Matt: It was overkill and I knew it, but I had no choice at the time. Steve dropped the rope round two nights before the morning of the hike, 60 metres when we probably didn’t even need a third of that, it weighed a tonne, but I wouldn’t have an opportunity to get a shorter length. The book said we needed rope for inexperienced climbers and with eight of us going, I wasn’t about to put others at risk, just because I was confident that I could do the climbs unaided. So this huge bundle of cord was going with us. Permission to cut it shorter was declined.
We were all pretty well prepared with sufficient food and more importantly water. Three to four litres each. Warm clothes in case the day was cold and additionals.. GPS, Map, First Aid Kit, Sunscreen, Hat, Shades, Walkie-talkies, mobile phone – check!! All were prepared and excited by the hike. We set off at 8:00am from Dubai, destination Ras Al Khaimah: Wadi Bih – the ‘Grand Canyon’ of the UAE.
We started the hike/climb of the wadi at about 12:20pm. It was pretty tough going, scrambling over huge boulders as we climb up the wadi. We started out at 200 metres above sea level and we had dropped one car at the summit, just over 1km above sea level. We expected the climb to take about 5 hours.
There were a few walls on the climb, which took a little time to navigate. It was only when we were reaching the top of the wadi that it was really difficult. The drop was scary and those who were not that experienced or great lovers of heights found this part both worrying and difficult. But still everyone got up safely and there was still no need for the 60metre of heavy rope I was carrying. Grrrr.. A dead weight by now, It took us about 3.5 hours to get this far, and we had only reach 700 metres, we still had water and a little food and were expecting to reach the summit in the next hour or two, but terrain here wasn’t as boulder filled, just very rocky and uneven so we were all happy.
We followed the directions in the book and reach another peak, where we half expected to see the car off in the distance, but no we were still only 750 metres up and there was another ridge up ahead that looked viable. So down into the next bowl and up the other side we went. Hmmm still no sign of the car and yet more climbing ahead.
The GPS’s weren’t giving us good readings. One would not pick up the Satellites and the other seemed to have trouble pin pointing us also – and we were having trouble inputting the location of the car, when we finally did – it said it was 104km in an unexpected direction. So we kept walking in the direction we hoped we’d find the car, we needed to keep moving as light was not on our side.
Up another rock filled Wadi to a plateau where we found some storage shacks, all locked, around flat cultivation fields. What they cultivated was unclear as the place was deserted and nothing really grew here in abundance.
On we went; we were at 900 metres now and could see a ridge line across yet another valley that would probably put us at the right height for the car. By this time it was 5pm – the sun was no longer visible behind the mountains, but there was enough ambient light for now.
By 6pm we reach the highest peak around, we were over 1km up and there was still no sign of the summit car. Water levels were extremely low and we were all exhausted, light was failing us now and the wind was biting making it cold. From this vantage point we could see the trail in the valley below. With no other choice we decided to head down the closest wadi to reach the road at the bottom. Follow the track and return to the start point cars.
We had phone signal on this peak, but knew we’d loose it if we moved only a few metres away. So we called Vanda, Sami’s Girl friend and gave her our apparent GPS coordinates. Telling her to call the authorities’ if she didn’t hear from us in 2 hours. That gave us what we thought was plenty of time to get to the base of this chosen wadi and the track.
The progress became painfully slow; within minutes of starting the decent we lost all light. The Wadi was dangerous, more boulders and unsteady footing, more climbing descents. The moon was behind the mountain line but the night was clear. We decided to use the torches we had only when we were making the more difficult descents as we didn’t know when we might truly need the light.
We took our time and made every precaution to ensure everyone was happy with the pace. At times on the decent we could see car lights on the track far below.
Our 2 hour window to reach safety passed and shortly after that the little hope that we had of reaching the cars this night fell to a void of blackness that the torch light couldn’t penetrate, a shear drop which must have been a few hundred feet opened out before us, with no way around, sheer cliffs on either side we were stuck – climbing down this wall wasn’t even an option with full daylight without the right safety equipment. 60 metres of rope was merely an aid, and not the rigging needed for the abseil.
We were out of water, had a couple of snack bars and nuts and raisins left. We had no choice but to find shelter from the wind and hope that we’d either be found or we’d have to make the long journey back the way we came the following morning.
