"NPMH" shows Tehran mountaineers’ unity to decrease disasters on Mt. Tochal

Holding the first coordination meeting subjected to 4^th round of "Notification and Prevention of Mountain Hazards (NPMH)" plan, which is done over the most attractive trekking routes of Tochal range, Kaveh Kashefi, coordinator of this plan and at the same time head of Tehran’s council of mountaineering and sport climbing has explained about "NPMH" in an exclusive interview with Iran Mountain Zone.

IMZ: First of all, please tell us about that coordination meeting.

Kaveh Kashefi: The first coordination meeting was held in Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Council of Tehran (MSCT) on Wednesday, November 25^th, where heads of 25 mountaineering clubs and groups of Tehran city and suburban had attended. The principal theme of meeting was to design plan of actions for NPMH in this winter.

IMZ: Please give a brief description about NPMH.

Kaveh Kashefi: Tehran metropolis is located at the southern foot of mount Tochal massif, which is supposed as one of the most attractive spots for Tehran’s population to spend their leisure by trekking or doing more serious mountaineering activities. Beside taking advantage of nice landscapes and sceneries of mountainous region, interested people should be aware of hazards inherent in the mountain environment and do everything in his power to reduce the chances of an accident or mishap occurring.
According to recent years’ statistics, number of accidents and fatalities on Tochal massif especially in cold seasons was increasing year by year. Therefore, MSCT as the training responsible in various fields of mountaineering over the province along with mountaineering clubs of Tehran initiated "Notification and Prevention of Mountain Hazards" plan in winter, 2007 to make trekkers and enthusiastic people aware of mountain hazards.
Meanwhile, it should be emphasized that "NPMH" is not among our duties in MSCT and related clubs, but unpleasant events during few recent years pushed us to organize it voluntarily.

IMZ: How was the performance of NPMH?

Kaveh Kashefi: we started this plan in November 2007, whereas more than 20 deaths have happened from beginning of cold seasons in mid November 2006 to its end in mid April, 2007. Executing the project had positive result and the figure of fatality accidents stayed at zero. It showed us remarkable impacts of notification and encouraged us to repeat it every year.

IMZ: Do you execute NPMH just in cold seasons?

Kaveh Kashefi: No. In addition to cold seasons, we hold it between Mid April and Mid November every year, when more enthusiastic people go trekking in Tochal massif, but notification topics are totally changed.

IMZ: Which methods of notification are generally used?

Kaveh Kashefi: A few stations are spotted on most attractive trekking routes of Tochal range, where our representatives give necessary information by ways of face to face communication and giving brochures.

IMZ: What are the titles of those brochures?

Kaveh Kashefi: During cold seasons, 6 brochures are available about hypothermia, avalanche, survival, meteorology, safe trekking principles and safe routes in Tochal massif.
In the other portion of each year, just 2 brochures are offered on topics of sunstroke and mountain environment protection.

IMZ: Where are NPMH’s stations located in current season?

Kaveh Kashefi: Verifying last years’ data, NPMH will be operated on four trekking routes this year and a few stations were determined in each duo too their attractiveness. They are as follows:
In "Dar-Abad" route, just one station is considered in the beginning of "Shen-Siah" ridge a bit farther than "Sarband-Ghalak".
In "Koulak-Chal" route, which starts in "Jamshidieh" garden and ends to "Koulach-Chal" peak (3300m), NPMH’s assistants are stationed in three spots at "Jamshidieh" park, "Koulak-Chal" shelter and "Gorz-Dareh" passage.
In "Darband" route, which is one of the most populated routes and considered as the main route toward Tochal summit (3960 m), four stations; one in "Sarband" square in the beginning point, one in "Davoudi" rescue station beside "twin" waterfall, one on the way to "Siah-Sang (Amiri)" hut a little higher than "Shirpala" shelter and the last one on the summit.
In "Darakeh" route, which goes through a same named valley toward "palang-chal" and "Chin-Kalagh" summits, two stations are on for notification; one in "Darakeh" square and the other in "Palang-chal" shelter.

IMZ: Are these stations always ready to give notification services?

Kaveh Kashefi: No. These stations give notification services only on Thursdays and Fridays (Iranian weekend) and also on national holidays according to country’s official calendar.

IMZ: How many people have been involved in NPMH since its initiation?

Kaveh Kashefi: In winter plans of 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons, 210 and 160 members were involved respectively. Also in summer 2009 due to lesser actions our population decreased to 50.

IMZ: How people can recognize members of NPMH?

Kaveh Kashefi: NPMH’s colleagues are identified by identity cards and their uniforms.

IMZ: Are NPMH’s colleagues bounded to hold search and rescue operations if encountered with a happening in their territory?

Kaveh Kashefi: Our colleagues are there just for warning about mountain hazards and they are not allowed to do any rescue operation, because according to Tehran’s council’s rules, these operations are left for firefighting and Red Crescent organizations. In the case of emergency situations, everyone should inform them dialing 125 and NPMH’s members will do the same.

IMZ: Do NPMH’s colleagues get pre-trained for their duties?

Kaveh Kashefi: Yes. We have held more than 19 training sessions for our colleagues such as, communication skills and compartment, principles of safe trekking, survival, mountain environment, avalanche, safe trekking routes, public training principles and hypothermia in January 2010.

IMZ: Do NPMH’s assistants get paid for doing the job?

Kaveh Kashefi: Yes. Indeed we pay the mountaineering clubs and groups, who are involved in this plan. Then the clubs will spread money among the active members in the plan.

IMZ: What are the expenses of NPMH?

Kaveh Kashefi: The expenses include training courses, preparing brochure and supplying hardware like portable radio transceivers, uniforms and stations’ stuffs.

IMZ: And finally, How do you cover the expenses?

Kaveh Kashefi: Based on a contract, we are being supported for our expenses by Tehran Disaster Mitigation Management Organization.

February, 2010
Tehran