Train for climbing mount Damavand

Mar 15, 2023

volcanic seven summits challenge

Feb 22, 2023

6 best routes to climb damavand

Dec 21, 2022

Damavand mount ,Why should you climb it ?

Dec 12, 2022

6 Tips for Damavand Mount acclimatization

Apr 9, 2022

Twelve hiking trails in Iran that must be visited

Mar 22, 2022

« Older Entries

HOW HARD IS TO CLIMB DAMAVAND ?

Damavand trekking tour

If you think about climbing Damavand one of the most important facts you need to know is Damavand difficulty .

Mount Damavand is a fair difficult mountain to climb. Due to the fact that more than 50% of climbers who try to climb this peak suffer a level of mountain sickness, Damavand is a tough high-altitude trek.
Considering the height of this mountain of 5610 meters, you should prepare and train well before attempting to climb Damavand Peak. Climbing Damavand peak is not difficult in the main part of climbing route because the paths are not steep and the main problem is the height, however the summit day is difficult because this part is the coldest and windiest part of your climb.
Climbing and descending about 1400 meters in one day at an altitude above 4200 meters, which may take about 10 to 12 hours, requires relatively high mental and physical preparation.
A common question about Damavand is how difficult it is to climb this peak? The answer to this question is not easy because it depends on many factors and is very personal.

After all, what is “hard” for one person may be “easy” for another.
Many climbers have said, “Climbing Damavand is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, especially on summit day.
We have never heard that it’s an easy climb , but it always depends on what you’re comparing it to.
Compared to K2, Damavand is “easy” but It is “tough” compared to walking in street .
Let’s examine some specific factors that affect the difficulty of climbing Damavand and also what can be done about it.

Climbing Damavand Technical Difficulty

One of the first questions that amateur mountaineers want to know , is whether there is any technical difficulty involved during climbing Damavand . the answer is : “No”. climbing Damavand in summer and from normal routes like Southern or western routes is only an easy trekking that can be done without an ice ax, ropes, or harnesses and crampons then You don’t need any technical mountaineering skills at all.

How to deal with the height problem on Damavand / Damavand difficulty

The hardest part of climbing Damavand is trekking on high altitude . Your ability to acclimatize and getting used to the low oxygen in the air during your trek on long distances is what makes Damavand different from your normal long day’s hiking. Mount Damavand Altitude training is one of the preparations that you can do to maximize your chances of adaptation to the altitude.

By climbing slowly you will give your body more time to acclimatize , and give time for adequate rest and recovery, as you shouldn’t be in a hurry to climb the mountain .

Always walk as slowly as you can. If that sounds a bit counter-intuitive, you’ll find your guide often repeating “Aroom Aroom” which means “slowly slowly” in Persian . By keeping a very slow pace, you’ll conserve your energy, you won’t exhaust yourself, and you’ll give yourself the best chance of adequate acclimatization! It’s not a race, folks…

Taking Diamox also can help for acclimatization but You’ll need a prescription from your doctor for it . Damavand difficulty

Your Fitness

Should be mentioned that if you’re very unfit and physically unprepared , the trek will be much harder. How fit you need to be is often a source of great confusion. You don’t need to be an marathon runner, but you need to be fit enough to walk multiple hours uphill with a light backpack . And then be ready to do it again the next day.

Your fitness will affect how you will be recovered from each day’s hiking.

Lack of training and not trying to improve your fitness will make your climb more difficult, but at the same time, you should have reasonable expectations of yourself and not exhaust your body with too much pressure and heavy training before climbing.

Camping & Sleeping on the Trail Difficulty

Mount Damavand Hut , located in south face of Damavand at 4260m elevation

If you’re used to only sleep in your own comfortable bed , then it possible camping and sleeping on Damavand be a bit hard – at least at first. although we provide you comfortable tent and sleeping mats and extra blanket , if you’re not used to sleeping in a tent, it may take some getting used to.

For those who spend their weekends outside and sleep on the ground , our camp will be almost luxurious , as you don’t have to prepare your own food or pitch your own tent!

having a good night’s sleep is important for your recovery and adapting with high altitude . If you think you might find this aspect of climbing Damavand hard and prefer not to sleep in tent then we suggest you Damavand southern route, where you can chose to sleep in huts or bigger and more comfortable tent

Weather condition

Another thing that can make climbing Damavand difficult is unfavorable weather conditions. Since Mt Damavand is about 1500 meters higher than the highest mountains around it in consequently this feature has caused the weather to have sudden changes and strong winds.

