During the week of January 21-28, DOST members Efecan Aytemiz (IAED/3), Tunç Fındık (IR/1993), and Sinan Haliç (BF/3) braved harsh winter conditions to climb Mt. Demavend in the north of Iran under the sponsorship of Telsim. Nasuh Mahruki (IR/1992), founder of AKUT, and Yılmaz Sevgül (of Akdeniz University) were also among the international group of climbers that scaled the mountain.

The climb of 5671 meters has been a yearly tradition in Iran for many years. This year, a total of 200 people from seven different countries, including Iran, Ukraine, Kazakistan, the USA, Singapore, and Scotland, participated in the climb. Sinan says, "There was a 90 km/hour wind blowing during most of the ascent, and at times the temperature dropped to -60 degrees centigrade. Some climbers got frostbite on their toes and noses. However, it was a great climb, and I am glad we managed to plant the Turkey-Telsim flag on the summit."