Photos by yamanc

smile, be optimist...what can I say more...During the graduate study I cannot give a better smile :)

It was my first time to try crack climbing and it was really weird to me. After a long time on the rock, 2 feet above the ground, I gave up and decided to try another time. melekzek is having fun on the route, it is not his first crack climb, but he is still trying to explore how people are climbing cracks without using the lay back technique ;). Photo taken by Feyza Berber

melekzek is having a short rest on the edge just before the last crux while leading Eat 5.10a.

The photo is taken just near the second mountain hut-Gutsvensera. The south face(classical route,relatively the simplest one) of Damavand is visible. The altitude of the hut is around 3000 m(~9000ft). In my opinion Damavand is a very good start to high altitude climbing. It was my first over-5000m climb, but I couldn't finish the route because of abdominal sickness:). I got cold due to my 4 year-old Garmont leather shoes and I had to shit every 10 minutes during the climb above 5000 meters and it was really tough, finally I decided to go down. The very first thing that I learned from this mountain was the importance of outer wear...(March 2000)

This lake is bloody cold and I do not suggest you to swim in this lake before the climb...Nothing to say for the nature...(August 2000)

The campsite and entrance of the Durmitor mountain range. (August 2000)

From the summit of Mt.Erciyes. The south west ridge is behind. Just at the left side is the top of the 'Satan Ramp'. We are crossing the Big Rock which is called 'Hump' by the local people.So the reason of the avalanches in the Satan couloir is obvious ;).(March 2000)

Just after an unsuccessful attempt of Mt. Erciyes via Satan Route in December 1999.

One of the famous routes of the Mt. Erciyes is 'Satan Ramp'. It is the couloir(in the center-right of the photo) totally covered by the shadow of the rock which is at the left side of it. The climb is fun, in winter you have to climb closely to the rocks due to the continous but light avalanches. If you are a group of more than two, climbing with rope can be preferrable. During the winter the snow level can reach upto your chest in the couloir. (December 1999)