Met the mulemen we had hired in the village of Narian (2350 m) on June 9. Left the village at 7 a.m. The mulemen carried our loads to an elevation of 3575 m where it became too steep for the mules. We then had to carry our own very heavy backpacks (supplies for 7 days) up the steep alopes to the 3820 m saddle where we overnight camped. Reached the saddle at 3:20 p.m. Climbed Zarrin Kooh the next day. Haze spoiled the view.