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Welcome to Tsar, the first village we reach in Artsakh, and our home at the end of Stage 1. Our "tent village" will be in front of the school.
Armen of Trails For Change points back to that mile 7.6 summit. which we had summitted less than 30 minutes previous (September 2019.)
We join a paved road at mile 22 in Vank and pass some kind of a water park, the mountain lion (a lion carved into the mountain), a hotel, Roman columns and statues, cars on display atop pillars, a giant eagle, and much more while passing through town. In the center of town, you’ll make a hard left and then climb 400′ (122m) over .8 of a mile (1.3km) on a paved road to the finish line at Gandzasar Monastery.
Our stage 2 (and stage 3) campsite will be in this area next to the Tutkhun River. The tak jur (hot springs) are a few hundred meters downstream from here, and will no doubt be popular with Artsakh Ultra runners after both stage 2 and stage 3.
There is a very nice, modern café, bakery, and mini-mart at the intersection with the highway where runners may purchase all manner of food, drinks, and snacks.
The only significant section of paved road of the whole race follows, about 4 miles / 6.4km down the two-lane highway, followed by a .75mi / 1.2km uphill to Dadivank Monastery on a steep, curvy road.
At mile 5.2 of Stage 5, you will be able to look across the wide valley (carved by the Kolotak River far below you) from here, and up to the dramatic peak of Kachaghakaberd (“magpie fortress”), literally the high point of today’s route. But first you hike up to Hakobvank, then to the bottom of the valley below. THEN you climb that mountain range and over Kachaghakaberd!!!
Photo of Artsakh Ultra race director Chris Kostman during his reconnaissance hike of Stage 5 in September, 2019.
As we will enter Artsakh via a dirt road, not a highway or official border post, there won't be any signs like this one. However, we will put up a banner at the summit of the pass so that you know when you cross into Artsakh (and hit the highest point of the whole race route.)
Sitting on the mountain above Stepanakert, the city of Shushi has a commanding presence and view of the entire region (not to mention a wide selection of amazing museums.)
Runners will run through Shushi on roads and sidewalks, literally running through the castle wall which encircles the town and then past Shushi’s gorgeous cathedral. We will have a photographer at this spot to capture your photo.
Your faithful race director, Chris Kostman, during the reconnaissance trip in September 2019 on stage 4. He filled that notebook with notes, details, distances, and elevations from all six stages of the race course.
Dadivank! This is our destination and turn-around point for stage 3. There will be a checkpoint located at Dadivank at the snack bar / restrooms, and runners will be given up to 30 minutes “off the clock” to explore the monastery. It’s a dramatic, gorgeous setting with over one millennium of history! This time off the clock will be deducted at the finish line so that every runner may take the time to properly enjoy Dadivank.
From here, the runners will turn around and retrace their steps back up the highway, and then up the gentle uphill dirt road along the Tukthun River through Zuar to our campsite just beyond the hot springs.
More info: armeniadiscovery.com/en/place/dadivank
Guess what caused these stones to be flipped over! (That's how we found them, and there were quite a few in this area which were similarly flipped over!) Comment below.
Stage 4: Zuar Hot Springs > Andzavner > Vank > Gandzasar (overnight in Vank)
25.8 Miles / 42km with 5127’ / 1563m of elevation gain
We join a paved road at mile 22 in Vank and pass some kind of a water park, the mountain lion (a lion carved into the mountain), a hotel, Roman columns and statues, cars on display atop pillars, a giant eagle, and much more while passing through town. In the center of town, you’ll make a hard left and then climb 400′ (122m) over .8 of a mile (1.3km) on a paved road to the finish line at Gandzasar Monastery.
Dadivank! This is our destination and turn-around point for stage 3. There will be a checkpoint located at Dadivank at the snack bar / restrooms, and runners will be given up to 30 minutes “off the clock” to explore the monastery. It’s a dramatic, gorgeous setting with over one millennium of history! This time off the clock will be deducted at the finish line so that every runner may take the time to properly enjoy Dadivank.
From here, the runners will turn around and retrace their steps back up the highway, and then up the gentle uphill dirt road along the Tukthun River through Zuar to our campsite just beyond the hot springs.
More info: armeniadiscovery.com/en/place/dadivank
While there’s no way to top Gandzasar as a finish line, today’s finish will certainly match it!
Today’s stage will also go down in your memory as the most dramatic and most “epic” of the entire six days of the Artsakh Ultra!
After breakfast at a local restaurant, we will depart Vank and the Eclectica Hotel on jeep tracks through fields and forests, and over a couple of cool bridges.
Dropping down the Zuar Loop trail to the hot springs. (Telma Altoon during the September 2019 reconnaissance.)
Spectacular scenery includes a 12th century stone bridge over the Tartar River. We will have a photographer here to photo each runner.
Looking down at our route from the summit at mile 7.6 (elevation 7000′ / 2133m.)
At this point, save a few small rollers, the route is 95% downhill to mile 24 (38.6km.)
