After recent failed attempts to get out and enjoy nature (see prior post for one example), I finally got in some hiking this weekend. We decided to tackle Besh Barmaq (Five Finger) Mountain, a very visible and well-known landmark about an hour's drive from Baku.
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| The rocky pinnacle of Besh Barmaq |
We got off to a rough start. None of us had actually been to Besh Barmaq before, so we drove past the unmarked access road once, then twice, before stopping for directions and getting onto the right road.
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| Roadside mosque and stalls with Besh Barmaq in background |
Despite the difficulties in finding the place, Besh Barmaq was actually set up to be accessible to hikers with a wide range of abilities. Much of the route had built-in staircases to mitigate the steepness of the path. Along the stairs we encountered many old ladies wanting money or selling herb bundles.
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| Old woman seen through a hole in the rock formations |
We diverted from the main path a few times to scramble over boulders and check out interesting crevices. Eventually reaching the top, we encountered a very cheerful woman who enthusiastically insisted on taking several photos with us. We weren't quite sure if she was intrigued by seeing foreigners or just thought our hats were funny, but we obliged anyway.
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| Larry and Erica with our new Azeri friend |
On the way back down, another woman insisted on giving us candies. We felt like celebrities - first photos and then free gifts! We basked in the attention and then let our egos come back down to earth as we descended the final steps to the base.
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| Our small band of hikers |
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