Damavand: Climbing the Highest Volcano in Asia
Iran is a country with a unique culture and diverse nature — deserts, mountains, canyons, forests, and waterfalls. The goal of our expedition was to climb the highest point of the country — Mount Damavand, a volcano in the Alborz mountain range (5,610 m). The ascent is technically simple and does not require special skills. Damavand is ideal for a first introduction to high-altitude climbing.
Damavand is one of Iran’s main symbols. Perhaps this was the reason why, when people asked us why we were in Iran, after hearing our answer they looked at us with admiration and smiled.
Many Persian legends are connected with Damavand. According to one legend, the evil spirit Bivarasb is imprisoned inside this mountain, and the smoke constantly rising from its summit is the breath of the captive. Another story tells that Bivarasb is an evil spirit in the form of a monster, with two snakes growing from his shoulders. One of the heroes of the Persian epic manages to defeat the monster after a difficult battle and imprison him inside the mountain. Since then, Bivarasb’s foul breath has escaped through the cracks of the mountain.
Damavand is the highest point in Iran and the entire Middle East, and it is also considered the highest volcano in Asia. The mountain’s climate has a clearly defined seasonal character. Spring and autumn here are very short. The winter season lasts six to seven months, while summer lasts about three months.
Every Iranian knows very well that people have climbed Damavand for centuries. The first written record dates back to 905, when a man named Abu Dolaf Kazraji climbed the summit. Today, Damavand is a very popular mountain with large numbers of climbers. According to some sources, foreigners make up about 10% of climbers, while the main flow consists of Iranians themselves. The best time to climb the classic (Southern) route is June to early July. Many people also go in August, during vacation season.
The real journey began in the village of Polur, located at the foot of Mount Damavand. Here, at the Iranian Mountaineering Federation, we registered by paying $50 and received permission for the ascent. Then, by off-road vehicle, we were transported to the Gusfand Sara camp, located at an altitude of 3,040 meters. Our climb began with light backpacks. Just like during the ascent of Mount Ararat, here too large equipment is carried up by horses.
A person who comes to the mountains for the first time in their life usually experiences admiration and awe. However, these emotions appear during every journey, and this mountain was no exception. Here, I felt insignificant and, at the same time, a participant in something endless and immense.
Camp 3 — 4,250 m.
We were accommodated in a shelter and began adapting to the altitude. The overnight stay costs approximately $5 per person per day. The shelter is equipped with almost all necessary facilities. There is also a kitchen here, so if you have not brought food with you, you can easily order meals.
It is already possible to feel the rare air mixed with sulfur. The area smells like rotten eggs, and soon you will also be covered with yellow dust. Conversations with local guides, who literally know everything about these mountains, will help distract you. Many interesting travelers gather here because Damavand is an unusual mountain. Real lovers of exotic experiences and adventures come here. Therefore, you may meet climbers who have also completed ascents of Everest or other 8,000-meter peaks.
After spending one day here, we continue climbing. Acclimatization is extremely important because at altitudes above 4,000 meters, even completely healthy people can experience symptoms of altitude sickness.
Today is perhaps the “peak” of our expedition — we are heading toward the volcano. A distance of 1,400 meters remains. We put on our headlamps, warm clothes, take our light backpacks, and move forward.
It is an incredible, incomparable feeling. It feels as if the mountain fills you with air and makes the climb easier. There is a strong wind, blowing in the right direction. I am not walking — it feels as if it is simply pushing me from behind and lifting me upward. It seems like I could fly… It is cold and, at the same time, wonderful. And you forget about everything else.
While climbing, a person can come closer than ever to nature and its amazing creations. Mountains give unforgettable memories and new cherished dreams.
I am often asked why I climb mountains. My answer is:
“Mountains are a place where you can test yourself and understand that you are capable of much more; a place where people reveal new sides of themselves and it becomes clear whether they are truly ‘your’ people or not. A place where it is pleasant to escape from the noise, dust, rush, and traffic jams of city life. Time spent here flows differently: every day and every climb is like a small adventure, at the end of which delicious food and a warm shelter are waiting.”
I love mountains because they are majestic and simple. Mountains are beautiful and astonishing; they bring joy and inspiration, hope and peace. Above everything else, mountains rise toward the sky and help others rise as well.