We join a paved road at mile 22 in Vank and pass some kind of a water park, the mountain lion (a lion carved into the mountain), a hotel, Roman columns and statues, cars on display atop pillars, a giant eagle, and much more while passing through town. In the center of town, you’ll make a hard left and then climb 400′ (122m) over .8 of a mile (1.3km) on a paved road to the finish line at Gandzasar Monastery.
In the center of Vank, you’ll make a hard left and then climb 400′ (122m) over .8 of a mile (1.3km) on a paved road to your race director’s favorite spot in all of Artsakh, Gandzasar Monastery, located at mile 25.8 (40.2km) located at 4000′ (1220m).
This is a finish line setting you will never forget, a glorious, spectacular, 1000-year-old monastery covered in hundreds of carved details and sitting atop the mountain with an incredible view of Vank below and the entire surrounding area.
You will want to step inside the monastery to take in the history and its aura. As a sacred place, legs must be covered and women must wear a simple scarf over their hair; we will provide what you need so you can take in this peaceful, ethereal setting.
There’s also a museum next door and we will cover your entry fee if you’d like to visit.
After you’ve had your fill of Gandzasar, we will shuttle you down the hill back into Vank where we will all stay at the aptly named Eclectica Hotel. Read about it here. Runners will be placed 2, 3, or 4 to a room and we will keep tentmates together as much as possible.
Runners will be on their own for dinner tonight, and will enjoy Armenian cuisine at one or more hotel-adjacent restaurants.
While there’s no way to top Gandzasar as a finish line, today’s finish will certainly match it!
Today’s stage will also go down in your memory as the most dramatic and most “epic” of the entire six days of the Artsakh Ultra!
After breakfast at a local restaurant, we will depart Vank and the Eclectica Hotel on jeep tracks through fields and forests, and over a couple of cool bridges.
After crossing the river at the start of stage 4, it’s a long, relatively gentle uphill on a Jeep track to a false summit at mile 3.6 and then up an increasingly steeper ascent to the actual summit at mile 7.6 shown here (elevation 7000′ / 2133m.)
At this point, save a few small rollers, the route is 95% downhill to mile 24 (38.6km.)
Natural beauty - including blackberries - abound in Artsakh! (Shot taken during our September 2019 reconnaissance.)
While there’s no way to top Gandzasar as a finish line, today’s finish will certainly match it!
Today’s stage will also go down in your memory as the most dramatic and most “epic” of the entire six days of the Artsakh Ultra!
After breakfast at a local restaurant, we will depart Vank and the Eclectica Hotel on jeep tracks through fields and forests, and over a couple of cool bridges.
We join a paved road at mile 22 in Vank and pass some kind of a water park, the mountain lion (a lion carved into the mountain), a hotel, Roman columns and statues, cars on display atop pillars, a giant eagle, and much more while passing through town. In the center of town, you’ll make a hard left and then climb 400′ (122m) over .8 of a mile (1.3km) on a paved road to the finish line at Gandzasar Monastery.
Stage 4: Zuar Hot Springs > Andzavner > Vank > Gandzasar (overnight in Vank)
25.8 Miles / 42km with 5127’ / 1563m of elevation gain
Today’s route is the most remote of the entire race and there will likely be no race support (and definitely no stores nor spring water) until the one-man village of Andzavner (which means “cave” due to the large cave nearby) at mile 10.25. We will have a checkpoint here at the spring. Then runners will continue down a dirt road – with many creek crossings, depending on rain – through pasture land to the funky, eclectic town of Vank, reached at mile 22.
During our September 2019 reconnaissance, Armen of Trails For Change and I encountered this group of four French backpackers who were trekking the entire 178-mile Janapar Trail from far southern Artsakh (the town of Hadrut) all the way to Vardenis, Armenia. Our race will go the other direction. They were having a blast, and were pleased to meet - and thank - one of the crew from Trails For Change who has been marking and signposting the Janapar Trail as a way to build ecotourism in Artsakh.
After crossing the Kolotak River on an awesome wooden bridge, you will immediately begin the ascent of Kachaghakaberd. The trail will switchback some, but will climb relentlessly for two miles until a brief reprieve on a jeep track.
The Zuar tak jur (hot springs) will no doubt be popular with Artsakh Ultra runners after both stage 2 and stage 3.
The route follows the dirt road downstream (and gently downhill) along the Tutkhun River through the village of Zuar to the north-south highway at mile 10.8 / 17.5km. That's Hans Keifer of Trails For Change NGO during a bike trip on the Janapar Trail in June 2018 (which our race director, Chris Kostman, participated in.)
Stage 4 begins!
Beginning at our camp site at an elevation of 4600′ / 1400m, there is a short run down the dirt road and past the Tak Jur. Shortly thereafter, we will cross the Tukthun River. In 2019 there was a fallen tree across the river upon which some could scramble. Otherwise, everyone should expect to get their feet wet around mile 1.
In the center of Vank, you’ll make a hard left and then climb 400′ (122m) over .8 of a mile (1.3km) on a paved road to your race director’s favorite spot in all of Artsakh, Gandzasar Monastery, located at mile 25.8 (40.2km) located at 4000′ (1220m).
