Hranush Vanesyan

What’s your profession? What do you do?

I am a linguist by profession; I work in the field of education.

When and how did you decide to take part in a hiking trip for the first time? How your first hiking trip was and what kinds of emotions did you experience?

I spent my childhood in the mountains, and reaching the top of the nearest hill was a part of our daily games. After moving to Yerevan, I began to have an urgent need for nature, which made me go to the mountains again. During the first hikes I returned to my childhood, without even noticing it. I began to realize the ideological background later, probably after my third hike, when you feel like you are confronting nature and yourself, when with your each step your heart begins to beat faster.

What has changed in your life since you started hiking?

You know, now I am better prepared for the trials of life, both mentally and physically. For example, when I go somewhere, I take a small bag and put only the essentials there. This affects other aspects of life as well: you stop carrying a heavy baggage with you, and it becomes easier to separate the important from the secondary.

What do mountains give you, what are you looking for there?

I am not looking for anything in the mountains, although during our last hike we were looking for petroglyphs. You don’t need to look for anything; the mountains will give you what you need. Each mountain has something for you. It is possible that in a group of 20 people each person will perceive the same mountain in a completely different way. And who knows what or who you will find on your next trip.

Is there a creation that you associate with mountains or hikes?

Pink Floyd song Learning to fly. Every time when I reach the top, it seems to me that I can spread my wings and go a little higher.

What was your most memorable hiking trip and what made it special?

Two years ago I taught in one of the Armenian villages, which is located on the mountain. Sometimes the transport did not work. In early March, it started to snow, and I found myself on the road leading up to the village. I was not in the mood for hiking, but I was sure that there will be no cars, so I decided to walk to the village through the forest. I walked for about two hours, alone with nature. I will never forget the feelings I experienced that day. I conquered nature, myself, and got rewarded with beautiful landscapes of blooming trees and snow.

Are there destinations that you haven’t climbed yet but have a desire to do it?

A little “further” I talked about what guides me when choosing a hiking destination: I am more interested in lesser-known destinations. However, among well-known destinations, I am really interested in the mountains of the Armenian Highland, which are located outside of the Republic of Armenia. Most of all, I would like to climb Mount Koghbasar. I fell in love with it through pictures and now I am waiting for the opportunity to climb it. Traveling to the mountains of Western Armenia is my favorite project from ArmGeo.

Which are those three words that can describe your feelings during hiking trips?

Harmony, freedom, connection.

What do you think, who are hikers?

Hikers are people with whom you can always go on trips, no matter where.

How did you appear in ArmGeo club?

I have close friends among the members of ArmGeo, but I never went on hikes with them. I always thought that they are professionals and I would not be able to be on their level. One day one of my friends suggested to go on a three-day trip to Artsakh on his birthday. He said that we will not walk that much and I agreed to join him. To my surprise, for two days we hardly left the car and I waited eagerly for a moment when we would finally walk. That’s when I realized that ArmGeo is not only about walking. ArmGeo is about discovering Armenia and all its corners. During this trip we discovered caves that have turned into houses. No one from our group has been there before, they only heard about the existence of this place. These experiences are the main reason that I am connected to this club: every time you can discover a new Armenia and go to places far from “civilization”, where the nature is real.

What advice do you have for those who want to start to go hiking but don’t dare to get out of their comfort zone and do that?

If you have already thought about it, then do not hesitate any longer. However, be sure to start with an overnight hiking trip.

Members of ArmGeo Club