Go back to Mauritania.
Go back to Ben Amera Day Six.
Schouff la Fissure.
Back to Ben Aicha for a route called Schouff la Fissure (7 pitch, 6a). The line follows an obvious crack system to the left of Meme les Chameaux Meurent de Soif. The first pitch is a 6a slab with some (optional?) chimney moves thrown in. We did not like the look of the bolting on pitch 2: the height and position of the second bolt offers you a good chance to slam into your belayer and the terrain did not look easier than pitch one despite its rating (bolting on the first pitch is generous). And so we bailed.
We then spent a bit of time hiking around the base of Ben Amera. Here you can see a small collection of sculptures carved into the boulders by a mixed team of artists done to celebrate the new millennium. There are also some slightly older cave paintings dating back to 5K-6K years ago.
Photos
Racking up for Schouff la Fissure. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Starting up Schouff la Fissure. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Shirley belaying me on Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Nearing the first belay (Nov. 2024).
Shirley starting up. Another photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Shirley starting up pitch 1 (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Shirley on Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Views from pitch 1 belay (Nov. 2024).
Shirley & I on pitch 1. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Wider angle view courtesy of Dah (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Bailing (Nov. 2024).
Posing with Sid Ahmed’s Range Rover dating back to 1960 something. And there’s the climb we just failed on right behind us (Nov. 2024).
Checking out the small collection of sculptures at the base of Ben Aicha. These were carved by small group of international sculptors, including Mauritanian, over the course of a few weeks in time to welcome the new millennium (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha base art (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha sculptures (Nov. 2024).
A ram (Nov. 2024)?
Exploring the outdoor art gallery (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
A pair of eyes (Nov. 2024).
A fish (Nov. 2024)?
The steep side of Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Doing the walking tour or circumnavigation of Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
A relatively fresh camel carcass (Nov. 2024).
Some prehistoric cave paintings at the base of Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Dah bouldering (Nov. 2024).
Shirley admiring the best side of Ben Aicha. The descent route follows the slabs on the left. To the right of the spot is a 300 meter long route with the appropriately poetic name of L’Origine du Monde (Nov. 2024).
Lunch in a cave. Sid Ahmed is making tea of course (Nov. 2024).
Sid Ahmed – our camp host (Nov. 2024).
Looking back at Ben Aicha as we drive back to camp (Nov. 2024).
Go to Ben Amera Day Eight.
Go back to Mauritania.