Aladaglar

Go back to Turkey.
Go back to Adana To Aladaglar.

Le Chant du Muezzin

Le Chant du Muezzin.

The main goal in Aladaglar was a beautiful, finger-shaped, ~200 meter tall formation called Parmakkaya sitting at some 2880 meters above sea level. Being old and – largely thanks to Covid closures – out of shape, we figured we’d do a couple climbs lower down to acclimatize to the altitude. Recep recommended a nice, 4-pitch ridge climb called Le Chant du Muezzin in a canyon down low to start with; about French 6a with a mix of some bolts and gear. Nice position and views, decent climbing, and short enough that we could check out some surrounding villages later in the day.

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Gipsy Girl

Gipsy Girl.

The next day, we redid the rough drive higher up into the mountains to climb a 5-pitch route called Gipsy Girl (French 6b). Banging the car around again somehow did not fix the pressure sensor. Slightly longer approach, higher altitude, and nice climbing. A mix of crisp limestone slabs, some crimps, and a bit of steeper terrain up higher. In the afternoon, we were back in Camardi – the town of the area – checking out the baklava (excellent) and ice cream (stick to the baklava). We also scoped out most the drive to the Parmakkaya trailhead, the final 3km of which are behind a gate managed by the national park rangers.

Photos

Le Chant du Muezzin

On the short approach to Le Chant du Muezzin (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Nearing the base of the climb (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Le Chant du Muezzin follows the skyline in the photo (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Starting up pitch 1 of Le Chant du Muezzin (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Looking down from the first belay (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Views down canyon from the first belay (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Pitch 1 of Le Chant du Muezzin (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Views up canyon (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley at the first belay (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Starting up pitch 2 (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Views from the route (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Leading pitch 2 (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley on pitch 2 (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley topping out on pitch 2 (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley at the second belay (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Pitch 3 I think (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley on pitch 3 of Le Chant du Muezzin (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley at the 3rd belay (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Starting up pitch 4 (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley at the 3rd belay (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Leading the last pitch (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley topping out on Le Chant du Muezzin (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley on the rappel (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Descending a loose gully (August 2020).

Le Chant du Muezzin

Shirley on the hike out (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Shirley with Cimbar Valley behind her (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Camardi town (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Baklava in Camardi – very good but not as perfect as the stuff we’d later have in Istanbul (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Don’t mind if I do (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Shirley in Camardi (August 2020).

Aladaglar

A fruits and veggies store in Camardi (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Somewhere close to Aladaglar Bungalow Camp (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Our comfortable bungalow in Aladaglar (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Shirley cooking dinner under some local supervision (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

On the way to Arpahk Tower and its Gipsy Girl route (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

A shepherds’ camp near the trailhead (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Pretty alpine scenery (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Starting the 45 minute hike to the base of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Hello again ladies.

Gipsy Girl

Pretty flowers (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Starting up pitch 1 of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Higher on pitch 1 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Shirley on pitch 1 of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Views back towards the trailhead from the first belay (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Shirley arriving at the first belay (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Starting up pitch 2 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

More views from the route (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Higher on pitch 2 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Shirley on pitch 2 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Views from pitch 2 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Pitch 2 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Shirley arriving at the second belay on Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Leading the crux pitch 3 of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

More pitch 3 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Pitch 3 of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Leading the 4th pitch of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Pitch 4 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Pitch 4 (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Leading the 5th and final pitch of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Shirley on the 5th and final pitch of Gipsy Girl (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Starting the descent (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Rapping off in somewhat windy conditions (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Down (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Shirley almost back on the ground (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

On the way back down for some Efes beers (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Pretty and unique and paper-textured flowers of Aladaglar (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

A slope of ballbearing scree (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Even the weeds in Aladaglar were attractive (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Our trusty off road steed in need of a bath (August 2020).

Gipsy Girl

Scoping out the drive to the trailhead for Parmakkaya later that afternoon (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Ice cream time in Camardi …the one underbelly of our trip (August 2020).

Aladaglar

Aladaglar from Camardi (August 2020).

Go to Parmakkaya.
Go back to Turkey.