In the summer season, there are not a lot of snow and rain fall in Damavand, but the biggest challenge of Mount Damavand, as mentioned above, is strong winds, especially at night.

You can read more on Mount Damavand weather

Your Health

Obviously, if you already have specific physical problems or have suffered injuries that make it difficult for you to walk and carry a backpack, you will have a harder climb than others who do not have these problems, and the Damavand difficulty will be more for you will be higher.

Therefore, if there are such problems, consult with your doctor before climbing Damavand.

You can also consult with people who have experience climbing Damavand.

In addition, maintaining your health while climbing is also very important. While traveling, make sure you practice good personal hygiene – especially before eating – to make sure you don’t get into trouble. And of course travel with a company that they observe hygiene standards in preparing and serving food. Damavand difficulty

Damavand climbing guide

Before climbing Damavand be sure that your Damavand climbing guide is knowledgeable , experienced, and well trained in high-altitude medicine . this is one of the secret of difference between a successful and safe summit , and an early descent with altitude sickness .

Having confidence in your guide is extremely important and can remove some of the mental strain of worrying about how you are coping with the altitude. Being able to tell your guide any symptoms you experience, and having medical check-ups daily can help you to feel more confident about pushing forwards, even on days when it’s feeling a bit “too hard”.

In addition, climbing in a group can be helpful for sharing the experience, and although it won’t make it any less physically tough but it can make it less emotionally tough!

Mental fitness

To evaluate the ability to climb Damavand peak, above all, physical ability and physical fitness are considered, and after that, having the necessary skills and techniques to climb, but in addition to these two important factors, ability and mental preparation are also very important, which is important. Same with physical ability and technical skill. The mental strength of people is determined in difficult situations and facing challenges, and to climb a high peak like Damavand, you must always be ready to face a big challenge.

To face and overcome some challenges in a climbing program, you need a ready and strong mind. Challenges such as: Long days on the trail, being away from home, sleeping in a tent or shelter, hiking in cold conditions and on rough trails—all of these things can add to the emotional and mental strain of the trail. Especially on a summit day when you wind up part of the way in the dark and cold of midnight – and it’s your resilience and mental preparation that keeps you going.

But you are tougher than you think! It is worth noting that climbing Damavand peak can be a mental and emotional challenge as much as it is a physical and technical challenge. Always think about what made you decide to climb Damavand? What motivated you to face this big mountain of West Asia? Your personal reasons and inner motivations for doing this trip can be a good source of inspiration when the going gets tough. Stay positive – and focus only on the beauty and serenity of the mountain, the challenge of the summit is something you will always remember.

Climbing Gear

It’s not just about your personal belongings that you bring with you The equipment that your tour operator provides you during the tour is equally important.

It is important for you to climb with a company that uses the right equipment for the mountain conditions.

If the tents you are going to spend the night in, or the chair you are using, or the mattress you are sleeping on, are inappropriate, all of this will have a bad physical and mental effect on you and will add to the difficulty of your ascent. In choosing the company that runs your tour, make sure that it uses the right equipment.

Check your equipment before your trip, and for example, if you have bought new hiking boots, before climbing Damavand, be sure to use them on the mountains near your home to prevent problems during the climb.

Drink and food

Water is the most important thing that your body needs while climbing at a high altitude, and lack of water makes your climb very difficult.

Water affects your ability to adapt and recover from a hard day on the trail . You need to drink a lot of water during the day and if it is difficult for you, you can use various drinks with the flavors you like.

To climb Damavand mountain , you burn a lot of calories, so you have to replace them by eating the right foods! Proper nutrition during climbing provides the energy you need throughout the day and also helps you to recover faster after intense activity.

We advise you to bring some energy bars or your favorite snacks from home, because the harsh conditions of altitude can affect your appetite, so some of your favorite tasty treats can fill you up. Tempt you to eat more food, even if you don’t feel very hungry.

If you intend to climb Damavand peak and need guidance, be sure to contact us. our are ready to answer your questions.

You can also refer to the Damavand FAQ page where wehave answered dozens of questions about Damavand.

Damavand packing list