Khadijat Magomedova, 45, heads Khonok Primary School in Dagestan’s Shamil district, and has been walking the same mountain trail for nine years. She leaves her home at 7 a.m., descends roughly 400 metres, then climbs back to the 1,800‑metre‑altitude school. Each leg takes about two hours, so she spends a total of four hours commuting every day.
The route is anything but ordinary. The trail cuts through steep, rocky slopes that expose her to wild animals and rockfalls. In a video posted by Instagram user @makhachkala_ on 24 October, Magomedova recalled hearing a wolf howl before seeing it sit in a clearing. She added that a recent rockfall sent a boulder tumbling near her path, but she emerged unharmed.
Khonok’s classrooms are a single room shared by two boys and a girl, with lessons covering all subjects. As both director and sole teacher, Magomedova manages curriculum, discipline, and administrative duties. The school’s small enrollment reflects the isolation of the valley, but the students rely on her daily presence for education.
The video drew attention from blogger Semyon Rasputin, who highlighted the teacher’s resilience and the community’s struggle for basic schooling. Residents on social media urged authorities to provide transport, increase her salary, or organize a fundraiser to buy a car or horse. The calls have already sparked a local crowdfunding campaign on a popular platform.
There is no record of the Dagestan education department offering alternative transport or financial support. The next step, according to local activists, is to secure a vehicle or horse and to seek a permanent solution that would reduce the daily burden on Magomedova, allowing her to focus on teaching rather than trekking.