Category: hiking and mountaineering

A multi-day hike with a fantastic view and a bear in Turkey (June 2023)

Cindy was still resisting to accept her nickname Bengel and suggested the nickname “Lausmadl” instead of “Bengel” but I did not like that one.

We searched on Open Street Map for a hiking route in northern Turkey and found a really good one.

On the first day it was raining a bit but our rain covers, especially Cindy’s natural one, did their job.

At the end of our first day, we found a fantastic place to put our tent and the next day was super nice as well.

After we had reached the summit on the second day, we went all the way down. In total almost 30 km. In the last part, when it started to get dark, we met a very big bear. We were just running down the mountains when we heard him next to us in the woods. We guessed that he was surprised by us and when he started running through the woods. Breaking the branches etc. he made a lot of noise. He was really big.

You can see the first day of our tour in Komoot.

Climbing a huge dinosaur back (June 2023)

Bengelchen (aka Cindy) came up with the idea to climb a massive ridge close to the Ararat.

It was a fantastic hike with big climbing sections. I don’t know if I ever climbed something that steep before without a harness etc.

But it felt super good. But at one point, in the middle of our descent, I had to take a break to center myself again. For a moment I had felt pretty lost or stressed.

You can see the tour on Komoot.

What a mountain: the Ararat, and where does this shepherd came from? (Juni 2023)

After Van Lake, we went to the Ararat Mountain. What a mountain it is! I’ve never seen one like that before. It just looks so impressive and majestic. I can’t describe it and the photos can’t deliver it. It’s just a huge mountain in between nothing.

We parked Thor and Rosinante at its foot and just enjoyed looking at it. One day we went up as far as we could without crampons or snowshoes but turned back when a thunderstorm approached. But still we had a super good time going up and down.

And even in the most isolated places, where you don’t see anybody else for hours, when you start to have sex outside, a shepherd appears from nowhere and asks for fire 🤣

And I love to make some dust with Rosinante. I don’t know why, but I just have to. And the small dirt road down from the Aragats is perfect for it 😁

Oh, and if you want to go there as well, go to this spot: see it on Google Maps. The other road more to the east is located on a military restricted area and you need an permission to enter.

You can see our tour on Komoot.