Mount Ararat Search Expeditions & Early Ascents
Year Nation Organization Leaders Members Locations Searched
1701     Pitton de Tournefort   10-Aug
1720 Russia Peter the Great of Russia (Alekservich)       
1809 England   James Morier, Esquire    
1829 Germany   Dr. Freidrich Parrot   August 27, Parrot Glacier named after him
1832 Turkey   Bayazit Ebraham      
1833     Professor Frederick Barod   Published account Ascending Ararat in Berlin in 1834 
1834 Russia   M. K. Spasky-Antomanov   August 17, climbed Ararat to prove that the stars could be seen at noon and used ice from the summit to baptize his son
1834 England   Rawlinson    
1835 Russia   Karl Behrens   August 8-9, Imperial Russian Georgraphical Society attested to the expedition, which saw the Parrot cross
1843 Russia   M. K. Spasky-Antomanov    
1843-44  Germany   Moritz Vagner     
1845 Germany   Hermann Abich Armenian guide led him up the southeastern face from Sardar Bulak, a Cossack station with a well, located in the middle of the wide semicircular valley or sloping plain between Greater and Lesser Ararat Summited on July 29, 1845, after three frustrating attempts and Abich I & II Glaciers named after him. Climbed Ararat to answer a common debate of his day, to see whether or not the stars and planets were visible during the day from extremely high mountaintops.
1846 England   Henry Danby Seymour (Sir Henry Rawlinson's brother-in-law) Two Armenians and a Cossack officer No porters were available so carried everything including chickens fastened around his waist. The Armenian guide refused to go further, so Seymour gave the Armenian his boots and he had to wear some Persian slippers. 
1847 Russia   Khachatour Abovian Professor Frederick Barod (his third attempt). Abovian was a school inspector and founder of modern Armenian   literature and mysteriously vanished in 1848. Born 1809. Found wood, came from St. Petersburg, erected a wooden cross on the northern side of the summit, from book on Khachatour Abovian by Hrair Muradian in 1963
1850 Germany   Tchovgounoff     
1850 Russia   Colonel J. Khodzkho N.V. Khanykov, five scientists (one being astronomer Aleksandorf Abegh, P.H. Moritz, one Armenian guide (same guide for Herman Abich, 1845), many Russian officers, and 60 Russian soldiers Ascended from Sardar Bulak. Six days were spent on top of Mt. Ararat. Aug. 1-9
1850 Australia   Geologist Tzarnotta    
1856 England   Haji Yearam's Father Haji Yearam, 2 British scientists (maybe Seymour?)  
1856 England   Major Robert Stuart Major Alick J. Fraser, Reverend Walter Thursby, James Theobald, John Evans of Darley Abbey July 12-14 starting at Sardar Bulak
1856 England   Henry Danby Seymour (Sir Henry Rawlinson's brother-in-law) William Monteith  
1856 England   Rev. Charles Hudson    
1866 Germany       Wood and erected crosses
1868 England The Alpine Journal Douglas W. Freshfield Tucker, Francois Devouasford, Baker May 27
1871     Radde and Siewerss    
1876 England   James Bryce   Found timber at 13,500
1876 England   Telfer, John Evans    
1878 England   G. Percival Baker    Started from Sardar Bulak. On September 7, found wood, Alpine Journal 1879
1882 Russia   Sivaloboff   August 23
1883 Turkey Turkish Government   Turkish Commissioners, English Attache Captain Gascoyne  
1887 Persia   Prince John Joseph Nouri   April 25, 1887
1888 Russia   A.V. Markov Ivanoe Kowalewski, Mosokevich (young lady) Started from Sardar Bulak on August 25, Ausland 1889 No. 13, "Expedition scientific au Caucase"
1888 Russia   Semenoff    
1889 Russia   Rapholovich   Gipfelpapiere
1890     Julies Leclereq   Voyage on Mont Ararat, Paris 1892
