Go back to Mauritania.
Go back to Nouakchott To Ben Amera.
All three principal domes of the area feature Normal Routes that are class 2-3 and serve as standard descents when summitting via one of the technical lines. Those descents from Ben Aicha and Haddada are pretty easy to deduce while Ben Amera’s “Voie Normal” can be a little more tricky without first scouting it out. Instead of scrambling up Ben Amera on day one, we decided to do an easy but technical climb called Ode a L’Aube (6 pitch, 4b+) and have Dah come along with us as a third. Dah is likely the only Mauritanian climber (though others in camp have climbed before and can belay) and has an excellent knowledge of the area including familiarity with all the established routes. It was a fun, quick climb with a lighthearted atmosphere since Dah speaks little English and we speak even less French or Arabic.
The descent probably took us longer than the climb and temperatures were scorching when we reached the desert at midday.
Photos
Go to Ben Amera Day Two.
Go back to Mauritania.