Oman Calling – 3/2013 –June 28-29, 2013 – Mountain and Wadi
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Oman Calling – 3/2013 –June 28-29, 2013.
I am sure you are back to normal life after our adventure in the high hills of Oman. Some members have expressed a desire to go higher than what we did during the last trip. Initially, I was planning for the next trip sometime in August, but some members (including my family) do not want to wait till August to experience the chill of the mountains. Hence, this trip.
Let’s escape the heat and head to the higher reaches of Oman, where the night temperature drops to 10 degrees and the day temperature seldom goes beyond 25 degrees during this time of the year.
The trip proposal is as under:
Aim: To explore the Wadi and Mountains in the Central portion of Al Hajar Mountains in Oman.
Area intended to be covered: Jebel Shams and surroundings: This is one of the highest Jebels not only on the Hajar range and in Oman, but all over the Arabia (some call it the Highest in Arabia, but am not sure about it). It rises up to 3075 m (over 10,100 ft) high.
Level of Difficulty: Easy, but usual skills of driving in narrow steep inclines is required. Further, the car should be in good shape and the “low-range” should be in perfect working order. The final climb to the Jebel Shams is mostly black top, but before that we will be doing some interesting wadi and graded mountain tracks, which rises anywhere between 1500-2000m.
Agenda:
Friday, June 28, 2013 :
0700 hrs: Departure from Dubai,
1130 hrs: Arrive in Rustaq town – the exact meeting point shall be given closer to the trip,
1200 hrs: Enter Wadi BaniAwf. This is wadi drive is about 50 kms off-road and passes thru the Grand Canyon of Oman; step- farms of mountain village of Bald Sayt; and Wadi Haat. We will also try to cover a visit to the mountain-top village of Misfat Al Abriyyin for fantastic views of the Al Hamra valley
Finally, set up camp by 1700 hrs and settle down . We are likely to camp at an elevation of about 2000m
Saturday, June 29, 2013 :
0700 hrs : A trek to the abandoned village along the rim of a tall Canyon. This is an optional trek and if we do it fully, it will take 2-3 hours. This trek is quite interesting and even children will enjoy doing it as it offers fantastic view and picture opportunities.
1200 hrs: Wind up camp and the drive down to Al Hamra village with a short drive thru Wadi Ghul
1500 hrs: Drive back to Dubai or Muscat as applicable. Those of you who are keen to see some Omani history, can stop by at Bahla castle or Jibreen castle. Both are on/close by to the spot where we will split to drive towards Dubai/Muscat.
1900 hrs: arrive back in Dubai, if you skip the castle on the way, otherwise, add one more hour for this
Notes:
Drive to the meeting point in Rustaq town is about 330-350 kms from Dubai via Hatta border and Sohar. Do keep at least 45minutes to 1 hr for visa formalities at Hatta Border. The chaos that you people saw at the immigration is not likely to reoccur as it’s not a special weekend.Its’ advisable for the participants to go the Omani consulate in Dubai and procure an advance visa. The Consulate grants visa on the same day. This takes away the uncertainty and discretion of the border staff.
Though the summer has already set-in, the temperature at Jebel Shams is usually lower than what we all call “pleasant”, because of its higher elevation. For example, the minimum and maximum temperature there yesterday was 10 and 17 degrees respectively. Therefore you need to come prepared with blankets, appropriate warn clothing and plenty of firewood.
Trek on the identified route is graded as an easy route but involves walking thru the rocks and boulders. Therefore you need to wear full or 3/4th length trousers/track-pants and proper trekking/hiking shoes to protect your knees and ankles. Slippers and flip-flops are risky on such treks. I use my regular SWAT boots and they work well in that terrain.
Return drive to Dubai from the spot where we will split for Muscat and Dubai is about 350km and you will be entering UAE thru the Hafeet/Mezyad border post neat AlAin.
Each participant needs to carry the regular offroad recovery kit.
