Samvel Manukyan: What Is There in the Mountains?
This article is about a person who stands out for his bold and challenging mountain ascents. Through the story of Samvel Manukyan, founder of the North Peak mountain club, you will discover not only the beauty of the mountains but also the challenges they hold.
Prepare for a “journey” where every step tells a story of endurance and determination.
What Is There in the Mountains?
I have discovered for myself the secret of what is there in the mountains. You try to find yourself—your own physical and psychological limits. You meet good people who possess high moral qualities because the chances of meeting “bad” people in the mountains are very low. You fight your fears, developing strong willpower, and as a bonus, you witness the best views of the world from the summits.
Fears
Fear is a protective reaction. If it does not exist, it is not strange—it is dangerous. Most accidents happen precisely for that reason, when fear is simply absent. There is one subtle point: you must not allow fear to turn into panic or become uncontrollable, because then you will start making mistakes. Of course, I have fears. For example, during the traverse from Aragats’ false summit to the true summit, especially in winter. I realize that one wrong move could cost a life.
Transformation
I have a feeling that I have finally found myself. I have found an activity that gives me great pleasure. I spent a long time searching and often asked myself: What am I here for? Where am I going in this life?
Profession
I am a biologist by profession, which helps me a lot, since biologists also study sciences related to the human body.
There is always someone in the group who asks:
“What kind of plant is this?”
I like it when I can answer. It is pleasant, and sometimes, even without being asked, I start talking about animals or plant life. As a guide and group leader, I am responsible for monitoring the group’s well-being. A good knowledge of biology helps with that—spotting symptoms quickly and addressing them promptly.
The First Mountain
When I climbed a mountain for the first time, I had absolutely no connection to mountaineering or hiking. My roots are in Tsaghkashen village in the Lori Province. I used to spend my summer vacations there. Above the village stands Harsnasar (Harsnakar) Mountain, which is now quite popular among hikers. We went and climbed it without backpacks or water. It was in 2001 or 2002.
Then, in October 2007, I climbed Mount Aragats for the first time wearing jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. I was on the summit when it started snowing, and I got very cold that day. How did that happen? I had seen an announcement at the university and suddenly decided to go. By the way, I climbed quite well.
By 2017, I was already spending time in the mountains regularly. The first ascent was Mount Armaghan. At that time, I was not interested in reaching the summit—I was playing volleyball near the crater lake.
Dream Summit
I have a dream summit: K2, or Chhogori, the world’s second-highest mountain, located on the border between Pakistan and China.
Strategic Importance
Mountaineering has strategic importance in Armenia. It promotes knowledge of the homeland. After all, 86 percent of Armenia’s territory is mountainous, yet only one or two percent of the population has ever stood on a summit.
Given the constant state of military tension, it is important that men take an interest in mountaineering. Unfortunately, I have seen the negative side of ignorance. Some people do not know where Kapan or Lori is located and have little understanding of geography.
North peak
We organize mountain ascents because we are a mountain club, and most of our routes are challenging. Before founding North Peak, I spent two years climbing mountains solo. Why? Because I mainly chose routes on Aragats that were dangerous, and I did not want to take responsibility for others. During that period, I gained tremendous experience.
By following Armenian hiking and mountain programs, I realized there was a lack of difficult routes and bold projects. Something new was needed not a new direction, but new ways of reaching the same summits. We needed to try climbing the same peak via different routes.
I noticed that regular hikers from other clubs began joining our ascents because they also wanted something new. Over time, it became clear that this is what makes us unique.
Expanding Geography
We are expanding our geographical reach significantly. At the same time, we are trying to develop technical alpinism in Armenia.
What we call mountaineering in Armenia is not always mountaineering in the strict sense. By international standards, mountaineering means completing a route with technical difficulty using specialized equipment.
Member of the Armenian Federation of Alpinism and Mountain Tourism
In Armenia, we have the Armenian Federation of Alpinism and Mountain Tourism, of which I am also a member.
Interest in mountain ascents is only now beginning to grow in Armenia, and the Federation’s efforts are very important in this regard. Numerous programs and training courses are organized for hikers of different ages, as well as for schools and security institutions.
Important work is being done with primary school children. Groups are formed and training courses are organized, after which the children begin participating in hikes and mountain ascents.
I believe Armenia has great potential in mountaineering and rock climbing, and everything is still ahead of us. The Federation is doing significant work in this field.
Majority Are Women
In Armenia, women are highly active in hiking and mountain ascents. Women make up the majority, and during ascents, they often stand out for their determination and strength of character.
I am not saying that men are weak, but in the mountains, there are generally fewer problems with women than with men.
The Inexperienced Hiker
Why does an experienced hiker carry little food into the mountains? Because inexperienced hikers always bring a lot.
Once, we ended up hungry. It turned out that we were all experienced hikers and had brought almost nothing. We had been relying on the beginners.
An Expensive Hobby?
Many people think that mountaineering is an expensive hobby. Experience shows that with very minimal equipment, it is possible to accomplish serious objectives.
It depends on how much comfort you are willing to sacrifice in order to achieve your goal.
For Beginners
What do you need to start hiking or mountaineering? First and foremost, the desire to do it. Everything else can be solved.
To begin with, all you need is a pair of waterproof boots and that’s it.
