Cypriot mountaineer scales sacred peak

A Cypriot expedition led by seasoned mountaineer Alexander Larin has successfully scaled Surya Peak in Nepal as part of their exploration of the sacred region of Kailas Manasorovar in Tibet. This marks the first Cyprus-led expedition to explore this historically and religiously significant area.

Surya Peak holds deep religious significance, sitting just above the sacred Gosainkunda Lake, a chain of lakes linked to Lord Shiva, making the ascent spiritually significant for those who visit.

The expedition, which commenced on September 12, first saw the team stop in the Gosainkunda Lake area of Nepal, at an altitude of 4,300 metres, to acclimatise for the demanding journey ahead.

On September 17, Larin led the team to the summit of Surya Peak (5,145 metres). Although not the highest in the Himalayas, Surya Peak is notorious for its difficulty. The ascent involves navigating rough, uneven terrain and steep inclines, which tested the stamina and resolve of the Cypriot mountaineers.

Larin’s strike to the summit proved a demanding effort, yet the successful climb is a testament to the determination and skill of Cyprus’ growing mountaineering community.

SECOND SUMMIT

This marks another major achievement for Larin who, on July 21, led a six-member team to the summit of Mount Kazbek in the Caucasus. The team commemorated this journey by raising the Cyprus flag atop the peak, which rises to 5,033 metres, making it the easternmost five-thousander in the Caucasus.

The Mount Kazbek expedition, which began on July 17, followed a route starting from the village of Stepantsminda (1,800 metres) in Georgia. Despite difficulties posed by Russian border closures, the group navigated via the Gergeti Trinity Church (2,200 metres), the Sabertse Pass (3,000 metres), and reached the iconic ‘Green Hotel’ camp.

After reaching the weather station shelter (3,650 metres) on July 18, which was originally constructed in 1933 and has now been turned into a shelter for climbers, the team spent the next few days acclimatising to the altitude. They made a stop at the highest Orthodox church in the world, the Betlemi Hut (3,900 metres), crafted from the remnants of airplane parts, before making their final assault on the mountain.

At 00:15 on July 21, the Cypriot climbers began their final push, reaching the Kazbek saddle (4,900 metres) by 7 am. Just an hour-and-a-half later, the team summited Mount Kazbek, where they raised the Cyprus flag, marking a proud moment for Cyprus in mountaineering history.

Both expeditions paid tribute to those who have lost their lives on the mountains, with the Mount Kazbek expedition honouring several climbers who perished on their journey to the peak, including Andrey Penchuk, who died in 1988, and Sergey Movchan and Stepan Stepanov, who tragically lost their lives in an avalanche in 2013.

Larin continues to lead these daring expeditions, shining a spotlight on the growing presence of Cyprus in the international mountaineering community.