Kalvan

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 4095 m. The 4078 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

Kalvan is the western-most of the three peaks and is made of two high points itself: Kalvan #1 (4078 m) & Kalvan #2 (4068 m).

The northern slopes of the Kalvan Peaks create an alpine bowl that sits at an elevation of 3700 to 3850 m and houses a large snow field. The bowl forms one of 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 Kalvan and the Caspian Sea is approximately 50 Km.

To the east, Kalvan is connected to the 4047 m Nezar Peak and to the northwest Kalvan is connected to a series of nameless peaks whose elevations are below 4000 m.. The southern slopes of Kalvan go down to reach a branch of the Shah Rood (Taleghan) River.

Kalvan 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 Information 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.


Route:

The starting point for this route is the summit of Nezar Peak. Click here to see the page for Nezar Peak.

From the summit of Nezar #1, follow the ridge-top northwest, climb or bypass Nezar #3 (on the south side of it) and reach the 3950 m saddle at the base of Kalvan #1. Hike up the slopes to reach the top. Distance from Nezar #1 is around 1 Km.



Views From the summit of Kalvan #1:

Shah Alborz

Gardooneh Kooh

Alam Kooh

Haft Khan

Naz & Kahar

Sooteh

Below you will see pictures from the Sehezar Valley (For more pictures, see the pages for Nezar & Meeshchalak Peaks):

Sehezar Valley, 2500-3500 m:

Sehezar Valley, 2000-2500 m:

Shahrestan Village, 2000 m:
With an elevation of 2000 m, Shahrestan is the highest village in the Sehezar Valley

Village of Shahrestan

Sehezar Valley, Below 2000 m:
Caspian Forests cover the valley up to an elevation of 2000 m.

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

Images

View Kalvan Image Gallery - 35 Images