (3594 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Azerbaijan, in the Syunik Highland. It is the highest peak of the Tsghuk Mountains, located 16 km north-east of Sarnakunk village.

TSGHUK – mountain peak (3582 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Azerbaijan, in the Syunik Highland, in the mountains of the same name.

SHEK – mountain peak (3576 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Nakhichevan, in the southern part of Zangezur Mountains, 8.5 km south-west of the Lichk village.

SEVKAR – mountain peak (3574 m) in the Syunik region, in Zangezur Mountains, on the right bank of Lake Qarahun, 6 km north-west of Kajaran.

UGHTASAR – mountain peak (3563 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Nakhichevan, in Zangezur Mountains, 9.5 km west of the Nor Astghaberd village.

SPITAKASAR – mountain peak (3555 m) on the border of Ararat, Gegharkunik and Kotayk regions, in the summit of Geghama Mountains.

METS ISHKHANASAR – mountain (3549 m) on the border of the RA Syunik region and Azerbaijan, in the Syunik Highland, 3.5 km south-west of Lake Sev, 9 km north-east of Noravan village (St. Ohannes).

KARMIR KATAR – mountain peak (3530 m) on the border of Gegharkunik and Kotayk regions, in the summit of the Geghama mountains.

Nameless mountain (UKHTASAR) – mountain peak (3528 m) in the Syunik region, in the Syunik Highland.

VARDENIS – mountain peak (3522 m) on the border of Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor region. It is the highest peak of the Vardenis mountain range.

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Armenian Highland