1890     Chautre   Annales de Geog., 1893
1890 Russia   Fraulein Mosokevish/Mokossavitch  (Young lady)   Bull. Soc. Geogr. Marseille, 1890
1889 Russia   Rapholovich Anatolius Markov, Bartjenieff Started from Sardar Bulak on June 19
1892     T. J. Allen W. L. Sachtleben  
1892     Wantner Brown June 20, Gipfelkarte
1892     G. Merzbacker   October 22, Gipfelkarte
1893 England   H.F.B. Lynch Rudolph Taugwalder Started from Sardar Bulak on September 19, Geographical Journal 1893, II
1893 Russia   Lieutenant P. Postukhov Iwanowski, General, 5 cossacks Started from Sardar Bulak on August 4, highest summit of the mountain was not covered by snow same as last year, minimum yearly temperature was -17.5 celsius but questioned and maximum 39.85, Gipfelkarte
1894     M. Zimmer   August 16, Comptes R. Cxix #14
1894     Posharski Dr. Willie Rickmers August 23-26, D. Rundshau f. Geoger Dec. 1894
1897     A. Oswald    
1900 Russia   Poggenpohl Two officers and several Russian soldiers Member of the Russian Geographical Society 
1900-1908 Turkey   George Hagopian's Uncle George Hagopian Ahora Gorge (Jacob's Well), Top of Mountain
1902     Ivangouloff   Placed recording thermometers on the summit
1910     Seylaz    
1912 America   Edgar J. Banks Dr. Gibson Last expedition while Ararat under Russian control
1916 Turkey     3 Turkish Soldiers  
1916-1918 Russia White Russian Army Mr. Pastounow  About 150 Russian Army Soldiers Just below the Saddle, Western Plateau
1918 Russia   Major Jasper Maskelyn  USAF Guillford Officer   
1933 USA   Carveth Wells    
1936 New Zealand   Hardwicke Knight   Found wood at 14,000 feet
1940-1941 Australia   "Aussie" R. Taylor    
1942 Russia Soviet Academy of Sciences  Professor Alikhanyan Group of others Collected data on cosmic rays
1943 Iran Abas Abas Family Abas Abas Eldest Son Abas Abas, U.S. Army Sergeant Ed Davis, Abas Abas' Sons  
1943 USA U.S. Air Force   Sergeant Vince Will  
1945 USA U.S. Army Air Force   Corporal Lester Walton  
1948 Turkey   Reshit    
1949 USA   Dr. Aaron J. Smith Walter Wood, Wendell Wayne Ogg, E. J. Newton, Edwin B. Greenwald, Dr. Necati Dolunay, 2 Army Captains 12 days, Lake Kip
1951 USA   Oliver S. Crosby Hermann American Alpine Journal 1954
1952 France   Jean de Riquer Ferdinand Navarra, Rayomond Zubiri, Major Sehap Atalay Peak, "dark mass" at the bottom of a crevasse
1953 USA U.S. Navy U.S. Navy Photographer William Todd 6 Other Crew Members  
1953 USA   George Greene    
1953 France   Ferdinand Navarra    
1954 USA American Outing Club John Libi Lieutenant Sahap Atalay, District Administrator Nedim Boysan, 6 civilians 2 searches for weeks in July and September 1-6, fell in crevasse up to shoulders and Atalay pulled Libi out
1955 France   Ferdinand Navarra Raphael Navarra  
1955 USA   John Libi Lieutenant Sahap Atalay, District Administrator Nedim Boysan Denied permission
1957 England   Egerton Sykes    
1958 USA   John Libi Captain Sahap Atalay  
1958 Turkey   Major Sehap Atalay    
1959 USA U.S. Air Force Captain Gregor Schwinghammer    
1960 USA   John Libi Captain Sahap Atalay, 10 civilians  
1960 USA Archaeological Research Foundation George Vandeman Arthur J. Brandenberger, Rene Noorbergen, Dr. Seigfreid Horn  
1962 USA Archaeological Research Foundation Gordon Mansell, George Vandeman Major Sahap Atalay, Ronald Vandeman, Harry "Bud" Crawford, Robert McReynolds, Bill Dougall, French guy friend of Navarra Atalay found wood at 14,000 ft., northwest
1962 USA   John Libi   Stolen travelers checks in Italy so expedition cancelled
