Saturday Morning Adventure – Drive and Hike – 30 January 2016
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Day and date: 30 Jan 2016
Drive Type: Newbie and Fewbie. in case sufficient number of senior members join in, we can form an intermediate convoy also
Meeting Point: Aweer Area, exact spot will be given to the confirmed participants on Friday
Google maps users (just copy and paste in Google maps):
GPS users:
Meeting Time: 0645 hrs
Drive Start: 0700 hrs
Drive End: 1100 hrs
Duration: 4 hrs
Drive Route: TBA
Drive Terrain: Sand and rocksInitially the Newbie/Fewbie registrations are for a maximum of 6 cars, we can relax this if some senior members also sign in. the hike component is optional. if you choose to join for the hike, please carry a backpack, hat, warm jacket, 2 litres of water, pokari, orenges, banana and some light snacks, tea/coffee for everyone in your team; in addition to whatever you usually carry for an offroad drive.
It will be a light hike and suitable for all ages. Children are welcome to join.
Checklist:
a) Keep your emergency contact info at vehicle dashboard.
b) Carry air compressor with you and ensure it’s in working condition.
c) You need to have proper offroad capable vehicle. Crossovers excluded, In case of a doubt, please clarify before hand to avoid damage to the car. Ensure your 4×4 ride is in perfect condition and with a full tank of fuel when you come to the meeting point.
d) Compatible Radio and offroad flag are advisable.
e) Carry all necessary off-road gear / recovery equipment in good working condition.
f) Carry enough water / refreshments / re-hydration drinks for self & co-passenger(s).
Im not sure that able to come to friday drive! Would be happy to join Saturday morning drive. Can i join to this drive?
quote Alex:Im not sure that able to come to friday drive! Would be happy to join Saturday morning drive. Can i join to this drive?welcome Alex. just click “I’m In” button to register for the event.
quote Ajay:quote Alex:Im not sure that able to come to friday drive! Would be happy to join Saturday morning drive. Can i join to this drive?welcome Alex. just click “I’m In” button to register for the event.
One question 😀 Location? :drive:
Great looking trip. Thanks Ajay!!
quote Alex:[quote=
One question 😀 Location? :drive:Alex. shall revert with the coordinates of the location on Friday.
Hi,
Approximately how long is the hike? Will it be after the 4h drive or the 4h is including the hike?
Thanks
quote lindasleong:Hi,
Approximately how long is the hike? Will it be after the 4h drive or the 4h is including the hike?
Thanksits a short hike, more of a recce. 4 hours should be sufficient for both unless we have to do a lot of recoveries 😉 in which case, it may extend to say 5 hours
Damn I think I’ll be hung over. If I am not I will tag along
Hi
Here are the meeting point details
GPS coordinates: N25° 10.850′ E55° 34.065′
Meeting Time: 0645 hrs
Departure Time: 0700 hrs
Checklist:
a) Keep your emergency contact info at vehicle dashboard.b) Carry air compressor with you and ensure it’s in working condition.
c) You need to have proper offroad capable vehicle. Crossovers excluded, In case of a doubt, please clarify before hand to avoid damage to the car. Ensure your 4×4 ride is in perfect condition and the fuel tank is full when you arrive at the meeting point.
d) Compatible Radio and offroad flag are advisable.
e) Carry all necessary off-road gear / recovery equipment in good working condition.
f) Carry enough water / refreshments / re-hydration drinks for self & co-passenger(s).
if you choose to join for the hike after the drive, please carry a backpack, hat, warm jacket, 2 liters of water, pokari, oranges, banana and some light snacks, tea/coffee for everyone in your team; in addition to whatever you usually carry for an off-road drive.
It will be a light hike and suitable for all ages. Children are welcome to join.
Look forward to see you all tomorrow.
Dear Ajay… Can I join for tomorrows drive?? Is there a slot??
While we wait for a detailed Event report from Mathews Ficco, this is a quick summary of the day’s proceedings. We had a fantastic day out with the weather at its best and the team of enthusiastic Dubai Offroaders willing to do anything to have Fun. It was nice to see 11 cars ready to roar at 7am on a trip posted with a short notice.
It was a hybrid group with total beginners to three stars and above but we didn’t have enough cars to split into two different convoys. Therefore we rolled as one convoy. However experienced offroaders were grouped together at the rear end of the convoy lead by Sam and swept by Matt, with liberty to pick up a challenging line through the dunes, wherever possible. The sand was firm so we could pick up a good line even for the newbie section of the convoy. We covered a good section thru the dunes from Aweer to the Fossil Rock and had a good number of refusals and recoveries. Thanks Bala Kumar :ymapplause: for sweeping the newbie section and Sam and Matt :ymapplause: for taking care of the rear end of the convoy.
Once at the Fossil rock, we started our hike to the Fossil Rock after a quick round of coffee and snacks. Originally, it was supposed to be a recce and I had budgeted only 2 hours for the hike section, but enthusiastic DO team went on and on and ultimately seven of us reached the summit after tackling a reasonably difficult line of climb. Once at the top, we were treated to an unbelievable view of the desert around us. Shutter Bugs had a field day and even 45 minutes were not enough to satisfy their hunger. Descent from the summit was equally difficult and team used three different routes to reach the base camp. Hats off :ymhug: to the mother-daughter duo of Priyanka and Olivia for having made up to the top.
