Republic march in the natural wonder of Gümüşhane’s Spider Forests.

43 athletes from the Gümüşhane Mountaineering, Nature Sports, and Youth Association (GÜDAK) gathered in the Spider Forests, home to hundreds of years old trees that serve as a living tree museum, to celebrate the 101st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. The athletes covered a 14-kilometer course under the unique autumn scenery and the shadow of snow-covered peaks, carrying Turkish flags.

Located within the borders of Gümüşhane’s Kürtün district, the Spider Forests Nature Protection Area, which is one of Turkey’s important mixed forests, turns into a riot of colors with the arrival of autumn, attracting nature lovers from both Gümüşhane and surrounding provinces.

To celebrate the 101st anniversary of the Republic enthusiastically, GÜDAK organized a nature walk on this meaningful day. The walk, which took place on the last days of October with a total of 43 athletes participating, offered a unique view of all the colors of autumn and snowy forests.

Witnessing a unique atmosphere where autumn and winter intertwined, the athletes experienced unforgettable moments by taking a walk that combined the most beautiful colors of nature with a snowy landscape.

The teams reached Çıkrıkdüzü Plateau by vehicles and began their hike down to the Elceğiz junction. After completing the event in the area with monumental trees, the athletes filled their lungs with plenty of fresh air and their cell phones with unique autumn photos.

The event concluded in the area of monumental trees, which hosts the tallest and widest fir and spruce trees in Europe and the Caucasus. The athletes also visited the Çağlayandibi Waterfall Nature Park at the entrance of the 263-hectare Spider Forests Nature Protection Area, which is considered one of Turkey’s most important mixed forests and referred to as a “living tree museum.”

Seda Nur Yılmaz, who participated in the autumn walk held annually in the Spider Forests, which transforms into a thousand colors in the autumn season, stated, “I came years ago. I am coming for the first time in a long time. Coming as a team is different. The atmosphere is beautiful. The forest, the greenery, and I would definitely recommend coming here in the autumn months. The snow on the mountain tops adds extra beauty to nature. The course was beautiful. It was long but not tiring.”

“Wonderful nature”

Neva Doğan, an academic from Gümüşhane University and the provincial representative of the TEMA Foundation, mentioned that she had come to the Spider Forests many times by car but experienced the hiking trail for the first time, stating, “It was very enjoyable, very beautiful. On one side, sunlight hits the leaves, and on the other side, snow has fallen on the mountain tops, pure white. A wonderful nature. We encountered very nice weather. We neither felt cold nor sweaty. A very pleasant team, very harmonious, in perfect harmony. I was very pleased.”

Explaining what impressed her the most about the view she saw in the Spider Forests, Doğan said, “If we tried to plant it ourselves, we could never achieve this harmony, this beauty. One falls in love with their homeland, their country once more. I always think of these lines: ‘Who would not sacrifice for this paradise homeland?’ A magnificent nature. A magnificent being. It needs to be protected and cared for. Hopefully, we will continue to protect these lands, these trees, and this nature as much as we can.”

“We walked in memory of the establishment of our Republic”

GÜDAK President Mustafa Akbulut stated that they organize events in the Spider Forests every year around this time, saying, “We repeated the Spider Forests walk that we do every year this year, but we encountered a surprise. There was 30 centimeters of snow in Çıkrıkdüzü. We have been doing this walk for 14 years as GÜDAK. For the first time, we encountered 30 centimeters of snow in Çıkrıkdüzü. It was a nice surprise. The 14-kilometer route we started from Çıkrıkdüzü ended in the Monumental Trees area. Another surprise this year was that the leaves are still green and on the branches. Despite the snowfall, the leaves did not fall, but the yellowing was beautiful. We are walking with beautiful memories. A feature of this walk is that it coincides with the Republic Day. We also took our flags. We commemorate our elders who established our Republic with respect and mercy. We walked in memory of the establishment of our Republic.”