Feel free to ask any questions that you may have. In any case, we will have more details of the trip as we inch forward to the D Day. So, put in your name if you are game for this adventure.
FAMILIES ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE FUN
Thanks Ajay saab :thanks: ..definitely the drop in temperature in the mountain/wadi’s should be a positive attribute to the exploration :yesss:
The kids might miss the trip as they are going to Bahrain to be with the Grandparents 🙁 ;
2 weeks to go…and we have the following Registrations, already.
1. Ajay Sikri
2. Ahmad Pervez
3. Arun D’Souza
4. Firoz
5. Sajid
Ajay Sb, any chance of finding water holes in Jebel Shams? Do we bring our swim kit along?
quote Saj:Ajay Sb, any chance of finding water holes in Jebel Shams? Do we bring our swim kit along?not sure of the water levels in Wadi Bani Awf these days but good chance of finding such spot at the end of Wadi Ghul. 😕 in any case, we can keep the swim kit, doesn’t occupy much of a space
Guys, see the link below and the reviews. This is the Omani Grand Canyon and not to be missed. 😐
I’m driving solo…
who wants to ride shotgun 😕 😉
We will meet at the Omani Visa hall, after exiting from UAE side at 08:00 Hrs., just like the last time. I am sure that this time we will not encounter the huge rush of people we encountered last time as this is a normal weekend and not any long or special holiday.
Another reminder…IT IS GOING TO BE COLD UP THERE…please come prepared with proper woollens and head gear as well as proper camping gear with warm sleeping bags/ blankets etc.
We will also need to carry some wood for the bonfire as availability of wood in the wilderness cannot be ascertained or counted upon…so let’s go prepared.
quote Ahmad Pervez:…IT IS GOING TO BE COLD UP THERE…please come prepared with proper woollens and head gear as well as proper camping gear with warm sleeping bags/ blankets etc. We will also need to carry some wood for the bonfire as availability of wood in the wilderness cannot be ascertained or counted upon…so let’s go prepared.the official weather report can be viewed at http://met.gov.om/eng/weather_forecast.php
but don’t panic 😉 on seeing the min-max temperature at 10-17 degrees. weather readings are taken by the weather radar installed at the summit (3000m+) but we will be camping some 900m below the summit. so we are likely to be at a place which should be warmer by 2-4 degrees than the temperature captured by the weather radar..
Are there any kids in the convoy? Curious to know so I can Iask my family if they want to go?
quote mosalf:Are there any kids in the convoy? Curious to know so I can Iask my family if they want to go?This is basically a family trip, most of us are travelling with our families with Wife & kids. It will be a nice outing for the whole family.
quote Ahmad Pervez:quote mosalf:Are there any kids in the convoy? Curious to know so I can Iask my family if they want to go?This is basically a family trip, most of us are travelling with our families with Wife & kids. It will be a nice outing for the whole family.
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thanks Cheif. I will check with my family. Would live to go. It’s holidays for the kids.
2 Days to go…and we have the following Registrations!!!
1. Ajay Sikri
2. Ahmad Pervez
3. Arun D’Souza
4. Firoz
5. Sajid
6. Munda Reddy
7. Razik Rizwan
8. Philip Bencini🙂
quote Ahmad Pervez:2 Days to go…and we have the following Registrations!!!
🙂can we add the number of people on board, including small children (say below 10y). this will help in planning the logistics:
1. Ajay Sikri – self +2 , no children
2. Ahmad Pervez
3. Arun D’Souza
4. Firoz
5. Sajid
6. Munda Reddy
7. Razik Rizwan
8. Philip Benciniplease fill up this list
1. Ajay Sikri – self +2 , no children
2. Ahmad Pervez
3. Arun D’Souza
4. Firoz
5. Sajid
6. Munda Reddy
7. Razik Rizwan – I, me & myself 😉
8. Philip Bencini
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