We found a small flat area in which we could all just about lay side-by-side to share body warmth. Fiona found a single foil blanket in the first-aid kit. It barely stretched over 5. Those with the most clothes stayed on the out side. Frustratingly there was a lot of dry wood around but no-one had brought a lighter or matches.
We were freezing; I was on the outside edge of the foil and could not get warm at all, even nestling into the back of Fiona who was under the shelter. Ramie and Sami were completely exposed. Midnight: After a few hours of trying to sleep they had to move. The party was split – Ramie and Sami were heading to the top and back to the cultivated bowl to see if they could find shelter in one of the shacks we passed. The remainder of us would keep as warm as we could for the night and then join them at the shack in the morning. We check radio connection and off they went.
The night only got colder by 4am I was shivering outside the foil and keeping Fiona awake. I couldn’t lay there any longer, I was exhausted, dehydrated and freezing.. But we had to move. The next few hours were hell, we made our way back up the wadi, it was still dark but the moon was giving us more light occasionally. I just wanted to sleep, the rope now became so heavy I could barely climb for 5 minutes without wanting to lay down and go to sleep. I literally wet my mouth with water and ate half a snack bar that morning. The cold was still filtering through me, the others could see how it was effecting me. James took over as the leader, encouraging people and also carried the rope. At 5am we made contact with the Police, they had been searching for us all night but only from the roads and tracks around the area. The only way they could possibly find us was with a Helicopter. After a few hours of climbing back up we had warmed up again, by the time we got back to the top of the wadi I had energy back and could lead the way once more.
As first rays of morning sun began to peek over the horizon, we found Ramie and Sami, huddled together on the side of a sheltered wadi wall. They hadn’t made it to the shacks. Even in the morning light it took us another hour from where they were camped to reach the shacks. This turned out to be a god send. Barrels stood by some of the shacks collecting rain water and there was a old metal tank that was also half full of water. We had no idea how long it had been here or when the last rain was, but we all filled every vessel we had with water and drank our fill!
As the day proceeded to warm up we realised how needed the water really was. We made our way across the mountain side aiming for the original wadi we scaled. It was about 8:30 am when we first heard a Helicopter; we were deep in a wadi at the time and couldn’t see it. Eventually the noise got louder until it swooped right over us! But whether they saw us or not is a different matter, they never slowed and never stopped. That brief moment was the only time we saw the chopper.
We ventured on, with some trepidation, we knew the decent of our original wadi, would start with a number of sheer climbs, going up was manageable, coming down was going to prove very difficult to those of us who weren’t confident climbers.
By 12:30 we were at the top of the original wadi, I went off to search for another route down and to see if we had take a wrong turn when we reached this point originally! After scouting around the mountains for an hour or so, I rejoined the group and we looked for the easiest way back into the wadi. There was no other way, we had to climb, everyone was tired and sore, this was going to be risky. But we had the rope. And Thank God we did..
There was probably 3 or 4 climbs that we edged our way down, I tied those that required the reassurance to the rope and anchored myself into position, whilst Ramie guide the climbers from below. James, Lindsay and Naomi did amazingly at this point, nerves were threatening to get the better of them but with reassurance and coaching everyone made it down safely!
From here on in, people’s spirits lifted. We were on the home stretch, it was slow descending the wadi but we knew the end was in sight!
After being exposed to the elements and hardcore hiking for 27 hours, we were all very pleased to make it back to the cars. Exhausted, hungry, our hands and legs cut and grazed from the sharp rocks, we’d made it!!
We won’t forget our adventure in a hurry; more planning and precaution will take place next time. But I personally could not have been with a better group of people, no one lost it, no one shouted or tried to lay blame, we all stick together encouraged each other and shared the experience. Everyone a hero and everyone achieved something they should be proud of.
Fiona, Naomi, Ramie, John, Sami, James, Lindsey – I’d do it all again with you tomorrow..
On reflection it’s our belief that we started the ascent in the wrong wadi, but with no GPS coordinates to guide us, it was guess work. Special Thanks go out to Vanda, Morwenna and Cris for their efforts in trying to get the authorities to find us. Thanks also to the Ras Al Khamiah Police and Locals; 9 Patrol vehicles and a Helicopter were out trying to find us in the middle of the night, but failed...
Cris making a nice cup of tea.
The trusty Paj, enjoying the sunset
JQ and Lucy attempt the steep descent on the opposite side of the summit
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