Azita Akhtarkhavari, a mountaineer and badminton coach, offers her ascension to the summit of Qolizoleykha (the roof of Kurdistan) with love and respect, to Iran’s proud teachers; to the highly educated teachers who give their lives selflessly to promote knowledge in the society and are actually the peaks of science and culture of Iran.
Simultaneously with the commemoration of Teacher’s Day, Azita Akhtarkhavari and the group of Sarkachal climbers climbed 3195 meters to reach Qolizoleykha peak (roof of Kurdistan). This article is a report of the ascent to Zoleykha summit and heartfelt letter by Azita Akhtarkhavari, a young Zoroastrian athlete: Congratulations on “Teacher’s day” to all the teachers and coaches and trainers of mountaineering and all those who have taught science, culture and ethics with compassion and commitment.
Teaching is one of the most valuable and complex jobs that requires skill, expertise and patience. Teachers smoothen the way for the graduate’s future and enable scientific, cultural and social progress for a society. Teaching is one of the most important jobs because a teacher is responsible for developing the future assets of a country. In the Iranian calendar, the twelfth day of May is named Teacher’s Day in appreciation of valuable Iranian teachers and professors.
God created the mountains to teach man patience and endurance. Teachers are the strongest and the most patient people, who stand like a mountain, patiently and gloriously, for the upbringing of the future great human beings. I dedicate the ascent to the summit of Zoleykha (the roof of Kurdistan) with love and respect to the great teachers of Iran, who are the peaks of science, literature, and honor of this land; who sacrifice their lives to advance the knowledge of society without any benefits or expectations. Thus, we planned our trip to the Kurdistan region and ascent of the highest peak in this province “Chehlcheshmeh” peak. On the morning of May 4, we started off towards Kurdistan with 27 members of the Sarkachal group, under supervision of our coach, Mr Gholam Khallilabadi. Our plan was to visit the manmade cave of Kurdistan.
This 4111 years old cave was built in four stories. The visit took about 3 hours, after which we moved towards the village of Bast Divandareh, and at 7:30 pm we arrived at the camp of the Mountaineering Federation located in the village of Bast. After resting and spending the night, at 6 a.m. on May 3, we started the climb with 24 of our companions under the guidance of Ebrahim Rahimzadeh and Mozaffar Khaledian. The peaks (Gaveh Lan and Zoleykha) can be climbed from several routes, and we chose the route from Yal (?) ending at Chehelcheshmeh. At 9 pm, we reached a site where the orange color board called “Chavrash spring” is located. This is one of the 40 springs that exis in this green and lush land and looking at the carpet of wild flowers and plants and the strong fragrance of nature made it look like paradise on earth. After resting and having breakfast and drinking the refreshing water, we moved to the peak, and at 10:30, we managed to climb the mountain of Gaveh Lan, and at 11 o’clock, we climbed to the highest peak of the region called Zoleyklha, a height of 3190 meters. After photographing and resting, we returned to the central valley from the eastern side of the peak. The descending route was beautiful and spectacular. After going around a few green ridges covered with colorful flowers, medicinal plants, waterfalls, and rivers, we headed for the dirt and deserted roads (inside the valley). This road stretches from the middle of the central valley to the village of Bast and continues along the main river.
Kurdistan is a semi-mountainous and green land whose beauties multiply in this season. The Kurds living in this land are one of the noble peoples of Iran. They are hardworking and hospitable people with rich and original cultural backgrounds who live in three parts of Iran, Iraq, and continues along the main river. At 16:30, after nearly 25 kilometers of mountaineering in a green and clear mountain, we returned to Bast village. After arriving at the shelter and having lunch and a short rest, we moved to Tehran. Thanks to all the comrades who brought their cars and with their remarkable teamwork, made this ascent pleasant and memorable.
On Teacher’s Day I deem it necessary to congratulate the highly cultured and honorable mountaineering teachers and trainers for participating in this climb. I would like to thank Ms. Raheleh Mohammadi (Deputy Headmaster of District 11 Boys’ Elementary School), Mr. Ebrahim Rahimzadeh (Senior Counseling Expert, Social Cultural Officer of the Center Student Organization), and especially Mr. Gholamreza Khalilabadi (Instructor and Head of Sarkchal Group) and I proudly ay “Dear Uncle Gholam, you taught me a lot about life in your mountaineering class, and your compassion will be my guide for the future.”
A teacher means warm hands that teach you how to hold a pen; a teacher means eyes that are like home for students seeking peace and warmth; the ultimate that is teacher can teach us through his/her behavior in class. Teacher means a mountain of patience and perseverance to teach and write words such as “I love you”. I need to congratulate teachers who have built in my heart and soul warm memories of the time I spend in their classes, and became my role models in badminton coaching: Ms. Mahnaz Izdiar (religious teacher of Gio Elementary School and also a teacher Goshtasb guidance), Ms. Parvin Khodadadi (Pendarnik high school arithmetic teacher) and Ms. Dori, who is merciful and remembered (Pendarnik high school literature secretary), Ms. Simin Mahdavi (Master of Physical Education, Shuttle Time instructor of the World Federation), Level 2 coach of the World Federation and instructor of the Badminton Federation and the national team) and Nadia Asmikhani (coach of the women’s team of the Oil Company), and with love and respect I say I love you.
Finally, as a humble member of the teacher’s community, I share with others the advice I give to my badminton students: The alphabet of life means how to think and how to focus (on learning kicks) and how to look (at the ball) and how to find (opportunities on the ground) and how to read and learn (the game rules), in all stages of life and these will bring progress and success; and the sweet memories on this path. I hope for a dynamic society with educated and proud people in this glorious Aryan land, (far from brain drain) that is the result of dedicated and selfless teachers and the future assets of our land.
* Summary of Azita Akhtarkhavari’s coaching history: In 2018, she succeeded in obtaining a badminton coaching degree. Since 2007, she has been teaching badminton in clubs under the supervision of the municipality and schools in District 2, Shahid Shiroodi, Vesal, and Anoushiravan clubs, and is currently training in Laleh Park.
