The strongest team of the Armenian Mountaineering and Hiking Federation, 4 climbers, together with the Iranian colleagues were the first to subdue the highest top in Iran – Damavand (5671). Among the Armenian team were Garegin Unusyan, Levon Movsisyan, Hovhannes Martirosyan and Suren Sepanyan.
216 climbers from 25 countries worldwide participated in the tournament.
The first day of the ascent, January 27th, the climbers were tasked to reach the first climbing station of Damavand located at height of 3100 meters. The Armenian climbers copped with it without any difficulty.
The objective of the second task was achievement of the station at height of 4100 meters, and again Armenian climbers easily overcame it. However after the second round it became clear that the weather worsens: the temperature had dropped to -40 degrees and wind gusts up to 50 km/h. That very day some mountaineers from commands of other countries felt unwell. The Armenian climbers helped local mountain rescuers to bring their colleagues down.
From 216 sportsmen only 45, including the Armenian climbers, tried to finish the ascension on January, 29th.
The ascent began at 07:00, and by 11:30 the Armenian sportsmen were at height of 5200 meters, together with only 30 climbers from other countries.
By 12:00 hours the Armenian mountaineers were already at height of 5500 meters. From other participants there were 10 sportsmen from the national team of Iran and one from Azerbaijan.
The peak of Damavand was subdued at 13:45. The Armenian command and the strongest Iranian climbers simultaneously reached the highest point of Iran. Thus, Armenia headed the rating of foreign climbers and shared the first place with Iran
It should be noted that the Armenian climbers won the right to participate in prestigious international tournament in Iran, January 25-28, thanks to several successful ascents during the 2011.
Armenia’s participation was of great importance, as the country over the past 10 years had never taken part in international tournaments by a team.
This was really an unprecedented victory.
Congratulations to all of us!