In the depths of winter we accepted an invitation to join a friend on a tour of Turkey’s ‘Ultras’. Rob was looking to make up the numbers in order to share the costs of guides, travel, accommodation etc. Seemed too good an opportunity to miss – and so it proved to be.
Our first job was to find out exactly what an ‘Ultra’ is – well as far as I understand it, it’s a big mountain with a prescribed prominence of 1500 meters above the next highest ground and there are 1524 of them worldwide. It turns out we had done two prior to the trip – Gran Paradiso just through the tunnel from Chamonix into NW Italy and Pico Ruivo on the island of Madeira. If you want more precise definitions, (and I know some of you will) FSS has some here. The rest of the team of four Brits and two Americans were well along the lists and have travelled the world peakbagging in, China, Tehran, Chille, Japan, New Zealand, Hawai… I could go on, but you get the picture.
It turned out we were amongst the absolute elite of Ultra Peakbaggers worldwide! I mean had I known this I think I might have been too intimidated to sign up!
This was like finding yourself on the fells with Joss Naylor and Billy Bland. However, like those too fine fell-ows – our new companions were completely unphased about their achievements and accepted us at face value – just as well really.
So the trip commenced.
Manchester Airport
Now I’ve not flown out of MIA for a while, but these certainly weren’t here last time I was. It’s like a cage for smokers – still I did like the camel!
The ancient Citadel above Ankara
Ankara – bar/bistro, opposite our hotel
It’s a man’s world is Turkey – that is, away from the holiday destinations created for western tourists. Although secular, the absence of women in public life is striking. The shock of my appearance (well you can understand that!) and that fact that I wanted a beer with my food, in a restaurant, in public was… well disconcerting to the locals. The local Pilsner EFES soon became a rallying point to counteract the heat and the dust, although getting hold of one having left the capital city wasn’t always easy.
Accommodation varied – this mountain pension was basic, but at the foot of our first summit was entirely appropriate. What we thought was an early start at 5.30am, proved to be a bit of a lie-in!
Hasan Dagi
But it was well worthwhile seeing our first Ultra of the trip catching the early morning sunrise
Hasan Dagi – minus it’s cap of clouds
Highest point on the extinct volcanic crater is on the right – and as we learned during the trip, it really is only the highest point that matters. 
Our guide for the first week Recep with FSS, approaching the sheep and goats shepherded by the local villagers.
Looking back at our previous night’s accommodation
Lots of ski-ing and ski-touring in these mountains in the winter, with the government spending lots of money to put in the infrastructure, particularly in the East of the country.
the plain below and as far as the eye can see
Second breakfast at the snowline
Gorgeous! The rock formations ain’t bad either
Summit pictures, above and below
Back at the Pension, our host on the left
Back at base this young couple turned up and planned to summit the following day. Both had been teaching in Dubai and were spending a couple of weeks touring Turkey. The young lady was from Canada with the lad emanating from… Billinge (about 5 miles from our house). It’s a small world innit!
More to follow…. if you can stand the excitement 
NLN
No comments:
Post a Comment