Summit for Sahar

Expedition Ama Dablam

6,812 Meters / 22,349 Feet

Building a Bridge from Tehran and Kabul to College.

Welcome, and thank you for joining me on this journey. This October, I am returning to Nepal to challenge the formidable granite and hanging ice of Ama Dablam (22,349 ft). This expedition is driven by purpose rather than accolades—I am carrying three deeply personal missions up this mountain, and I invite you to be part of them.

  • Honoring Mary Ann: Standing on the high summit ridges to scatter the ashes of my mentor and hero—the person who helped me find my voice, championed my dreams, and showed me that passing on our gifts is life's most vital duty.

  • Empowering Sahar: Channeling every step of training and effort into securing a fully funded college education for Sahar, my resilient mentee and friend who shares a remarkably similar path.

  • Uniting Our World: Demonstrating our shared responsibility as global citizens to step beyond our daily routines, bridge divides, and foster a compassionate human community.

TAKE ACTION

Ama Dablam (6,812 m / 22,349 ft) is renowned as the “Matterhorn of the Himalayas”—steep, technical, and iconic. For every step and every milestone on this climb, we have a chance to contribute to Sahar’s 529 College Fund. You can contribute any amount or simply share this link with anyone who likes to participate. All donations are private and go directly to the 529 fund which is owend and managed by Sahar’s family. I am just the climbing messenger.

Ama Dablam Base Camp 4,600 m / 15,090 ft

  • Suggested Donation $46 – $100

  • Impact: Semester textbooks and essential class supplies

Camp 1 (Granite Boulders) 5,700 m / 18,700 ft

  • Suggested Donation: $150 – $250

  • Impact: Specialized tech, lab fees, or course materials

Camp 2 (The Yellow Tower Crux)5,950 m / 19,520 ft

  • Suggested Donation: $500

  • Impact: One complete academic credit hour

Camp 3 (Mushroom Ridge)6,300 m / 20,670 ft

  • Suggested Donation: $1,000

  • Impact: Half a semester of commuter/living expenses

The Summit (Ama Dablam Crest) 6,812 m / 22,349 ft

  • Suggested Donation: $2,235 – $2,500

  • Impact: Full semester tuition milestone

COLLIDING WORLDS

At 16, I immigrated to Utah from Tehran, Iran, leaving behind a childhood defined by the Iran-Iraq War. Yet, navigating an American high school with little English felt even more treacherous.

My life changed because of Mary Ann Vidrine, my history teacher at Cottonwood High. She was the mentor who pushed me to be vulnerable, to tell my story, and to realize that when you are brave enough to lean in, it is impossible for people to ignore you.

Today, I am passing that torch to Sahar, a brilliant Afghan-American girl living in Utah. Like me, she has navigated displacement, unfamiliar school systems, and the steep challenges of a new culture.

No one gets to the top alone. Mary Ann was the unseen hand that helped me rise. Now, our community gets to be that unseen hand for Sahar.