GORP - Climb Mt. Ararat - Turkey's 20 Best Adventures

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Climb
Mount Ararat
By Pat Yale

Double trouble
on Ararat

Leave the animals at home—you won't need them to board Noah's Ark this time. According to Ark enthusiasts, the ship of creatures finally came to rest on Mount Ararat (16,854 feet), overlooking Dogubayazit in far eastern Turkey. Now that the threat of terrorism in the area has been lifted, mountaineers are being allowed to climb again, provided they have advance permission. Ararat is only for the fit and well equipped—just like on the Ark, you can expect a little bit of everything. Slopes are steep and cold, rockfalls are common, and ferocious sheepdogs prowl the lower slopes. You're unlikely to hit any floods, but you're also unlikely to get permission to climb without a guide—and you'd be well advised to take one. After all, everything's better in pairs, right?

Trip Facts
Difficulty rating: Hardcore
When to go: JuneSeptember

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