Don’t know about the other hikers, I wish to hike the Fossil Rock again. Yeh Dil Mange Mor….
quote newimprovednf:Dear Ajay… Can I join for tomorrows drive?? Is there a slot??Apologies Nidun for no response. was busy yesterday evening till midnight, so saw your comment after returning from the trip. Hope you can join us next time.
No worries… Thers always a next chance… Looking forward… 🙂
Ajay your report was very thorough; thank you for that. :thanks: I can add a few bits of detail in addition to your write-up. 😉
This was a unique trip for DO, at least it was my first time experiencing something of the sort. It was a mix of both dune bashing and mountain climbing. Our meeting time was early on Saturday morning at 0645 at the Al Awir shops i-) . This did not deter several of us who still had sand in our hair and ears from Friday afternoon’s drive :drive: (which by the way was a phenomenal turnout as well will close to 40 cars 😮 )! Our group had a mix of more experienced drivers: Ajay – our Guru of Gurus and Sam – one of our Deputies to newbies and a few very first timers in the sand. So it was necessary to go through all of proper formalities and safety briefing details to ensure that everyone understood what the plan was and had a basic understanding of good convoy discipline :-BD .
We pushed off from our meeting point at around 0720 and headed out on a track towards Fossil Rock. As Ajay mentioned, we had one convoy with a sub-convoy for the fewbee drivers. This allowed the newbie folks to gain their confidence as Ajay led them up and down dunes and through the track yet allowed the fewbees to enjoy themselves too as Sam led them – directly after the newbie convoy – up on top of the dunes in order to catch a bit more air and sand on our windscreens :drive: :yesss: . I had the pleasure to sweep for Sam’s convoy but I must say it was a rather relaxing job (-| as the whole convoy drove exceptionally well with only a few stucks here and there. With each of these stucks however, we took it as an opportunity to teach the first timers what to do in these situations and how to manage the recoveries :ymapplause: . We had a few breaks throughout the drive to line our cars up on top of the ridge for a few group photos. Please be sure to check out the DO FB page as there are some great photos posted there 😀 .
We continued on our drive and had no major issues except for one popout on @heithos ‘s Jeep Liberty. It was a strange one as it happened while he was parking the Jeep 😮 . It may have been the dozens of side-sloping bowl maneuvers he had just done that had something to do with it 😕 😕 We had one final stop under the power lines by the Sharjah-Kalba underpass meeting point before we took the leap up to Fossil Rock. Unfortunately, @heithos had to bail at this point due to mechanical issues with the Jeep Liberty. I hope you have that all sorted and are back in good form next week! Ajay gave a mini briefing to ensure all of the drivers understood how to attack the climb up to Fossil Rock. Sam positioned himself midway up the runway to help guide folks up through the dunes. We did have a bit of excitement when a convoy of dirt bikers showed up and challenged a few of us up the dunes :yesss: . I was one fortunate enough to have that challenge and can humbly say…I lost :-w . Those little bikes can easily rocket up the dunes 😮 ^:)^ .
Once we arrived at the top, we took some time to enjoy friendly chit-chat, tea and coffee ~O) and a small continental-style breakfast. It was a nice opportunity to bond with each other and learn a bit about some new friends :ymhug: . At this point, the offroading trip ended (sort of as we still had Devil’s Plunge ahead of us on the way out For those not interested in the hike they took their leave and for those who felt brave began an ascent up Jebel Maleiha/Fossil Rock. With backpacks/camel backs, snacks, cameras, and sundry gear we began our steady climb up. The climb was a bit tricky and technical at times with slippery, sandy covered slopes and loose, sliding rocks coming at us from various angles :-ss . With a cautious and disciplined approach however, we all made it safely to the top :ymapplause: . Most of us have driven our cars up to Fossil Rock but being on top of it and looking out over the whole Maleiha area desert was and incredible feeling. There was an ominous feeling with on top of the mountain, dark, low-hanging clouds, the wind was howling, and the temps were chilly probably around 15 degrees. It was a unique and pleasant ambiance.
Now the fun really began, how to get down. Well, I kept in mind the old adage that everything that goes up, must come down. I was just hoping I would be standing on my two feet once down #-o . The route down was not clear and you are probably asking “why not just go down the way you went up?” Well, in the spirit of not re-doubling our tracks we sought out an alternative route. In the end, we split into 3 separate groups and took 3 separate lines down the mountain. After we were all safely back at our cars there were high-5s all around for a great trek :-BD . As Ajay did, I would like to commend the mother-daughter duo of Priyanka and Olivia (only 9 years old) for racing up and down the mountain. Olivia did it in a way that would have impressed the mountain goats. Great job ladies :ymapplause: :ymapplause: .
By this point it was about 130pm and the wind and sand had kicked up quite heavily so we were all ready to take the Devil’s Plunge and head down :YMPRAY: . I took the first descent and guided the cars from below. Sam stationed himself at the midpoint to guide the cars from midway and Ajay stayed on top releasing everyone down one by one. Once we were all safely on the bottom we lined up for a few last group photos before heading off to inflate just by the side of Maleiha road.
Our day started at 6am and our trip ended at 2pm. It was full of fun and great adventure and everyone left with smiles beaming from ear to ear 😀 . Many thanks to Ajay for leading us, Sam & Bala for keeping everyone safe and the great adventurous spirit of everyone throughout the day :thanks: :thanks: . I think we are all looking forward to the next adventure!! :ymapplause: :ymapplause:
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