Meeshchalak

Overview

Click for Introduction to the Central Alborz Mountains.

Click to see the Map of the Takhte Soleyman Massif.


My GPS measured an elevation of 4083 m. The 4067 m figure is per the Iranian 1:50 000 map.



The southwestern arm of the Takhte Soleyman Massif consists of a ridgeline that starts on the western flank of the Gardooneh Kooh Peak and first heads west, then turns northwest. This ridgeline gives rise to many high points with elevations in the 4000-4078 m range. The high points can be divided into three different groups with each group constituting a separate peak. East to west, the peaks are as follows:

1) Meeshchalak 4067 m
2) Nezar 4047 m
3) Kalvan 4078 m

Meeshchalak is the easternmost of the three peaks and is made of three high points itself. These include: Point 4067 m, Point 4044 m & Point 4028 m.

The northern slopes of Meeshchalak create two alpine bowls that sit at elevations of 3700 to 3850 m and house large snow fields. The bowls are the headwaters of the Sehezar River. As the river heads north, it steadily loses elevation until it reaches the Caspian Sea. On a straight line, the distance between the summit of Meeshchalak and the Caspian Sea is approximately 50 Km.

To the east, Meeshchalak is connected to the 4402 m Gardooneh Kooh Peak via a saddle known as Garma Gardan (or Meeshchalak) and to the west, Meeshchalak is connected to the 4047 m Nezar Peak. The southern slopes of Meeshchalak go down to reach a branch of the Shah Rood (Taleghan) River.

Meeshchalak is a very long way from any trailhead. Reaching its summit requires a multi-day hiking program. Usual approaches are:

1) From the east via the summit of Gardooneh Kooh (starting at the village of Roodbarak)
2) From the south via the village of Parachan in the Taleghan Valley
3) From the north via the Sehezar River Valley (See Route and pictures below)

The Sehezar Valley approach is of particular interest because it takes the hiker from just below Sea level on the Caspian Coast all the way to above 4000 m.





Point 4067 m

Point 4067 m

Point 4067 m & Point 4028 m from Sehezar Valley

Point 4044 m

Point 4044 m from upper Sehezar Valley

Points 4067 m & 4044 m

Point 4028 m

Point 4028 m

Point 4028 m

Point 4028 m

Views from the summit of Meeshchalak

Bowl below the summit

Gardooneh Kooh

Kalvan & Siyalan

Shah Alborz

Naz & Kahar

Lashgarak & Zarrin Kooh

Below you will see pictures of the Sehezar Valley. For more pictures, see the pages for the Kalvan and Nezar Peaks.

Sehezar Valley below 2000 m

Caspian forests cover the slopes below 2000 m.

Avalanche Remains

Caspian Forests

Caspian Forests

Sehezar Valley 2000-2500 m

Mian Rood

Warm Water Springs at 2550 m

Enter a small cave and enjoy the warm water coming to you from a hole in the back of the cave.

Bridge to Springs

Warm Water Cave Entrance

Inside Warm Water Cave

Sehezar Valley 2500-3000 m

Sehazar Valley above 3000 m

Garma Gardan Saddle

Siyalan

Gardooneh Kooh

Getting There

Directions for Sehezar Valley:

From the coastal town of Tonkabon (Shahsavar), you will have to drive roughly 50 Km up nameless remote roads through the forested slopes in the Sehezar Valley to reach the end of the road at the village of Shahrestan (elevation 2000 m)(sorry about the vague directions, we were driven by locals through these roads). Hiking starts here.

Red Tape

No fees or permits required.

Camping

Anywhere.

External Links

Add External Links text here.

Images

View Meeshchalak Image Gallery - 35 Images