Day 13 - September 16, 2023 Ararat summit ascent and descent to Camp 1

The wake-up call occurs at 1 a.m. It's bitterly cold, around -5° C. I haven't slept and it takes me 20 minutes to get out of the warm sheep's bag and into my mountain clothes. Can't eat anything, just coffee with lots of honey, the sugar was forgotten in Camp 1. 2 o'clock departure, steep uphill. I'm cold as hell (chills), have a headache, nausea and problems with breathing. Typical of altitude sickness. At about 4500 m I decide to turn back, there's no point. The other three march on. On the way back I fall and lose my headlamp. Luckily the cell phone helps and I can find her again. At 4:40 a.m. I'm back in camp and in my sleeping bag, I'm feeling better and I'm getting a little sleep. Then I have a little breakfast with Ibrahim, he cooks me a hot lemon. Then it's time to wait. First Assad, the mountain leader, appears. Very surprising that he comes alone. Jonas and Falk arrive about 2 hours late. Congratulations on your summit victory. You are very exhausted and need a break. Assad is pushing to leave. The tents are literally ripped out from under our asses to be dismantled. Then a quick descent to Camp 1, I'm fully intact again. Good food, Ibrahim has drawn out his reserves and then he goes to sleep.