Mount Tochal (Persian: توچال Tochal) is a mountain in the Alborz range and a ski resort adjacent to metropolitan Tehran, Iran. The mountain has a 12 km long ridge-line. The highest peak, also called Mount Tochal, is at an elevation of 3,964 m (13,005 feet) and at coordinates 35.88°N 51.42°E. Tochal is a popular recreational region for Tehran’s residents. A gondola lift, named Tochal Telecabine runs from Tehran to the Tochal Ski Resort and the modern Tochal Hotel, all as a part of Tochal Complex.
The Tochal telecabin project under management of Mr.Batmanghlich and with cooperation of Poma Co from France and Doppel Mayr Co from Austria stated in 1974 and opened for public use on 1978.Tochal telecabin Co (a privately held company) was registered under the title of Tochal telecabin L.T.D with register no. of 24659 on March 1975 in Tehran companies.Under item 3 of articles of association, Basis of activities of T.C.T is as below:
Erection of telecabin from Velenjak St. to top of Tochal mountain (in Alborz chain mountain)
Constructing natural parks, villas, lakes, and resorts
Amusement facilities
Importing electrical trains
Importing necessary machinery to full fill and accomplish the above projects.
Tochal telecabin is located at the end of Velenjak St. in Shemiran area.
Beautiful landscape, Mountain fresh air, Many sweet water springs adds to freshness of area.
With upgrading the safety standards of telecabin lines, Families and sport men can enjoy the telecabin ride and other facilities with joy and pleasure.
Besides the telecabin Tochal hotel is ready to receive the respective guests, unique location proper services and mountainous natural beauty are the especiallities of Tochal hotel.
A number of peaks are accessible from the Tochal main ridge or by their own climbing paths. Peaks (from west to east) include:
Lavarak (3560m): accessible by main Tochal ridge or Imamzade Davood climbing path.
Sar-Bazarak (3640m): accessible from Palangchal peak and main Tochal ridge.
Shah-Neshin (3875m): accessible from Tochal main ridge, Hezarcham path and south (Abshar-Dogholoo) ridge.
Tochal (3965m): The highest peak of the range, accessible by any climbing path that ends on the Tochal main ridge. The usual path from Tehran is by the south ridge (normally from Shirpala shelter and Siahsang hut).
Spilit (3120m): through Band-yakh-chal and Shervin hut by rock climbing or Klakchal ridge.
West Lezon (3585m): accessible from Tochal main ridge, Kolakchal shelter or Shirpala shelter.
East Lezon or Piaz-chal (3540m): accessible from Tochal main ridge, Kolakchal shelter or Shirpala shelter.
Kolak-chal (3300m): from Kolakchal shelter (through Golab-dareh valley, Vezbad valley or Jamshidieh park)
Siah-band (3320m): from Dar-abad valley and Dar-abad hut. Gondola lift:
Tochal has a long gondola lift which begins from Velenjak valley at 1900m and ends in the last station at 3740m near the main ridge of Tochal. This gondola lift is used for accessing ski resorts and other recreational centers on the mountain. The gondola lift has four stations:
Station 1 is at an elevation of 1900m and located at the beginning of Velenjak valley (end of Velenjak Street). Parking, inns and some other facilities are available.
Station 2 is at 2400m and has very limited facilities.
Station 5 is at 2935m. There is a restaurant and a rescue center. This station is in the middle of one of the ski slopes which is open only in mid winter. This station is also accessible through several climbing paths like Shirpala shelter, Osoon valley and Palang-chal shelter.
Station 7 is at 3740m and very close to the Tochal main ridge. It is the last station of the gondola lift. This station is in the middle of the Tochal ski slope. The Tochal main peak is 30 minutes walk from this point. This station is also reachable from Hezar-cham climbing path from Station 5.
