The first recorded ascent of the peak was made from Hazarchal over the south face by the German Bornmüller brothers during their six-month botanical exploration of the Alborz in 1902.[3][4]
Douglas Busk, a British mountaineer, climbed Alam-Kuh via the east ridge in 1933 and again in 1934 from over the west ridge.[5]
The 800 m high, steep granite north face provides some of the most difficult and challenging mountaineering routes in the country and the climbs rank alongside major climbing routes in the European Alps. In addition to local climbers, the north face attracts European climbing teams. The first known ascent from the north was by a German party (Gorter/Steinauer) in 1936 via the northwest ridge.[6]
2004 earthquake
Most of the fixed ropes were severely damaged during a major 6.3 magnitude earthquake[7] and consequent rockfall in 2004. The mountain was closed to climbers for some months because of the hazard of rockfall and loose cables.
Terrain and approach
The mountain range supports permanent snow and glaciers.
^Sources differ on the height of Alam Kuh. Due to its elevation being very close to that of Sabalan, either of these peaks may be variously listed as either the second or third highest mountain in Iran. Some sources give a significantly higher elevation for Alam Kuh of 4850 m. However, more reliable sources such as Peaklist (Alam Kuh has listed here as "Kuhha-ye Alborz") state an elevation of 4805 m based on Soviet topographic maps and modern SRTM data. This data supports Alam Kuh as the second highest peak in Iran.