1964 USA Archaeological Research Foundation Gordon Mansell Bill Dougall, Dr. Rex Callicott, Photographer for CIA, Major Sehap Atalay, Harry "Bud" Crawford, Lawrence Hewitt M.D., Raymond Moore Ph.D., V.L. Paul Nabors, Mike Anguiti, Wilbur Bishop, Roger Brown, William Cromie, Norman Kendall M.D., Dr. John Lunt, Dennis Moore, Sidney Phillips, Richard Pownall, William Reed, George Silberberg, George Jernigan, Nicholaas Albert Van Arkel Photographer taking Pictures of mountain and Russia for CIA (Erevan making most of rocket fuel), couldn't help the team enough, American Army enclave in Erzurum took care of the team, Ahora Gorge, Lake Kop, Paul Nabors flew all around the mountain and landed at 10,000-11,000 feet elevation twice at Kıp Göl
1964 USA U.S. Air Force   Master Sergeant Merritt Van Ostrand, 6 Other Crew Members  
1964 Swiss     Swiss man raced Bill Dougall to summit of Ararat  
1965 United Kingdom   Peter Harvey   Summit August 25
1965 United Kingdom   Christopher Trease   Missing since August 24, 1965
1965 USA   John Libi Major Sahap Atalay, 4 from Munich including Heinz & Effie, George Gruba, Vienna, 5 Turkish civilians Bear throws rocks near explorers
1966 USA Archaeological Research Foundation Dr. Lawrence Hewitt Bill Dougall, Nicholas Van Arkle, Harry "Bud" Crawford, Clifford Burdick Ph.D., Eryl Cummings, Alex Staub, Theo Koehler, Alva Appel 4 weeks on mountain, Ahora Gorge itself and along eatern rim, Abich I, Parrot Glacier, Found group of men who knew Reshit, an old Kurd from Lake Kop
1966 USA   John Goddard    
1967 USA Archaeological Research Foundation George Vandeman Hardwicke Knight, Harry "Bud" Crawford, Peter VandenHoven  
1967 USA   John Libi Colonel Sehap Atalay, Yucel Donmez  
1968 USA Archaeological Research Foundation Alva Appel Bill Dougall, Harry "Bud" Crawford, Ferdinand Navarra 4 weeks on mountain Ahora Gorge, Abich I, Abich II, Parrot Glacier/Navarra ice pack
1969 USA SEARCH Foundation Harry "Bud" Crawford Ferdinand Navarra, Elfred Lee, Hugo Neuberg, Ralph Lenton, Ferdinand Raymond "Coco" Navarra Jr. Parrot Glacier wood
1969 USA Archaeological Research Foundation Dr. Lawrence Hewitt Dr. Clifford Burdick, Eryl Cummings / Bible Science Foundation Karada/Korhan (Araratsky Pass), Ahora Gorge
1969 USA   John Libi, Yucel Donmez, Canip Karakus     
1971 USA Archaeological Research Foundation Eryl Cummings Mark Albrecht, Yucel Donmez Parrot Glacier
1971 USA SEARCH Foundation Ralph Lenton Hugo Neuberg, Dr. William Farrand, Michigan university assistant, Bud Crawford, Rene Noorbergen Bud told Turkish reporter that SEARCH was already on Ararat without permission, which caused problems
1971 USA Holy Ground Mission Tom Crotser Bob Wales  
1972 USA Institute for Creation Research John Morris J.B. (John) Bultema, Roger Losier, Skip Seiter, Bill Ellison Inside Ahora Gorge, above Gorge and Western Plateau, etc.
1972 USA International Expeditions Eryl Cummings Gary Oliver, Mike Harris,   
1972 USA Holy Ground Mission Tom Crotser Bob Wales Navarra Icepack - two expeditions April & September
1973 USA Holy Ground Mission Tom Crotser   56 days
1973 USA Institute for Creation Research John Morris Durnal, Losier, Dr. Jim Davies, Ikenberry, Jim Dewberry, John Bradley   
1973 USA Archaeological Research Foundation Jack Darnell Eryl Cummings, Geoff McMahon, John Willis, Dr. Clifford Burdick Karada/Korhan (Araratsky Pass)
1973 USA   Dr. John Warwick Montgomery Bob Stuplich, Jerome Iverson  
1973 USA   Lawrence Hewitt, M.D., Yucel Donmez Ray Anderson, Jerry Williams  
1973 Swedish   Gunnar Smars    
1974 USA Holy Ground Mission Tom Crotser Bob Smith, Melvin Barcelo, Larry Lucas, Bobby Woehl, Leon Holcomb, Jim McCormack, Pat Kerr Ahora Gorge
1974 USA Dr John Warrick Montgomery Bob Stuplich Three Turkish Climbing Federation Climbers South Face to Summit, Abich II
