On September 20, 2025, I boarded the plane to Turkey from Milan Malpensa Airport with a backpack full of expectations and that familiar feeling that accompanies every new departure: a mix of focus, adrenaline, and the desire to face the unknown . The destination was one that had long called to me, silent but constant: Mount Ararat, the highest peak in the country at 5,137 meters . A solitary giant on the border between Turkey, Armenia, and Iran, steeped in history, symbols, and age-old legends. It is not just any mountain, but a place that evokes biblical tales, unresolved conflicts, and strong identities. At the same time, it is an interesting mountaineering environment, with changeable conditions and a morphology that requires attention, endurance, and planning. At my side was my partner Ivan Peri, with whom I have shared field projects, mountaineering ascents, and a solid relationship built on trust and a passion for the mountains for years. Together, we're developing a technical collaboration with AKU , an Italian company specializing in mountain and outdoor footwear, which supports our work as guides with products designed to offer performance, reliability, and protection even in extreme conditions. Ararat proved to be an ideal testing ground, from its rocky slopes to the snowy sections at high altitude. We can honestly say that the terrain challenged us at every step.
When Sergio (Sergio Pezzoli, ed.) suggested climbing Mount Ararat in late summer, I couldn't help but accept without hesitation. A name that evokes biblical events and atmospheres like Ararat couldn't leave me indifferent. In fact, aside from childhood reminiscences I'd heard in catechism, I had trouble pinpointing its location on the map.
Far east of the Turkish plateau, just a few kilometers from the Iranian border and about thirty kilometers from the Armenian border . The name Ararat is in fact Armenian and comes from the Bible, while in Turkish it is called Agri Dagi (mountain of sorrow). The surrounding environment is arid, typical of the Middle East, almost desert-like in places. The mountain is large, imposing, and elegant ; it towers and characterizes the entire plateau, which it dominates with its white summit cap, a beautiful and unusual glacier in a desert environment. I'll leave the entire trip organization to Sergio; you can trust his meticulousness with your eyes closed; I barely managed to carve out these six days for a quick trip.
Ivan Peri
“The years spent away from the mountains have made me increasingly fond of the freedom I find in activities in nature.”
Sergio Pezzoli
“Only when you immerse yourself in the mountain itself, establishing contact with it, will you understand how great it is.”
Rock DFS II GTX
Technical approach shoe, approach, light climbing , for via ferratas and excursions on mountain paths.
Croda DFS GTX
Lightweight, agile, precise, and extremely comfortable. CRODA DFS GTX is a mountaineering shoe ideal for challenging climbing and trekking in mixed environments with rock and ice.