Downhill Unicycling Mount Damavand Iran
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Broken legs, altitude sickness, emergency Sherpa film crews and a dragon guard, it is just a typical day out when unicycling down Mount Damavand in Iran!
Some call it The Axis Of Evil, for me it’s the country with the most hospitable people I’ve ever met, Iran. And it hides one of the highest descents on this planet, the altitude difference of the summit of Mount Damavand is bigger than from Mount Everest to its Valley…
Would you have the balls to ride there?
On a Unicycle?
In the Persian mythology Zahhāk the dragon guards over Mount Damavand, in real life the Dragon Mountain doesn’t need a guard, the high altitude, slippery volcanic dust and extreme temperature changes are taking its toll. Even Reinhold Messner had to turn around once and still it’s one of the few very high peaks on earth that can be ridden on one or two wheels from top to bottom.
Our little expedition lost their members rapidly and like in a relay race the camera was passed on to the remaining members. A broken leg knocked out camera men one (me) and all I could do was explain my gear to the rest of the crew while a bunch of super helpful Iranian hikers were carrying me down the mountain. Sherpas and friends became filmmakers and hidden talent (our mountain guide Mohammad Hajabolfath) was discovered and promoted to head of photography. The film camera once more shifted hands on the way up, when cameramen two suffered from altitude sickness. Sometimes working from 9 to 5 in a protected office has its appeal… But you can’t have an adventure without it being just a little bit dangerous, I guess.
