Go back to Mauritania.
Go back to Nouakchott To Ben Amera.
Topping out on Ode a L’Aube.
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
Ben Amera and Sid Ahmed’s 1960s Range Rover in the morning (Nov. 2024).
Our camp (Nov. 2024).
Shirley on approach to Ode a L’Aube. Do you see the likeness of a horse on Ben Amera (Nov. 2024)?
Trying our luck, though the approach is not that long (Nov. 2024).
I think that white dyke is Ode a L’Aube but not 100% sure (Nov. 2024).
Shirley and Sid Ahmed nearing the start of Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
Sid Ahmed and Shirley at the base of Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
Starting up pitch 1 of Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
Making progress on pitch 1 (Nov. 2024).
Dah and Shirley following pitch 1 (Nov. 2024).
Views from the first belay (Nov. 2024).
Shirley and Dah arriving at the first belay (Nov. 2024).
Leading pitch 2 (Nov. 2024).
Dah belaying me (Nov. 2024).
Pitch 2 of Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
Shirley and Dah (Nov. 2024).
Pitch 3 of Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
Pitch 3 (Nov. 2024).
Arriving at the third belay (Nov. 2024).
Starting up pitch 4 (Nov. 2024).
Looking back at Shirley and Dah from the lead of pitch 4 of Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
Higher on pitch 4 (Nov. 2024).
Views from the fourth belay (Nov. 2024).
Wankers at the fourth belay. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Leading pitch 5 (Nov. 2024).
Looking back at Shirley and Dah from the lead of pitch 5 (Nov. 2024).
Shirley belaying me on pitch 5. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
More views down pitch 5 of Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
More of pitch 5 which we linked with 6 to the top out point (Nov. 2024).
Dah and Shirley are hiking the final pitch (#6; Nov. 2024).
Topping out on Ode a L’Aube (Nov. 2024).
The ore train: a line in the sand (Nov. 2024).
A closer look (Nov. 2024).
Dah and Shirley packing up atop Ode a L’Aube. Village of Ben Amera is visible in the distance (Nov. 2024).
Starting the long hike that takes you over the summit and to the Voie Normale descent (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha from Ben Amera (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Hiking (Nov. 2024).
Our camp and Ben Aicha from Ben Amera (Nov. 2024).
A closer look at our camp (Nov. 2024).
Shirley and Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Scrambling up to the summit (Nov. 2024).
Dah and Shirley traversing the summit of Ben Amera towards the descent gully. Haddada Dome (center of the three) is visible here (Nov. 2024).
Pick up point is that little bay of sand on the right and in front of the little bump of rocks (Nov. 2024).
Shirley and Dah (Nov. 2024).
Wankers on the summit of Ben Amera with Ben Aicha in the background (Nov. 2024).
Dah and Shirley on the summit (Nov. 2024).
Shirley hiking the summit plateau (Nov. 2024).
Somewhere on the summit plateau of Ben Amera. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Descent slabs (Nov. 2024).
Easy if you find the correct line (Nov. 2024).
Voie Normale follows (roughly) the right skyline (Nov. 2024).
Sid Ahmed’s car is in the trees (Nov. 2024).
Post climb tea and Shirley getting cooled off (Nov. 2024).
Shirley getting cooled off after baking for half a day (Nov. 2024).
Sid Ahmed brewing up tea (Nov. 2024).
Tea brewing equipment container (Nov. 2024).
Heading back to camp (Nov. 2024).
Finding some shade back in camp (Nov. 2024).
Ben Amera (Nov. 2024).
Waiting for lunch in the cafeteria tent (Nov. 2024).
Go to Ben Amera Day Two.
Go back to Mauritania.