Up The Rocks

The idea of the event came, about 6 months ago, when Will Nazarian from Oregon found our website and wrote us about his wish to visit Armenia in summer for one month climbing and establishing new routes on the unclimbed rocks of Armenia.

Unfortunately, for some reasons he couldn’t take part in the event this year, but was the moral base of the event, and Up The Rocks club is very thankful for his support. Being organized first time in Armenia as such kind of action there were obviously difficulties in organization, promotion and finding financing ..
However the first step was done and the experience Up The Rocks club got is surely priceless, and we do hope it will be one of the great motivations for the further development of the rock climbing in Armenia.
The event was took place in five different rocky areas of Armenia: Hrazdan gorge, Noravanq canyon, Hell’s canyon, Arpa gorge, Garni gorge.

We had participants from Iran, Russia, and Czech republic.

Few traditional and bouldering routes were made, the descriptions of which soon will be available in our website’s rock climbing routes in Armenia section, and we are aiming to increase the amount of the rock climbing routes in Armenia and attract more and more foreign pro climbers to climb in Armenia.

Up The Rocks club especially wants to thank to the people who have their great input in the performance of the event:
Will Nazarian, Vachagan Sirekanyan, Souren Stepanian and all the friends who did their best to help with their professional abilities.

To my mother Marine Mkhitaryan: the only sponsor of the Festival

As well our thanks to:
. The Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia: for supporting "Arev" Festival with technical and media issues.
.The Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia: for it’s official permit to clean climb on Arpa and Garni gorges' basalt columns natural monuments.
. Spitak Rescue Team: for first aid and camping equipment support.