27-Sep-2014 -- This is the 6th out of 12 confluence reports, reaching 10 and attempting 2 confluence points in Iran and Turkmenistan. The story starts at 36°N 51°E and continues from 37°N 49°E.
In the late morning, we started driving from the harbour town Bandar-e Anzalī. We followed the coastal road along the Caspian Sea until we reached the town Šalmān (26 km from CP). From there we turned south heading for the Alborz Mountains. We reached the foothills of the mountain range at the town Amlaš (20 km). From there, a road follows a valley that directly points towards the confluence point.
We were quite confident that we would reach this confluence point. Google Maps images clearly show the roofs of a hamlet within 700 m. But when we entered the area, it became clear that we had underestimated the degree of difficulty. The terrain is not only rugged, but also densely overgrown with shrubs.
As it is normal for a dead end road, the further you get in, the worse get the road conditions. We came through small villages and after we had passed the last one, the road became a steep and muddy track. It became so steep that Elionora became afraid such that we decided to park the car and walk.
The GPS showed 3.1 km to go. Elionora decided to wait in the car, while I was trying to follow a track that I had spotted on the digital photo map. However, it turned out that I had confused the “track” with a river. I searched for a footpath that must exist to reach the hamlet in 700 m distance. I followed one that soon became insignificant and I had to do bush bashing through the
thickets. Further progress was too slow in order to make it to the Confluence and back before nightfall. GPS still showed 2.4 km to go, even though I had been walking for half an hour already.
I took the turn around picture and turned around. For Elionora it was a pleasant surprise to see me back so soon. We drove out of the valley (and I cycled a bit since we had our bicycles with us) and continued our trip further eastwards along the Caspian Sea. We spend the night in the city Rāmsar (رامسر).
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to a road: 3 km
- Distance to a track: 3 km
- Distance of car parking: 3.1 km
- Time to get to the turnaround: 30 minutes
- Time at the CP: 2:51 PM
- Measured height: 424 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 2360 m
- Position accuracy: 13 m
- Topography: steep mountain terrain
- Vegetation: dense, mixed forest, various undergrowth, moss on the trees.
- Weather: overcast, 23° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Forested Alborz Confluence
The story continues at 37°N 55°E.