In this entertaining account, Bruce Blackney recalls the events of a British expedition in 1974 to explore the spectacular mountainous region in Iran known as Takht-e-Sulaiman – Solomon’s Throne.
The book commences with an RAF Vulcan squadron detachment in Iran. The squadron engineer, Bruce, and one of the pilots have a day off and travel to the Caspian Sea. Whilst there they are given hospitality by an Iranian family and travel along the coast to Rasht.
The spectacular Elburz mountain range gives Bruce the idea for an RAF mountaineering expedition. After the squadron returns to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, Bruce forms an Expedition Club on base with the help of his friend Ray. The objective is to climb the Solomon’s Throne massif in the Elburz and to retrace the footsteps of the English Explorer, Freya Stark, in the Valley of the Assassins.
The Club gains experience of mountaineering and trekking in Cyprus, Turkey and Crete. Bruce goes on a reconnaissance to Iran and sets up arrangements for the expedition with the British Embassy, Tehran. He confirms access routes and mule availability in the Elburz. He checks out the overland rail route through Turkey. The members of the expedition are selected.
On 14th June 1974 the team sets out from RAF Akrotiri aboard an RAF VC 10. On arrival at Tehran they are joined by three members of the Iranian Special Forces.