Mount Aratat & the Wonders of Turkey Expedition Dispatch
August 19, 2013 – Mount Ararat’s Weather Keeps the Team on their Toes
It’s 6 pm on the evening of August 19 and I am calling you from Camp I on Mt. Ararat. The team is getting ready to settle down for our second evening at this elevation. Mehmet will prepare one of his great meals here in just a little bit and I am sure we will go to bed early. Today was a good day, Ararat is a big mountain and the weather changes, you never really know what to expect and it keeps you on your toes. Today our goal was to hike somewhat higher up to Camp I, see how we feel, not a big day for exercise or high pressure day for accomplishment, just to get a feel about what the Mountain above us will be like.
We set out walking at about 9:30, Doc (Charles) who did not sleep well last night decided that he would stay at Camp I with Mehmet for the day and actually fairly early on the hike Valentine said her energy wasn’t good and she decided to go back and Susan decided she would spend the day with Doc and Mehmet as well.
The rest of us reached a high point a 3,900m and that was Deke, Jean-Pierre, Anne, John, Dennis, Caroyln and Micheline and of course myself, Duygu and Jamal, the typical hiking guides. Mehmet who will be there to summit with us stayed in Camp I to help with meals and take care of camp. It began to rain lightly as we descended and when we were at our high point no one was worried about the heat anymore. When we got back to camp there was a strong hail storm but we managed to get into our tents first.