Photography: Frits Meyst
Text: Jillian Macdonald

Just before the sun appears over the horizon we leave our base camp at 4200 meters to make our last efforts to reach the summit of Mount Ararat. On the borders with Armenia and Iran, Ararat has always been a very strategic mountain location, that which only recently opened up for foreign climbers. This ancient volcano towers high over the surrounding landscape, giving good reason to the stories of why Noah is believed to have landed here with his Arc. Mountaineers from around the world come to Ararat to climb the highest peak in Turkey. This will be my personal best, and I intend to make it!

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