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The
2001 Ararat Peace Climb: Introduction
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| South
Side of Ararat; The Expedition will go to the
North Side. |
The
idea of HolylandExpeditions.com started around two
years ago. The "idea" was bought about by
the question: Do we continue EverestNews.com? You
see, EverestNews.com, was started in April of 1998 as
a news source for the many expeditions who had no one
central outlet for accurate news on their expeditions
and activities while attempting Everest and K2
(that is the short story). However in late summer of
1999, we were struggling with an unprofitable web
site that was very demanding of time. So we asked Why? Why do we continue this? EverestNews.com, is owned
by a Christian Company. After much study and thought,
we determined that we should start HolylandExpeditions.com. A site where we could encourage
climbers to attempt Holy Mountains, respecting the
mountains and with local people leading the climbs, to
work for good causes in the world and to spread good
will. Today, around 2 years later, EverestNews.com is
now the largest mountaineering publication in the
world covering expeditions and news on all the 8000 meter
peaks, Seven Summits climbs, and other feature stories,
expeditions, and news. EverestNews.com, like most of
the internet is still not a profitable web site,
however we are encouraged by the success of the site
and with the support our readers.
The
dream of HolylandExpeditions.com
takes flight today, with a journey to Mt. Ararat. The legendary Holy mountain
where many believe life began a second time after the
great flood.
Let's take a quick look at this mountain: Ararat: Meaning
sacred land or high land
Mount
Ararat rises to an elevation of 16,945 (5165 meters)
in the far eastern frontier of Turkey near the borders
of Armenia, Georgia (formerly part of the
USSR)
and Iran. One of the highest peaks in the Middle
East, Ararat is also considered one of the holiest
mountains in the world. Most believe Ararat to be an
old volcano, the mountain is physically impressive and
commands total attention with little else to distract
one's view.
In
his book The Sacred Mountains of the World, Edwin
Bernbaum writes that the local inhabitants looked to
Ararat 'seeking the mountains of their myths, the
ancients naturally turned to these, the highest peaks
in the world they knew'.
"Ararat"
is included 4 times in the Bible's original
manuscripts: Genesis, 2 Kings, Isaiah and
Jeremiah. In the King James Bible, the word is translated
as Armenia in the 2 Kings and Isaiah. In the New King
James Bible, 2 Kings, Ararat is translated as the "land of
Ararat". However, in all these versions, in Genesis, mountains of Ararat is the translation that appears
in the Bible.
Most
believe Mt. Ararat is a extinct volcano. There are two
peaks Great Ararat (Mt. Ararat) and Little Ararat. They
rise above a great plain of Aras. Mt. Ararat is covered
with snow year around.
The
Persians called the mountain Kuhinuh or Noah's
Mountain. Some believe the land of Ararat is the
Hebrew of Urardhu or Urartu which was a Assyrian-Babylonian
name for the Chaldean Kingdom. Around 700 B.C. the Kingdom
of Ararat came to an end. Mt. Ararat and Little Ararat
are both in modern day Turkey.
The
Expedition: An expedition formed of Everest Summiters,
of different languages, races and religions are
joining in a climb for peace. The journey will take
them to the legendary, Holy mountain of Mt. Ararat in
an attempt to climb the mountain via the north side rarely
seen by foreigners. The expedition will be a symbolic
gesture to show the world how people of different
nations can strive together for peace.
The
Expedition reports will be carried on HolylandExpeditions.com and
EverestNews.com News page
with links to the stories and features. The Expedition
will be carried in our normal daily updates method.
We
also hope, with your help, to raise money for a non-profit
organization AKUT, the non-profit group
TEGEV (an education programme in Turkey), the Babu
Chiri School Fund, and to climb for peace around the
world. To support this vision of peace, please make a
donation, via SHIVA charity. You can make a credit
card donation by
clicking HERE.
Dispatches/Updates
>>>
For a
full list of updates on the 2001 Ararat Peace Climb
see here.
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