Day Hikes
and one day summits from Khoonegeli
1.
Lemira: - is a
summer settlement of some 50 odd adobe houses in an alpine pastureland above
the forest line in an altitude of some 2300m in the Goleyjan district of southern
Tonekabon. It is one of the most picturesque summer villages in the area within
easy reach of Khoonegeli. It has an amazing panoramic view of the Caspian Sea,
the forest below, and the coastal towns from Ramsar to Chalous of some 70km
radius.
There are 3 trails to reach Lemira
a)
Khoonegeli (altitude 80m
ASL) – Beysar a tiny settlement at an altitude of 600m ASL 15 minutes by car then
trek via an old forest trail, hardly used these days as a dirt road to Aghuzhal
has shorten the journey to Lemira, the
return can be via Aghuzhal (1200m ASL) to Khoonegeli 17km 45 minutes.
Approximate hiking time : 8 hours
b)
Khoonegeli- Aghuzhal –Lemira, return via Valgesar.
This would involve a 17km drive to Aghuzhal (1200m ASL) in the forest
then a 4 hour hike to Lemira and back via another village further east called
Valgesar, there is an option of a minor summit approximately 2800m of altitude
above Lemira . Average hiking 8-10 hours including the summit.
c)
Shane Tarash to Lemira
return via Aghuzhal. A 50 minute drive through the Dohezar Valley on tarmacked
road will take us to the last village on this road called Shane Tarash (1700m
ASL) with spectacular views of the Siyalan Summit range, Gijekin, Ejar rocky
Summit and Alamut ridge from where a long 7-8 hours of oscillating trail through
the Hyrcanian forest and pastureland will take us to remote summer villages
namely Pish Kuh, Sif Kelayeh, Demiroon and finally Lemira, there are several
shepherd’s dwellings along the way. The trail from Lemira to Aghuzhal would
take some 3 hours totalling the hike to 10-12 hours. For a good part of the
hike the Caspian Sea is visible on our right way down at 27m below sea level.
2.
Lashm and Losarey Forests,
are spectacular forest hikes in the lower Sehezar Valley of Tonekabon. A 35
minute drive from Khoonegeli to the village of Khanian (700m ASL) where our
hike will begin. The hike entails some steep forest trail that after 45 minutes
reaches an old cemetery and shrine after which it is virgin Hyrcanian forest
until after 2 and a half hours of hiking we reach a temporary shepherd’s spring
dwelling called Charkakooti (1700m) where the deep valleys and dense forests on
one side, the Caspian Sea on the other together with Siyalan (4250m) and Beles
Kuh (3500m) Summits would impress any hiker, it is a truly glorious panorama. From here on Lashm (2300m) settlement where
cowboys take their herds in the summer months is another 90 minutes hike and a
further hour to Losarey the furthest dwellings are right below Beles Kuh
Glacier, altitude 2700m. Our return would mostly be via the same trail with
some minor detours to see the amazing 4000ms further south in the Sehezar
Valley. Total hiking 6-7 hours. There are at least 3 springs along the way.
Last year some of the shepherds were granted permission by the forestry
commission to build wooden and adobe houses to accommodate their families
whilst migrating to the area in search of pasture from April until October and
now one can also see some very rural form of life on this hike. Beles Kuh is a
protected area.
3.
Gerd Kuh summit, - this is
a beautifully round summit of 3050m that is visible from the centre of
Tonekabon as the emblem of the city. The hike starts from Shane Tarash (see 1c
above) and after 4-5 hours we are on the summit that has a panoramic view of
the Caspian Sea and the forests below to the north, other summits such as
Kashtan towards Alamut Valley in the south, forests and villages to the east
and some of the highest and savage summits of Iran in the Alam Kuh region to
the west. Our return would be partly via the same trail and partly heading
north to visit some shepherds along the way. This hike can be extended to
include 1c with an overnight in a tent or local house in a village along the
way for example Lemira.
4.
Noosha is crème de la
crème, a village to be really proud of in terms of architecture and natural
beauty of its surrounding valleys, forests and summits and I hope it stays this
way for centuries to come. It is a summer settlement of some 100 adobe houses
in a meadow at approximately 2300m of altitude surrounded by high summits, deep
valleys and dense forests. It is normally reached from a trail in mid-section
of the Dohezar Valley close to a village called Miyan Kuh which is reachable
from Khoonegeli by car in 35 minutes. The 4 hour hike is along Noosha River a
white-water river and through a steep forest trail, the return would be along
the same route unless one opts for the 2 day hike to include Kashtan summit.
Total hiking 8 hours.
5.
Daryasar sub-alpine pasture.
This is possibly the most visited and famous meadow in Tonekabon if not the
entire country. It is a dried up lake that measures about 200 hectares and
contains grassland and short shrubs and trees. It is home to shepherds who each
year from May until October take their herds of cows, sheep, goats and horses
to graze. It has 2 seasonal rivers that flow into the Dohezar River that
finally reaches the Caspian Sea in the centre of Tonekabon. It is the beginning
of many trails reaching summits such as Yaan, Siyalan, Kandigan, Siyah Kol,
Kangarchal and Chalaki, Khanebon (see under summits). This short hike of 1 hour
and 30 minutes to the centre of the meadow can be extended to Khane Bon, Rahe Gardan
or Taraj dwellings all approximately 2500-2700m.
To reach Daryasar one needs to drive to
Esel Mahalle village in the Dohezar Valley, some 35minutes from Khoonegeli and
start the hike at 1000m to reach the beginning of the plain which measures 1500m.
In the summer months a short dip in the
crystalline water of the rivers would kick start any dead neurone!
6.
Band e Sar is a 500m forest
summit right behind the
famous Ramsar Hotel and natural sulphur
springs, it is a steep one hour hike to the top where some remains of an old
King’s Castle remain (Shah Neshin), a visit to the thermal water baths would be
a nice end to the day that could include a visit to Ramsar Palace Museum a 70
odd year old temporary residence of the Pahlavi’s. This short hike can be done
in half a day and combined with a short visit to a Caspian beach, or rather
what is left of it!
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