RETIRED Armenian journalist and writer Serge Selian has followed in the footsteps of many who are keen to uncover the remains of Noah’s Ark.
The Book of Genesis says the boat came to rest on Mount Ararat, but the Keysborough resident didn’t go to the summit the dormant volcano to find a piece of history – he took on the challenge to connect with his culture.
ARARAT… not the Victorian town, nor even the mountain there but the biblical mountain in south-eastern Turkey.
The late Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians, Vazken I, once said: “To aspire Ararat is nobler and more inspiring than to reach Ararat”.
“As an Armenian, after aspiring to it all my life I decided at my old age that it was time for me to climb the mountain,” Mr Selian said.
Ararat, which used to be situated on the millennial territory of historical Armenia, has been the national symbol of Armenians.
It is also the cradle of human civilisation, a mountain unique in its appearance and history.
With its main peak at an altitude of 5165 metres it is the highest mountain in the world relative to its height (4300 metres) because its foot stretches on a tableland at less than 1000 metres from sea level.
“This was all the more reason to mount up Ararat,” Mr Selian said.
“We were a group of seven people accompanied by a Kurd guide who also was our cook and waiter.
“We departed from Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, passed through Georgia as the Turkish-Armenian border was closed.
“Early morning we started our ascent from Doğubayazıt, a Kurdish town at the foot of Ararat.
“The weather is nice, the landscape is nice, and everything would be nice if we could successfully reach our final goal.
“Firstly, after not that difficult a climb, we rested at a camp at 3470m altitude in our tents and sleeping bags.
“Next day we acquired another almost one thousand meters in height, stopping, resting and sleeping at the second camp at 4145 m under the same conditions.
“The third and last day of ascent was to be the hardest and longest.
“We awoke at 1am and started climbing at 2am.
“The slope was much steeper this time and the gravel was slippery.
“I cannot say that I suffered from lack of oxygen, but surely it is a reason for me to get tired more often than usual.
“Luckily, at 4690m we met the ice cap of the mountain, fixed the crampons on our boots and the path on the frozen snow became easier.
“The dawn was nigh, the wind was strong but we did not care as only a few meters remained to the peak.
“At 6am we claimed victory.
“It did not matter that the wind was still sharp and cold, (or) the mist hindered us from admiring the surroundings… we were on the top of the world.
“The way back was the same but descending, so we nearly ran down to the departure point.
“We only stopped a little at camps to have breakfast, lunch and, of course, a break before going on to walk to the final destination – our hotel in Doğubayazıt which we reached at 8pm the same day, happy and proud of our performance.
“We deserved a good and proper rest in the comfortable rooms of the hotel… we conquered Ararat.
Khachatur Abovian, founder of Armenian modern literature, climbed Ararat as part of the first recorded expedition on the biblical mountain. Professor Johann Jacob Friedrich Wilhelm Parrot from the University of Dorpat (Estonia) led the men on 27 September 1829.
Abovian subsequently wrote: “I deem myself the happiest man in the heart of Asia as I was in the sacred land of my ancestors”.
“I can understand him,” Mr Selian concluded.
