10-year-old becomes youngest Armenian to climb Mount Ararat

By Mane Berikyan

Ten-year-old Vardges Gevorgyan became the youngest Armenian to summit Mount Ararat last month, celebrating his birthday on the peak.

“I felt like the happiest Armenian in existence,” he told CivilNet. “I was so happy I was crying.”

Vardges climbed Mount Ararat’s taller peak — known as Masis, the smaller peak is called Sis — with his father and a group organized by the Armenian Geographic, a travel group that organizes such expeditions. 

For many Armenians, Mount Ararat holds a special significance. It is the legendary birthplace of the Armenian people and the biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark. Its location in modern-day Eastern Turkey is also a reminder of the nation’s painful history of the Armenian Genocide. Mount Ararat looms over the country’s capital, Yerevan, and is clearly visible from many points in the city on clear days. 

His father, Koryun, heard about an expedition going to Mount Ararat which was supposed to embark on July 26 and arrive at the peak on July 29, Vardges’ 10th birthday. They decided to go, and from then on, it was history. 

For 10-year-old Vardges, the most difficult part of the hike was climbing the peak itself.

“There was a moment when I wanted to go back down, but I decided not to because my whole group believed in me and my abilities,” he said. “I didn’t want to disappoint them.” 

According to his father, although the journey had many difficulties, the pride and joy they felt upon completing the hike made them forget those hardships. He described their experience as “unforgettable” and emotional. 

“I was crying even before we went to Ararat,” Koryun Gevorgyan told CivilNet. “We were crying every day, from pride — even if we didn't climb it, just the fact that we were already going was a huge win for us.”

When they reached the peak, he added, the whole team was in tears. 

Vardges began joining his father on expeditions at the age of six. According to his father, Vardges’ "climbing career" began with an Armenian Geographic hike for children. From then on, he improved significantly with years of practice.

The next big peak the father and son are hoping to tackle is Mount Kazbek in Georgia. This expedition is much more difficult and will require intense preparation; but, this, too, is a challenge Vardges and his father are ready to face. 

Also watch (in Armenian): The youngest Armenian who conquered Ararat: The story of ten-year-old Vardges