Mount Arrat - Page 2

Van - Doğubeyazıt - Camp 1

So we took the shuttle to Doğubeyazıt, a small town at the foot of Mount Ararat. A dry, bare landscape to the left and right, on the last third of the way we saw the Iranian border on the right. There were more checkpoints here and armored vehicles on the road. Ararat, which was getting closer and closer, enveloped itself in the upper third with a dense cloud cover. Arrived at the hotel, there were again the usual minor annoyances with the rooms and the showers, but all relaxed. After checking in we drove to the Muradiye waterfall, walked around there for a while and drank the for my taste delicious Çay (kind of black tea) in the cafe. From now on, this is available everywhere and at any time.

In the evening we went to a fine restaurant, on the way the mayor of Doğubeyazıt paid us another visit. As the purpose of the visit, I can only imagine advertising for tourism here, but yes, political intentions are mysteries in themselves. However, the lady was relaxed and humorous. She also had no choice with our troop 🙂. Back at the hotel, there were a few more vending machine beers, then a slight excitement forced us into the pillows. Tomorrow we go to Ararat.

From the terrace of the 6th floor in the hotel had a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, the excitement rose. After breakfast we drove for half an hour along stony roads to the village of Eli at 2200 meters. Here our mules were already waiting for the heavy luggage: tents, food, water, etc. It started to thunderstorm, we waited a few more minutes in the shuttle. Big dogs with steel spikes on their collars were running between the the mules. This is for protection from wolves, but looked a bit dangerous. Finally we tackled the 1000 meters of altitude, up to Camp 1 at 3200 m. It was relatively easy to walk, but the higher we got, the stonier it became. Halfway up we rested at a tent, there was Çay again. Here lived a shepherd and sold various things to tourists.

Our tents were just set up in Camp 1, the big kitchen and cooking tent stayed mostly for a season. A 1x1x2m wooden scaffold, covered with plastic sheeting and ceramic plate with a hole was our community toilet. We first drank Çay, settled in and then walked some more upwards. Our Kilimanjaro guide Richard had explained to us last year: walk high, sleep slow. Then you sleep more relaxed in the height. The sky became clearer, we saw the summit of Ararat for the first time. After dinner, the lights came on in the valley in Doğubeyazıt and we had a beautiful sunset on the mountain.

We slept well, was not so cold overnight. Manu complained of course, I had snored loudly again, but that is already more habit than truth 🙂. Overall, I had arranged myself, I liked it. Nothing in the east of Anatolia is perfect, far away from German customs. Here no one is punctual, agreed things are only partially respected, environmental protection, hygiene and garbage disposal are only empty terms. But people make an effort, are very hospitable, polite and full of life. And through a kind of "counterculture" one becomes more aware of one's own culture.