This is a finish line setting you will never forget, a glorious, spectacular, 1000-year-old monastery covered in hundreds of carved details and sitting atop the mountain with an incredible view of Vank below and the entire surrounding area.
You will want to step inside the monastery to take in the history and its aura. As a sacred place, legs must be covered and women must wear a simple scarf over their hair; we will provide what you need so you can take in this peaceful, ethereal setting.
There’s also a museum next door and we will cover your entry fee if you’d like to visit.
After you’ve had your fill of Gandzasar, we will shuttle you down the hill back into Vank where we will all stay at the aptly named Eclectica Hotel. Read about it here. Runners will be placed 2, 3, or 4 to a room and we will keep tentmates together as much as possible.
Runners will be on their own for dinner tonight, and will enjoy Armenian cuisine at one or more hotel-adjacent restaurants.
After an exciting hour-long cultural celebration to welcome the race and the runners, a police escort will lead the runners across the streets of Stepanakert for 2km.
Then the runners will traverse a local canyon on a jeep track before ascending into Shushi, known as the cultural capital of Artsakh.
Following the Tartar River further downstream, we will turn right at the village of Nor Verinshen and begin our climb up and over the mountains.
The blue and white "blazes" - and metal markers - which mark the Janapar Trail were installed by Trails For Change.
Just 50 meters beyond Telma’s bridge is “Umbrella Waterfall,” a moss-covered cave covered in a waterfall. It’s a stupendous sight, and site, one not to be missed! In fact, we will have a checkpoint here and runners will be able to take up to 15 minutes “off the clock” to enjoy the setting.
After absorbing the energy, the stillness, the power of Mother Nature, and the millennia of Armenian cultural history here, the runners will turn around and retrace their steps back up up up and out of Hunot Canyon.
Pictured above at Umbrella Waterfall, Armenian ultrarunner Telma Altoon ran the full 178 miles / 286km of the Janapar Trail in June of 2017 in a time of two days, 10 hours. Her run literally put the Janapar Trail on the map and led to a dramatic increase of support for trails by the Artsakh government and for Trails For Change NGO.
- #Armenia #Karabagh #Sushi #Hunot #gorge #canyon #volonteering #adventure #hitchhiking #autostop #workaway #backpackers #SerialHikers
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Follow our adventure hitchhiking around the world:
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© Julien Espaze
---Please contact me for any demands and use of my pictures---
- #Armenia #Karabagh #Sushi #Hunot #gorge #canyon #volonteering #adventure #hitchhiking #autostop #workaway #backpackers #SerialHikers
------------------
Follow our adventure hitchhiking around the world:
Suis notre aventure en autostop autour du monde:
| Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat | Travel BLOG |
------------------
© Julien Espaze
---Please contact me for any demands and use of my pictures---
This is the natural spring water fountain at the start of Stage 5 of the Artsakh Ultra. Fill up your bottles and pack bladder here!
That's beautiful and dramatic Gandzasar Monastery atop the mountain, overlooking Vank and the entire region. We finished yesterday's Stage 4 there, and now it's to run to Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh!
After the highway stretch, we'll head back up the Tutkhun River canyon along its dirt road to our campsite next to the Zuar hot springs.
After heading down the mountain from Hakobvank, you’ll pass through the town of Kolotak and down to the bottom of the Kolotak River canyon.
Here you’ll cross the river on this awesome wooden bridge, and then immediately begin the ascent of Kachaghakaberd.
That's Armen and Areg of Trails For Change during our September 2019 reconnaissance.
With today’s 30.5 miles (50km) stage with 6200’ (1890m) of elevation gain behind you, we’ll shuttle you into town for a luxurious overnight at the Armenia Hotel in downtown Stepanakert, shown above.
Runners will be on their own for dinner tonight, and will enjoy Armenian cuisine at one or more hotel-adjacent restaurants. There’s a fantastic restaurant literally across the street, but many other restaurants, cafés, tea shops, and even a pizza joint are available in town. Even on tired legs, you may want to do some exploring in a city that we firmly believe is well on its way to becoming the world’s greatest small capital city!
This is Eclectica Hotel in Vank, our overnight home at the end of Stage 4 of the Artsakh Ultra! Read about it here: dontstopliving.net/one-of-the-most-ridiculous-places-i-ha...
The Zuar tak jur (hot springs) will no doubt be popular with Artsakh Ultra runners after both stage 2 and stage 3.
Armenians and “odars” (non-Armenians) come to Artsakh from all over the world to visit Hunot Canyon. Carved by the Karkar River, it’s a dramatic, beautiful, peaceful setting and the sense of harmony one feels here with nature and history will be the the perfect balm upon each runner’s body, mind, and spirit during the final day of the Artsakh Ultra.
You’ll want to stop repeatedly to take photos on the singletrack trail leading to the bottom of Hunot Canyon, and then stop again at the stone arched bridge across the river which was built in 1720.
Pictured here in Hunot Canyon during the September 2019 reconnaissance are Armenian ultrarunner Telma Altoon and race director Chris Kostman.