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The
2001 Ararat Peace Climb
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Marcelo
Arbelaez:
2001 Ararat Peace Climb member on the Summit
of Everest |
Update
7/24/2001 from David Keaton
Hello
EverestNews.com/HolylandExpeditions.com's readers !
All
roads lead to Igdir
The
Spanish climbers (Columbians) have arrived today, Marcello
and Fernando. Ricardo was with Marcello in 1984 on
Broad Peak when Marcello became the first Latin America
to summit an 8000er.
In
the morning the military escort showed us an ancient
pre-ottoman site on the northern flank of the mountain
- about 6000 feet. Between large blocks of fallen
stone and high grass where a number of large
headstones with crucifixes on them. The site is
probably more than 1500 years old. It is unlikely
that many westerners have ever viewed this site before
... we never would have found it on our own.
In
the afternoon we drove and then hiked up to Kup lake
at 11,500 feet on the mountain - just about snowline.
It is spectacular up there - the west face glacier
direct is probably unclimbed - we then traversed
around the mountain and descended 7 miles and four
thousand five hundred feet in about 2 and a half hours
the last hour escorted by total darkness and the barking
of dogs from Kurdish wanderers.
We
slept quickly then prepared to move around further to
the northeast side of the peak. We will probably
establish camp one tomorrow which will be a 6000 foot
ascent then perhaps summit the following day - we will
see...out for now.
David
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support this vision of peace, please make a donation, via
SHIVA charity. You can make a credit card donation by
clicking HERE.
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