3000m+ summits;
1. Siyah Kol Summit, this is a nice summit that is very doable in one day. It is just under 3000ms but the views are so spectacular that one feels in complete wilderness. The starting point is the village of Esel Mahalle in the Dohezar Valley some 35 minutes’ drive from Khoonegeli. Starting altitude 1000m.
2. Nashemin Summit. This remote 3300m rocky summit can be ascended from Shane Tarash 1700m and the return trail would be from Lemira via Aghuzhal 1200m or vice versa. It would be a long two day trek with one night spent in a tent. Total hiking per day 9 hours.
3. Hulu Kale- Chalaki- Kangarchal -Yaan return via Daryasar. Drive to Hulu Kale village (700m) in the Dohezar Valley, 35 minutes from Khoonegeli. Hike to Chalaki dwelling deep in the forest continue to above the forest line and camp for the night, tent or shepherds’ dwelling, start the second day climbing Kangarchal and Yaan summits 3300m and 3470m and return via Daryasar pasture plain to Esel Mahalle where you will be picked up and driven to Khoonegeli. Total hiking per day: 7-8 hours.
4. Kangarchal, Chalaki and Yaan are 3 summits all above 3000ms on a ridge to the east of Daryasar and they may be climbed in one day in spring until November and 2 days in winter.
4000m+ summits;-
1. Siyalan Summit 4250m literally translated as the black nest due to black rocks on the summit is the highest summit between Tonekabon and Alamut and reachable on the northern side from Daryasar plain (see above). It is a two day trek that crosses Hyrcanian forests, glaciers, and a small lake and has a view over Alamut valley and the village of Haniz. Night is spent either in Rahe Gardan at 2700m or Viney at 3600m. There is a trail that reaches Khoshkechal and Gazorkhan in the Alamut valley in the south, the village where the remains of the main Assassin’s castle is. The winter route is via Khane Bon summit at 3700m.
2. Alam Kuh summit via Hesar Chal. At 4850m above sea level is the second highest summit in Iran after Mount Damavand. The Hesar Chal route is the easiest and non-technical and can be done in 2 days and one night. Day 1 would be spent trekking from Tange Galoo at 3700m to Hesar Chal (4000m) and the second day is a 4 hour trek to the summit and another 5 hours back to Tange Galoo where a 4WD will drive you back to Khoonegeli.
The Alam Chal approach passing Siyah sangha is risky because of loose scree and is only recommendable for small groups up to 4 perhaps.
3. Siyah Kaman summit is a favourite of mine. It measures 4500m and can be climbed either via Nafte Chak (4000m) or Sar Chal refuge (3800m), either approach is a 6-7 hour trek first day and a longer one on day 2. From the summit the biggest glaciers and highest summits in the region including the mighty Alam wall can be viewed from very close range.
4. Kalahoo 4430m. This is one of the least visited summits belonging to the Alam massif, and it is one of the most spectacular one to climb from the Sehezar Valley. On a clear day once on the summit one may observe the Caspian Sea, dense Hyrcanian forests and summer settlements to the north, Alam Kuh and Takhte Soleyman and adjacent summits to the south, the Alamut ridge and valley to the south west and the mighty Mount Damavand to the southeast Day 1 drive to Darjan 1700m and trek to the cave 3600m night in tent day 2 summit and back to Darjan- drive to Khoonegeli. Total hiking 20 hours in 2 days.
5. Langari summit is one of the prettiest summits in the Sehezar Valley that is climbed in 2 days from Darjan it requires some basic rock climbing experience although it is not considered a technical summit, it measures just below 4400m. It is the first of tens of summits called the Haft Khan ridge many of which have rarely been climbed.
