Newsletters
Tarik Aksakal, a 41-year-old shepherd from Degirmenonu village in eastern Türkiye's Elazig province, has reached the summit of Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, after training on Mastar Mountain while grazing his livestock.
Aksakal, who has grazed animals since childhood, developed an interest in mountaineering while walking on 2,178-meter (7,145-foot) Mastar Mountain. Inspired by climbing videos and encouraged by a friend, he began taking on peaks before registering with the Youth and Sports Club under the Elazig Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports to pursue the sport professionally.
In 2024, Aksakal discovered his body adapted well to high altitudes after climbing the Aladaglar range in southern Türkiye. He subsequently scaled Mount Erciyes 10 times as mountaineering became a way of life.
Through his club, Aksakal has scaled Uludag, Berit, Cilo, Agri, and Buyer mountains, culminating in his successful summit of the 5,642-meter Mount Elbrus in Russia, Europe's highest peak.
Aksakal funds his passion with his shepherding income. Next year, he aims to climb the 7,134-meter Lenin Peak in the Trans-Alay range of the Pamir Mountains, on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Aksakal said that his interest began while grazing sheep on the mountain. He said years of walking in the mountains give him an advantage, as he can go up to high altitude and back down in a day.
He trains on Mastar Mountain four days a week in winter, saying that the mountain's terrain prepares him for bigger climbs.
Aksakal said climbing abroad is expensive and that he is preparing for Lenin Peak with the support of the Elazig Youth and Sports Club. Because the mountain has ice crevasses, which are deep cracks in glaciers, he must make winter climbs on Mount Agri, known internationally as Mount Ararat, and on Mount Suphan this year to keep his strength.
Reaching the summit of Lenin Peak takes about 18 days, he said, and he aims to cut that to 12 days by increasing his training.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