1974 USA Dr John Warrick Montgomery Bob Stuplich Jack Dabner, Brian Bastien, Frank Raymond, David Montgomery, Ahmet Turan Parrot Glacier
1974 USA Dr John Warrick Montgomery Bob Stuplich Scott Little Parrot Glacier
1974 USA Institute for Creation Research Dr. Henry Morris Dr. John Morris  
1974 USA   Lawrence Hewitt, M.D. Ray Anderson, Jerry Williams  
1975 USA Dr John Warrick Montgomery Bob Stuplich Jim Bouck, John Gustafson Parrot Glacier
1975 USA Holy Ground Mission Tom Crotser Bob Wales  
1976 USA Holy Ground Mission Tom Crotser    
1976 Swiss   Gunnar Smars    
1976 USA   Pat Frost    
1977 USA     Eddie Atkinson  
1977 USA   Pat Frost    
1978 Turkey International Expeditions Yucel Donmez Mustafa Found light-colored cypress wood (12'x4'x3') in snow on west side of Ahora Gorge - sent by Eryl Cummings and movie by Bart LaRue
1978 USA SEARCH Foundation John Bradley Jim Dewberry  
1978 USA   Pat Frost    
1978 USA   John McIntosh    
1978 USA     Mark Rafter, Gaza   
1979 USA   Pat Frost    
1980 USA TUSLOG   Lt. Stephen Jolly, Dennis Devenport, Kevin Pugliese, Larry Truglio  
1980 USA   Pat Frost    
1981 USA   Pat Frost    
1982 USA High Flight Foundation Jim Irwin, Yucel Donmez Lt. Orhan Baser, Bob Stuplich, John Bradley, Dan Bass, Tim Brinley, Eryl Cummings, Rob Gowdy, John Christianson, John McIntosh, Monte Unger Parrot Glacier, Abich, Cehennem Dere, Ahora Gorge
1982 USA High Flight Foundation Jim Irwin Bob Stuplich, Ray Anderson, Marv Steffins, Eryl Cummings Ahora Gorge
1983 USA Mount Ararat Research Foundation Scott Van Dyke Walter Scott, Grant Richards, Umut Echel, Steve Neutenboom, Jessy Reinhart, Ahmet Turan  
1983 USA Snow Tiger Team Charles Willis M.D. Martin Black, Gary Meosky, Michael Carpenter, William Ball Jr, Eryl Cummings, Larry Mast, Jim Willis Southeast and saddle
1983 USA   John McIntosh Doris Bowers, Rick Licata Southeast
1983 USA International Expeditions Marv Steffins Bob Stuplich, Jim Kunes, Bill Spear, Ray Anderson Eastern Ahora Gorge and East Glacier
1983 USA High Flight Foundation Jim Irwin Doris Bowers  
1983 USA Institute for Creation Research John Morris    
1983 USA   Pat Frost Dr. Jim Davies, Turkish Prof. Dr. Abdül Mecit DOĞRU (died climbing Communism Peak in the Kamir Mountains, Russia)  
1983 Canada   Edward Crawford     
1984 USA High Flight Foundation Jim Irwin Bob Stuplich, John Christianson, Dick Bright  
1984 USA   John McIntosh Doris Bowers, Rich Hatch Karada/Korhan (Araratsky Pass)
1984 USA   Marv Steffins Ron Wyatt, Marjorie Steffins, Watcha McCollum, Tim Brinkley, Bulent Atalay Durupinar
1984 USA Institute for Creation Research John Morris Don Barber, Halil Hüsrevoğlu  
1984 Finland   Timo Hokkanen Kari Rastas, Peter Grönfors   
1984 USA Snow Tiger Team Charles Willis M.D. Larry Mast, Bill Crouse, Eryl Cummings, Melvin Behr, William Ball, Martin Black, Dana Forbes, Bob Garbe, Yavuz Konca, Curtis Madding, Gary Meosky, Gregory Ryan, Dan Youngquist, Rod Youngquist, Jim Willis  
1984 USA   Ray Anderson Ray Anderson  
1985 USA High Flight Foundation Jim Irwin John McIntosh, Bill Dodder, Bob Stuplich, Dick Bright, Dennis & Shirley Long, Dana Sweet, Charles Springer, Harlan Dobbins, Otis Eversole, David Manning, Bruce Johnson, Bob Ruff, Dennis Weczorek, John Kudlas, Brian Fisher, Ron Lane, Jim Maas, John Doerner  
1985 USA Jim Davies Team Dr. Jim Davies Martha Davies, Rev. Johnson  
1985 USA Probe 85 Bill Crouse Wayne Mitchell, Gary Meosky, Dr. Paul Meier, Greg Cromartie, Elfred Lee, Jay Bitzer  
1985 USA Dewitt Hutson Team Dewitt Hutson Ahmet Turan, Faruk Filzilay, Mehmet Ciltas, Dewitt Hutson Daughter  
