Hardwear Sessions

By Mountain Hardwear Athlete, Erik Weihenmayer

Petrified Ark Ruins | Photo Courtesy of Erik Weihenmayer

Rising high into the thin dry air of eastern Turkey, Mt. Ararat stands at almost 17,000 feet. Some geologists believe Mount Ararat to be the largest single-mass mountain in the world, since it rises uninterrupted from the plains surrounding it at 2,000 feet, while most other large mountains are in a mountain range with fewer differentials.

Mt. Ararat Straddles the politically embroiled borders of Turkey, Armenia and Iran and has a rich history. It lies on the western edge of what many consider the "Hearth of Humanity." From invading Mongol hordes to the biblical journey of the Apostle Paul, the mountain and surrounding range have long been a pivotal junction for culture and religion. Most famously, according to the story of Genesis, Chapter 6, Ararat is widely viewed as the final resting place of Noah's Ark.

Beautiful scenic view of Mt. Ararat. | Photo Courtesy of Erik Weihenmayer

This fall I teamed up with three Iranian climbers and my brother, Eddi, to scale the dormant volcano and take a step into its rich history. Behrouz Khabbaz Beheshti, the Iranian team organizer, is translating my memoir, Touch the Top of the World, into Farsi. He volunteers with an Iranian disability organization named, Bavar, meaning, "Believe" in English, and plans to sell the book in partnership with this organization. I'm donating all royalties to Bavar, the organization which has also served Behzour's younger brother who was born with cerebral palsy.

Behrouz was accompanied by his friend, Hassan Moghimi, born without one hand while still becoming a professional cyclist and accomplished climber.

Mount Ararat trek. | Photo Courtesy of Erik Weihenmayer

For three days we worked our way up the increasingly steep slopes of Ararat, and at 14,000 feet, stepped on to a spectacular glaciated ice cap 17 square miles in size and 350 feet deep. Kicking steps in the steep slope was tiring, especially for those on our team who started at sea level, yet the summit rewarded us with a windy yet sunny day.

Summit of Ararat | Photo Courtesy of Erik Weihenmayer

Behrouz and I are now planning a future climb of Mt. Damavand (18,600 feet), the tallest peak in Iran. We hope to make a ski descent of the mountain.