Shir kuh or Taft mountain

Shir kuh or Taft mountain of yazd and iran

Shir Kuh(Taft) peak with 4075 meters height in Yazd province, which is located in the center of Iran and is surrounded by desert on all sides. Shir Kuh Peak is one of the 1515 most prominent peaks in the world. Although it is mentioned in terms of the division of the individual mountains of Iran, it is in fact part of the central mountain range. Due to its proximity to desert, this peak has strong and dry winds on some days of the year.

About Shir Kuh(Taft)

To reach Shir Kuh, you have to go to Taft city, 30 km from Yazd, and from there to a summer-quarter area called Deh, which is 2600 meters above sea level and about 20 km away Taft city, and this route takes about an hour and a half. Shir Kuh has the highest altitude in Yazd province and is covered with snow in most seasons and also is one of the sources of water supply in the villages around Taft, Yazd and Mehriz. Shir Kuh is also one of the coldest and most pleasant places in this province and most of people in Yazd have villas in the villages around this mountain, especially in Deh-e Bala or Deh Bala, Tezerjan, Banadak Sadat, Manshad and Sanij. The mountain seems to be named because of its resemblance to a sleeping lion in the distance.

Guide to climbing Shir Kuh

There are various routes to climb, the most common of which are through the village of Deh Bala and the Najib canyon. Najib canyon, with a long steep slope, that is the most difficult part of the climbing.

At the end of the Najib canyon, the path continues to the left, and a relatively smooth hiking with a gentle slope leads us to the shelter. The shelter is located at 3,550 meters height and is almost equipped. The blue spring is brought by a pipe to near the shelter. It has two rooms, one concrete and the other metal, with a total capacity of approximately 30 to 40 people. The shelter also has a toilet.

On the way to the shelter, Tezerjan Peak stands out on the left and beautifully in the distance.

The route from shelter to the summit is about 5 km which has a gentle slope and the height should be increased by about 500 meters. A metal element with a Quranic verse indicates the peak of Shir Kuh in Yazd.

Report on the ascent program to Shir Kuh in early November

10 a.m.

We reached the foot of the mountain (Deh Bala village) at 2500 meters height and rested. The good people of the village helped us to park the car and use the water and the toilet. Security is fully established and conditions are excellent.

12 p.m.

Start climbing with a heavy backpack and pass a distance of about 7 km with an increase of 1000 meters height and crossing the summer valleys (darehaye tabestan khane) and the Najib canyon.

The slope is gentle all the way except at two points, one of which is the Najib valley with relatively steep. Also, there is a spring before Najib Valley and there are beautiful effects of the walls and canyons in the eye-catching path.

4 p.m.

We reached the shelter at 3,500 meters height and settled in one of the shelters. The night temperature is about 2 degrees below zero.

6 a.m. Friday, November 6th

Seeing the beautiful sunrise and the view of the villages and even Yazd below the mountain. Start climbing the peak with a light backpack. Pass a distance of about 5 km with 550 meters increase in height. The wind’s speed is about 25 kilometers per hour - there is no snow on the route - the slope of the whole route is very gentle. Seeing a number of mountain goats from a distance of about 200 meters and on the walls delights the group.

8 a.m.

Reach the top. Seeing the view of the skyscraper peaks and Barfkhaneh in Tezerjan, as well as the Deh Bala villages and Sanij in the west, and then returning from the peak to the shelter, going the same way.

10 a.m.

We reached the shelter and after an hour we returned to the foot of the mountain on the same way to rest and pack our belongings.

The best season to climb:

autumn and winter

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