'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎249r] (502/610)

Stage 9 is difficult. The river enters a gorge and the track
goes up into the hills above the left bank. It descends at
Shxreh Kuh (pole bridge) and goes down the stony Shahrud
water-course, which lower down contracts to \ mile between
cliffs. When the river is in flood it becomes impassable, and a
difference path along the hills must be taken, which descends
near Siyahdasht bridge (see below.)
An alternative route is from Shahrak in Talaghan via Shahrak
in Alamut (vide Route No. 7 communications) and down the
Alamut valley or via Mu’allim Kalayeh and the Rudbar villages
(vide Route report Kazvln-Tunakabur alternative route A)
in two stages. This route is easier, especially when the rivers
are unfordable, and supplies are plentiful.
The junction of the Alamut and Talaghan rivers near Shireh
Kuh forms the Shahrud, which from March to mid-June .us a
formidable torrent, unfordable and too swift for boats, ihe
watercourse is wide and stony and the channel constantly shitt
ing, so that bridging is impossible except at a few narrow points.
There is a pole bridge at Siyahdasht, 1 mile above Hasana-
bad (on right bank) and 6 miles below Shireh Kuh. Route
No. 7 crosses at Shireh Kuh, Karindeh dial—3 miles below
Shireh Kuh—or Siyahdasht according to the route chosen
from Kazvin to Shahrud.
Stages 10 and 11. The track follows the valleys.
There are several villages up the side valleys, and additional
supplies can be fetched from the Dikin-Mu’allim Kalayeh area
(South East). There is a pole bridge at Dehdushab in stage 10,
4 miles below Shahristan and 10 miles below Siyahdasht, crossed
by Route No. 8 when the Shahrud. is in flood and.cannot be
crossed by the ford between Fanif.in and. Shahristan. At
Anbuh, 12 miles below Dehdushab, is a solid one arch, brick
bridge 60' above the water in centre, 50' span and 15 road
way. The top is considerably worn and the approaches
on both sides are bad. It is crossed by Route No. 9.
Stages 12 and 13. Below Anbuh bridge the Shahrud flows
through a gorge, reported to be passable for pack animals with
great “difficulty for 16 miles as far as Parudbar, where there is
a pole bridge, 12 miles upstream of Loshan brick bridge on the
Kazvin-Manjil road.
The regular mule route follows Route No. 9 up to Kilishum
stage II, and from Kilishum runs West South West about 4
miles above the Shahrud over a series of switchbacks between
3 , 000 ' and 6,500' across parallel valleys and spurs running down