HALIS ÇEVEN, father
I am Halis Ceven. I was born in 1956 in a mountain village of Doğubayazit. When I was around 7, we moved to Topçatan Village, which is next to the Mount Ararat. While I was heading to school, I was always looking at Mount Ararat and I always said that one day I would be able to climb this mountain. This was one of my best wishes and I knew that I would be able to achieve it myself one day.
When I was 16, for a day I went to Doğubayazit. I met with a man there, whose name was Yücel Dönmez, and his group. I told them I wanted to join the group for climbing Ararat but they said to me: "You are too young to climb and besides you can't afford it.” I persisted and remained saying: "I will be able to afford it." Well, at the end they accepted me in the group.
After that I climbed with a group of Turkish Tourism and Mountaineering Federation. After that, Bozkurt Ergör, the manager of the federation, recognized my aptitude and in the same year invited me to a federation camp in Erciyes. I went to the camp and they gave me a mountaineer certificate after the camp had finished. After years, in 1985 I got the federation professional mountaineer certificate after an exam. I might have been on the top of the Mount Ararat more than 700 times but I have been counting my climbs for 3 or 4 years. My last climbing in 2007 (with the whole climbs until 2007) was 516 times. This is just a rough number.
When I was 16, for a day I went to Doğubayazit. I met with a man there, whose name was Yücel Dönmez, and his group. I told them I wanted to join the group for climbing Ararat but they said to me: "You are too young to climb and besides you can't afford it.” I persisted and remained saying: "I will be able to afford it." Well, at the end they accepted me in the group.
After that I climbed with a group of Turkish Tourism and Mountaineering Federation. After that, Bozkurt Ergör, the manager of the federation, recognized my aptitude and in the same year invited me to a federation camp in Erciyes. I went to the camp and they gave me a mountaineer certificate after the camp had finished. After years, in 1985 I got the federation professional mountaineer certificate after an exam. I might have been on the top of the Mount Ararat more than 700 times but I have been counting my climbs for 3 or 4 years. My last climbing in 2007 (with the whole climbs until 2007) was 516 times. This is just a rough number.
MEHMET CEVEN
I have been working as a professional mountaineer guide for 17 years already. The first time I climbed to the top of Ararat when I was 12, together with my father, Halis Ceven. He taught me everything about Ararat; he showed me the secrets of this mountain.
Ararat for me is like home – I was born in a village on the feet of the mountain where I spent all my childhood, all my life below the shadow of Ararat. On the top I was more than 300 times. I was guiding many groups (from 6 to 15 persons) from all over the world: Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Italy, Great Britan, USA, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, New Zeland, Sweeden, Sweetzerland, Neederlands, Ireland, Turkey, Iran, etc. Now I’m a member of the Rescue Team in Doğubayazit (Doğubayazıt Dağ Arama Ve Kurtarma Derneği) and Turkish Mountaineering Federation (Türkiye Dağcılık Federasyonu).
Ararat for me is like home – I was born in a village on the feet of the mountain where I spent all my childhood, all my life below the shadow of Ararat. On the top I was more than 300 times. I was guiding many groups (from 6 to 15 persons) from all over the world: Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Italy, Great Britan, USA, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, New Zeland, Sweeden, Sweetzerland, Neederlands, Ireland, Turkey, Iran, etc. Now I’m a member of the Rescue Team in Doğubayazit (Doğubayazıt Dağ Arama Ve Kurtarma Derneği) and Turkish Mountaineering Federation (Türkiye Dağcılık Federasyonu).
METIN CEVEN
I was born in Topcatan Village, which is next to the Mount Ararat. I’m interested in tourism too. I'm a mountaineer - this job comes from my father and my family. I have been feeling admiration to Ararat since my childhood. All my close friends call me ARARAT due the love I feel for this Mountain, which is obvious from their said. I and all members of my family who perform this job do it with love. I am always grateful to my father, Halis Ceven, because he taught us this holly job which I will continue till I could afford it. I call to all mountain lovers: YOU SHOULD COME TO SEE MOUNT ARARAT. I’M SURE YOU WILL LOVE IT TOO.
KEMAL CEVEN
I am still a student but I work as a tourist guide every summer during my holidays. I study english literature in Adana University. Firstly I climbed Ararat when I was 16. It was really beautiful feeling to be there. Now I am 22 years old. I have been to the top of the Mountain Ararat twice. I learned how to climb to Ararat from my father. He is the most professional mountain guide of Ararat. I like climbing very much because it's amazing. Why don't you come to join us? :)
SELCUK COLAK
I was born in 1981 in Rize. I begun to climbe in Climber Club in Rize and later i was guiding for Kackar Mountains. Between 2001 and 2004 I made a course in Turkish Mountaineering Federation for being instructor of climbing. Till this year I'm working as a professional instructor. Also i'm guiding in Kackar Mountains and Ararat.
GERWALD HERZ
DRIVER and COOKERS
