View to the northwest from the peak of Hersan (4700m) of a rock glacier dropping down in to Alum chal. The clouds in the distance are the Marine layer that comes off the Caspian sea. At times this layer rises up the valleys into the high country and reduces visibility to almost zero making navigation this type of country very exciting indeed.

Next year (2001) I will be working in this valley among others in an attempt to map this part of the range well enough to feel confident that we havethe various geologic relationships worked out. This should lead to a paperrelated to the uplift history, and tectonic development of northern Iran.

Interested in this type of thing?
contact  Gary Axen (gaxen@ess.ucla.edu)...or me and I'll give you the low down on working with the Axeman.