Name: West Summit Ascent
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Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

In case of any adverse weather, we do not recommend this trail, because of the possible difficulties of traveling through the high mountains. It is only possible to bypass these obstacles in clear weather, especially because the ski trail is rather complicated and possibly dangerous.

Description

To take this ascent trail, you need to get to the village of Geghadzor, in Aragatsotn province. At the southern end of the village, the road heads toward the mountain and can be driven until the conditions do not permit further travel.

You should climb up to the vicinity of the west summit (3,650m., 11,975ft.) using the marked trail. The trail is long, with no stops, and the area is usually covered with powder.

Mount Aragats is considered the highest peak in Armenia (4,090m., 13,419ft.). It is an isolated shield-like massif of about 200km in circumference. Together with its fan-shaped slopes, it covers 4,000 sq. m, and is situated in both the Aragatsotn and Shirak provinces. Aragats used to be one of the world’s largest volcanos. It has a gigantic 400m-deep crater, 3km in diameter, and 4 peaks. The highest point is the North Summit; the West Summit is second (3,995.3m., 13,207ft.) and is followed by the East (3,908.2m., 12,822ft.) and South Summit (3,887.8m., 12,755ft.)

According to legend, the name ‘Aragats’ originated from the name ‘Ara’, and the word ‘gah’ (throne): that is to say ‘Ara’s throne’ (the Armenian king Ara Geghetsik, meaning Ara the Beautiful).

Heading for the West Summit of Aragats from Yerevan or vice versa, you can visit the Armenian Alphabet Monument after M. Mashtots, Hovhannavank (5th-13th centuries), Saghmosavank Monasteries.

The best time to ski is January to April. Yerevan is 81km away from the village of Geghadzor, so the road there takes 1h 30m and costs 8,100-8,500 AMD (by taxi).