Trip Blogs: Turkey: Mt. Ararat

Date: September 19, Thursday
Location: Van, Turkey

Photo is of David in 900 A.D. church on an island pondering the end of our adventure. And there is much to ponder.

Our guide, Gorkem, leaves
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Date: September 18, Wednesday
Location: Dogubyogit, Turkey

Wow, were we lucky. The storm came in today on the upper mountain. Snow, winds, we would not have made the summit if we tried it on schedule. Inste
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Date: September 17, Tuesday , Summit Day!
Location: Summit of Mt. Ararat 16,800 feet

20 mph wind, 20 degrees, bright sun, 15 miles from Iran.

It is impossible to describe what is is like to struggle to the top of a tall,
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Date: Tuesday September 17 - AUDIO POST
Location: Summit of Mt. Ararat

Here is an audio post from the gang. Download or listen
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Date: September 16, Monday
Location: High Camp. 14,500, Mt Ararat.

Super bad weather report for Tues night so going to go for summit Monday night instead. Tuesday to Wednesday was possible snow, up to 50 mph winds.
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Date: September 15, Sunday - AUDIO POST
Location: Camp I Mt Ararat, 11,000 feet. 3,000 foot, 4 hour hike

Here is an audio post from the gang. Download or listen
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Date: September 15, Sunday
Location: Camp I Mt Ararat, 11,000 feet. 3,000 foot, 4 hour hike

Well, here we are. And it feels like we are on it. Dry, lava rocks, views way out. You can see forever. It feels like the Middle East. We got into
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Date: September 14, Saturday
Location: train station on the tarmac, Kayseri, 1:00 am

Adventure with a big A today. This is being written as we lay on the sidewalk at the train station. Train is delayed. We should board at 3:30 am.
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Date: September 13, Friday
Location: Driving to Kayseri in van at moment.

3 hours hiking down to 6000 feet.

Most of today's exotic experiences are yet to come. We have finished the 5 days of hiking by coming out t
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Date: September 12, Thursday - AUDIO
Location: Karagol camp. 9550 feet.

Here is an audio post from the gang. Download or listen
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Date: September 12, Thursday
Location: Karagol camp. 9550 feet.

7 hours walking. High point 11,500.

The word for the day is scree, steep scree. A thousand feet up and done, slide, slip, catch yourself. It
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Date: DATE: September 11, Wednesday - AUDIO
Location: Yedigoller. 10196 feet at camp.

Here is an audio post from the gang. Download or listen
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Date: DATE: September 11, Wednesday
Location: Yedigoller. 10196 feet at camp.

9 hours hiking, 5500 feet uphill, 2000 feet downhill. Summitted Mt Emler.

Incredible day. So hard to describe the area we are in. All dry an
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Date: September 10
Location: Sokulupinar camp, 6363 feet.

Here is an audio post from the gang. Download or listen
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Date: September 10
Location: Sokulupinar camp, 6363 feet.

6 hours walking. Up 2500, down 1500 feet. 70 degree high, 45 low. Bright sun and amazing stars and Mars was so bright.

Beautiful walk
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Date: September 9, Monday
Location: Aladaglar National Park, Cappadocia area. 5770 feet

3 hours of walking. Bright sun. Light wind. 75 degrees.

Crazy. Up at 4:00 am to catch an early morning flight. Mostly we fell asleep on
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Date: September 8, Sunday
Location: Sea Level, Istanbul, Turkey

JFK airport almost kept us. At each turn, no sign, the train did not work, where is Turkish Airlines? But we managed.

Great morning arrivin
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