Hike to Mount Olam Jakhon, between Varzob and Romit, Tajikistan

I first saw this mountain while hiking the Odjuk Ring route. At the same time, I also first heard the name "Olam Jakhon" from a local guy I met along the way. At that moment, I didn't believe him. If you translate the name into Russian, the closest meaning of the phrase "Olam Jakhon" would probably be Universe (World of worlds). So I doubted it, thinking maybe the guy decided to "slightly" embellish or just didn't know the name.

Kumkayakutal Pass, 3-Day Hike, Semiganch Gorge, Romit, Mountains of Tajikistan

This is a photo review of the third day of my four-day trek from Kharangon to Ojuk through the Semiganch Gorge. In the last photo review, I stopped at the moment when I descended from Mount Mushteppa to the village of Dora. In the kishlak, I visited Faiz, reloaded my camera, had a delicious and filling lunch, and rested a bit from the hardships of camp life. Then, I continued along the river in the Semiganch Gorge towards the Kumkayakutal Pass in the Romit region. Once I pass the pass, I'll find myself in the Odjuk Gorge in the Varzob region..

Mount Mushtepa, Day 2 of the Hike, is a Ridge Between the Varzob and Ramit Gorges, Mountains of Tajikistan

The second day of my four-day hike was entirely dedicated to Mount Mushtepa. Mount Mushtepa is located on the watershed ridge between the Varzob and Ramit rivers, so on this day, I visited both of them. I began the ascent on the Varzob side in the Harangon River gorge, and by midday, I had reached the summit of Mushtepa before descending to the Ramit side in the Semiganch gorge.

The Ancient Mystery of Mount Olam Jahon

It is, perhaps, less a mystery and more my own speculation — possibly even an overactive imagination. Yet, since there are no definitive answers, let us still call it a “mystery.” So, what is this all about?
During a hike to Mount Olam Jahon, after I had climbed onto the plateau at its summit, I noticed a few oddities — both of the plateau itself and of the peaks situated on it. It is these oddities, and the conclusions I drew while examining them, that I wish to share in this short article.