1986 USA Snow Tiger Team Charles Willis M.D. Bob Garbe, Larry Mast, Melvin Behr, William Ball, Martin Black, Yavuz Konca, Gary Meosky, Gregory Ryan, Dan Youngquist, Rod Youngquist, Jim Willis, Debbie Redmer, Ken Alexander, Pat Frost Eastern Summit Plateau
1986 USA High Flight Foundation Jim Irwin Mary Irwin, John McIntosh, Doris Bowers, Eryl Cummings, Bob Stuplich, Bob Cornuke, Bill Dodder, Ole Honningdalsnes, Ahmet Arslan, Ron Lane, Dick Bright  
1986     Dennis Burchett Gilly Sherman  
1987 USA High Flight Foundation Jim Irwin Bill Dodder, Bob Stuplich, Bob Cornuke, Dr. John Morris, John McIntosh, Ole Honningdalsnes, Dick Bright, Rod Keller  
1987 Canada   Edward Crawford  Clifford Brown, Ziya Mengenecioğlu  
1988 USA Snow Tiger Team Charles Willis M.D. B.J. Corbin, Larry Mast, Guy Leduc, Scott Little, Ross Mehan, USMC Sergeant Carl Nestor, Willis Newton Jr., Willis Newton III, Debbie Redmer, Bob Roningen, Margaret Roningen, Chris Roningen, Jim Willis, Buddy Davis Eastern Summit Plateau
1988 USA   John McIntosh Chuck Aaron, Dick Bright, Bob Cornuke, Al Jenny  
1989 USA Snow Tiger Team Charles Willis M.D. Bob Baker  
1989 USA Mount Ararat Research Foundation Scott Van Dyke    
1989 USA   Don Shockey O.D. Ahmet Arslan, Robin Simmons Stephen Site / Abich II Arslan photo
1989 USA First Trip Chuck Aaron Bob Garbe, B.J. Corbin, Paul Schemer, David and Kathy Montgomery, John Wanvig, Debbie Redmer, Gerry Garbe, Linda Aaron and Chuckie Aaron Western Plateau
1989 USA Second Trip Chuck Aaron Chuck Aaron, Bob Garbe, and Alp Went to check out Corbin NW site and discovered considerable meltback of the Ice Cave
1989 USA Third Trip Chuck Aaron Chuck Aaron, Bob Garbe, John Morris and Grant Jefferies (I think?) Helicopter flight to determine if the Ice Cave was the Ark
1989 USA   Ray Anderson John Anderson  
1990 USA Ararat 8 Team Don Shockey O.D. and Carl Baugh Walt Brown Ph.D., Robin Simmons, B.J. Corbin, George Adams, Ron Charles, Robert Summers, and Ed Cassady Helicopter flights all over, while concentrating on the NE Abich II area
1990 Canada   Edward Crawford  Clifford Brown, Hussein Coktin  
1992 New Zealand   Paul Thomson (aka Paul Pound)   Ahora Gorge
1993 USA   Dick Bright John McIntosh, Ray Anderson, Ron Lane, Al Jenney, Bob Roningen, Margaret Roningen, Joe Presi, Gary Duce, Barnett Duce, Rick Perkins & Ross Wutrich  
1995 USA   Tom Hayek John Bradley, Orhan Baser  
1998 USA BASE Institute Bob Cornuke   Iranian Mountains
1998 USA SEPDAC Conference Salih Bayraktutan Rob Michelson, Jim Hall, B.J. Corbin, Matthew Kneisler, Mark Jenkins, and Michael Holt, Ed Crawford, Peter Aletter, John McIntosh, Tim Mills, David Deal, Bill Shea, Jerry Kitchens Workshop at Ataturk University in Erzurum, fieldwork at the Durupinar site, photographed Mount Ararat
1999 USA   Dave Larsen    
1999 USA Dick Bright / BASE Institute Dick Bright Bob Stuplich, Bob Cornuke, David Banks, George Crayok Abich I, Cehennem Dere, Parrot Glacier, Ahora Gorge
1999 USA BASE Institute Bob Cornuke David Faltot, Bob Stuplich, Larry Williams Sabalan Mountain, Iran
2000 USA BASE Institute Bob Cornuke Dick Bright Sabalan Mountain, Iran
2000 USA Ataturk University Meetings Jim Hall, Rex Geissler John Bradley, Peter Aletter, Michael Holt, Yavuz Konca Ataturk University and Mount Ararat
2001 USA ArcImaging Archaeological Imaging Research Consortium Rex Geissler Dr. David Livingston, Bob Stuplich, Peter Aletter,  325 archaeological artifacts delivered to Ataturk University Archaeology Department
2005 USA   John McIntosh Dow Pursley, Matthew Kneisler John slid down the ice, broke his ankle and cracked several ribs and the Turkish Military rescued him