Rock-climbing in Wadi Rum- Jordan
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Weather beaten escarpments look down at you from all sides. Wadi Rum is indeed great for rock-climbing activities.
Known as `Valley of the Moon’ Wadi Rum in Jordan is not just a nature lover’s moonscape. Its also a great place for sport aficionadas. The sheer cliffs and escarpments of Wadi Rum desert offer enough challenge to the hardiest of climbers. No wonder serious mountaineers, rock-climbers and trekkers flock to these huge sandstone mountains all the year around.
However sports activity in Wadi Rum are not done without a measure of caution. Wadi Rum has cultural and historical significance. The sandstone mountains have etched on their surface painting, etching, going back to thousands of years. Recognising its hertage value it was granted World Heritage Status by UNESCO only this year (2011) in June.
The sands in Wadi Rum reached high up till these craggy mountains.
So if you want to do some rock-climbing in Wadi Rum there are some mountaineering tools you must leave behind. Because of the archaeological treasure on the mountains climbers cannot use `Fixed protection’ while climbing. This includes drilling placements, blots, pitons and in-situ threads. Route of both treks and climbs cannot be marked with any paint or structure. If you hope to summit some of the peaks here the best bet are the bedouin guides.
I met Serdar on this small craggy mountain. He was from Turkey and came with his wife and friends. We climbed up from a very narrow and difficult route but as you can see found a fun way to descend :-).