Weekend program: Nilrood waterfall in Jokandan, Talesh county of Iran.
I woke up early in the morning at 5:30 and put the breakfast and lunch I had prepared the night before in the backpack, along with other items, and left the house at almost 6 o'clock.
At dawn, I walked alone in the dark streets, it was cold and I had raised the edges of my jacket to my temples. I met others at the meeting site and then we drove to the riverbank. It was 7 a.m. and the early sunlight was shining on our faces even though I could see a thick fog covering the rice fields.
We were a group of 19 people, a large number of guys, a few kids but mostly mountaineers, and a group of us cyclists joined the group. My backpack was heavy so at very early, one of the young men took it from me which was a relief.
The floods in the river had caused the route ahead to becoming rough and disturbed. rocks were standing in our way and the roots of the trees were out of the ground unevenly.
In some places the water was shallow and a little further on it was so high that it was difficult to cross.
As always, I wanted to be ahead of the rest of the group next to the leader. Unaware that the leader was an expert climber, who decided to take a difficult route to the mountains. As we went a little further, I felt being separated from the rest of the group, left alone with only 5. I was scared and wanted to go but no luck. One of the climbers said do not worry! This route is also good!
I trusted him and we continued on our way up the mountain, I thought we were going down eventually to the river but any minute it just became higher, steeper and scarier and we got further away from the river shore.
I said: “We were supposed to move along the river” and they said: “Do not worry! We would get down soon!”
But I saw that we were going higher and higher! It was as if their hearts wanted to go to the top. I was terrified. I like cycling but mountains are not my cup of tea, especially with such a steep slope!
Every step was a nightmare, my heart was pumping loudly, I was holding my hands to every trunk and even sharp bushes so as not to fall. I was scared and my foot was slipping, even though I wasn't alone and the young climbers had my back. When we reached the top, I saw a very dangerous downhill from which they were trying to descend and go down.
I looked at them from above and said with a bitter sneer: are you kidding me! I can’t! I fall!
They stood down and showed me the way: “Don’t be afraid! Tilt one foot! Hold another foot firmly and slowly come down! Just don’t panic! That’ll cause you to fall! you can!
One of them came up and moved side by side me and said: I will not let you fall! If we fall, we fall together!
I gathered all my energy, overcoming the fear that had gripped my throat, and set foot on a dangerous and scary slope, which I could not see the end of it over the edge, just the angry sound of the river from beyond and the whisper of leaves.
to be continued...
