This was our women association' third trekking expedition, after the one to Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2009 < https://pbase.com/jolka/kilimanjaro_expedition and to Mt. Ararat in 2012 (in which I did not participate).
It was a 14-women expedition to climb Mt. Damavand (5671m, 18,605 feet), the highest peak in Iran and the Middle East, as well as the highest volcano in Asia. It is also the second highest volcano in the northern hemisphere.
Mt. Damavand is located in the middle Alborz Range, near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, 66 kilometres (41 miles) northeast of Tehran. Snow covers the entire mountain in winter and the upper parts in other seasons.
It is one of the most perfect cone-shape stratovolcanoes in the world, surrounded by many handsome peaks of the Alborz Range.
Damavand is an extinct volcano, but is also considered as a potentially active dormant volcano as it has fumaroles and sulfur gas coming out near the crater. Its narrow summit crater with diameter of about 150-200 meters, is usually covered with snow-cap and cloud. The snowy white peak with its regular Lenticular Cap Cloud is the most beautiful sight of Persia.

In 2008 Mt. Damavan with its flora, fauna and thermal springs was submitted on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage.

Climbing this 18,605 feet giant volcano is technically easy but physically a tough challenge and requires a good physical fitness. The main challenge of ascend is acclimatization and the weather.
There are at least 16 known routes to the summit from all sides, which have different difficulties. Some of them are very dangerous and require rock climbing.

We took the easiest and the most popular Southern Route, which takes 4 days (with one day for acclimatization). There is 5 to 8 hours day-trek with big ascents and 3 to 4 hours descents. The starting point is in Camp 1 Polour at 2270 m, then we went to Camp 2 Base Goosfand Sara at 3040 m, and Camp 3 Bargah New Hut at 4250 m.