Gegharot waterfall - Aragats North Peak - Aragats East peak traverse

This is 1-2 day trail for those who like reaching challenging summits and are ready for some uncomfy hike.
Aragats mountain Northern peak ( Արագած հյուսիսային գագաթ) with the height of 4090 m is the highest point of Armenia.
The Northern peak is the highest and the most challenging one.
The Eastern peak of Aragats hаs a height of 3901 m ( Արագածի արևելյան գագաթ ), it's the 3rd highest summit of the range after the North and West peaks.


SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRAIL

--- You can head from Aragats village to the Gegharot waterfall through Gegharot gorge either by 4 x 4 vehicle (about an hour driving) or on foot (in this case you need one more day for this hike with 1 overnight near the waterfall).
--- When you reach the slopes of the North peak, chances are that you might confuse the going up way with the going down one. Here it's essential, take the left path as it is in this GPS for the way to go up and the right one for going down.
--- Normally when we head to the North peak, we hike The False one as the True peak (about 7 meters higher) is not just about hiking, but also climbing.
--- The true Northern peak can be dangerous if you decide to climb it without an instructor, though it's doable but it has unjustified risks even when you have a guide.
--- I won't recommend climbing The True Northern peak when the way is snow blocked, if it's icy it's still doable with the help of crampons, but when it's snowing there, it's a "slippery slope" in the literal sense.
--- The trail directly to the Eastern summit starts from the North-Eastern crossroad in the Aragats crater.
--- The trail ends in the way to Aragats village. If you plan this hike without vehicle support (from Gegharot waterfall to Aragats village), you have to set your tent near the fall or ending point for overnight.
--- First half of the trail is quite a comfy hike, the second half has some challenging parts, as it also includes climbing in 2-3 spots.
--- I would definitely suggest to return the same way, and then either head to Gegharot gorge by the classic trail or head to Kari lake by crater, as when you hike down by the other side, you have to cope with tons of stones for more than an hour, but here we've hiked down by along the slopes so here some information about this part:
Descending Eastern summit:
--- First part of descending was full of stones, and you have to be very careful with that, then after losing give or take 400 m altitude, you just hike downhill.
--- Anyway, it appears to me that this is one of the main trails of the Eastern Peak lovers, so now you have the information and it's on you - take the chances or not.
--- This trail is perfect for winter hikes and it's the best way to the Eastern summit. Though it's challenging, it's way better to choose the way along the slopes than the classic trail from Gegharot to the Eastern summit.

~~~What you need to know about Aragats in general ?~~~

--- Season for Aragats starts from July till October. Best month to get there is August!
--- It's desirable to have hiking poles for all the peaks, it's 100 % must have for the Northern peak.
--- Sunscreen and sun hat is must have here in all seasons, the sun would not spare anyone without protection.
--- Always consider starting time and weather conditions while planning a hike. It really matters here.
--- All the peaks of Aragats except the Southern Peaks' classic route have some climbing parts (East peak, West peak, True North summit).
--- If you don't plan to hike only the Southern peak, it would be better to have a helmet to be on the safe side.
--- There may be wild animals in Gegarot gorge (yes, we have bears living there), so be careful while hiking there alone. (don't forget to make some noise periodically in order not to meet them accidently).
--- Normally when we head to the North peak, we hike The False one as the True peak (10 meters higher) is not just about hiking, but also climbing.
--- The true Northern peak can be dangerous if you decide to climb it without an instructor, though it's doable but it has unjustified risks even when you have a guide.
--- I won't recommend climbing The True Northern peak when the way is snow blocked, if it's icy it's still doable with the help of crampons, but when it's snowing there, it's a "slippery slope" in the literal sense.
--- If you want to hike Aragats you either start from Kari lake or from Aragats village:
*** If your aim is Western and Southern peaks, you have to start from Kari lake.
*** If you aim to get to the North peak or East one, you'd better start from Aragats village side. You don't start hiking directly from the village, you drive by 4 x 4 to the Gegharot gorge and start from the height of 2900 m.