Jordan – Part 2

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Goats.

Our third day went less then smoothly. We screwed up the approach to some route and ended up on a scenic canyoneering adventure. We tried to salvage the rest of the day by carefully scoping out approaches to a couple of routes we wanted to try. Some of those approaches in the Rum seemed less than trivial complexity-wise…

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Star Of Abu Judaidah.

Day four and back to Barrah Canyon . We had some doubts as we kept hearing on and off rain outside of our tent throughout the night. However, Khaled was there to pick us up at 6:30 in the morning accompanied by his wife and son and a great breakfast spread! We were deposited near the base of Star Of Abu Judaidah route and so decided to give it a go despite some light drizzle. Khaled promised to come back for us if it really opened up. The line follows an obvious corner system for 6 pitches (+1 low angle face pitch at the top) and is quite a sight, especially under dark and stormy skies. Despite the slight darkness-induced intimidation factor, Shirley quickly dispatched the first pitch. The second pitch was mine and was given a “6a or A0” description by the guidebook. I started up and promptly broke a crimp falling back to the ledge feet first…later we would meet some Belgian climbers and decide that the description says (or should say) “6a with A0.” Petty details. I ended up breaking up the pitch into two because of drag. Shirley then dispatched what I thought was the crux pitch of the route: a 6b intermittent finger crack in a beautiful corner. Pitches 5 and 6 fell to me as they were of the flared chimney and off-width variety. Much easier than the finger crack despite the same rating – and so a fair trade in my opinion. We rapped the route and were packing up when Khaled arrived. That afternoon we drove out to his mother’s camp in the desert where we got a glimpse of the more traditional (from one generation ago?) Bedouin life.

Photos

Camels waiting for tourists at the Wadi Rum Rest House (Feb. 2012).

I was careful not to photograph people w/o their permission but this guy just walked into the window while I was shooting the camel…oh well. Wadi Rum village (Feb. 2012).

A Bedouin riding a camel in Wadi Rum (Feb. 2012).

Shirley hiking near the Rest House with a Bedouin giving his camels some morning exercise (Feb. 2012).

A herd of goats following their shepherd into a canyon in Wadi Rum.

A canyon (siq) in Wadi Rum with some interesting vegetation (Feb. 2012).

A view of The Black Tower on Jebel Rum (with its classic Black Magic route which we wanted to try but ran out of dry days to do so) from a canyon on the Jebel um Ishrin side of Wadi Rum (Feb. 2012).

Shirley hiking back towards the village with the Jebel Rum in the background (Feb. 2012).

A couple of riders in the village (Feb. 2012).

Shirley and some camels not far from the Rest House (Feb. 2012).

A mama and baby camels hanging out near the village (Feb. 2012).

The Star Of Abu Judaidah

Shirley leading pitch 1 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

Starting up pitch 2 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah...somebody went flying on this pitch when a crimp broke (Feb. 2012).

Shirley topping out at an intermediate belay on pitch 2 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah...we broke this pitch up due to meandering nature & some noticeable rope drag (Feb. 2012).

Shirley at the intermediate belay we set up on pitch 2 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

...and the upper half of pitch 2 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

Pitch 2 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

Shirley nearing the top of pitch 2 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

The splendor of Barrah Canyon from pitch 2 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

Shirley styling the crux pitch (#3 & clocking in at 6b) of The Star Of Abu Judaidah - finger crack (intermittent) with some delicate stemming (Feb. 2012).

Following Shirley's great lead of The Star Of Abu Judaidah's pitch 3 (Feb. 2012).

...great climbing, great climbing...glad I did not have to lead it (Feb. 2012).

Leading pitch 4 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah - cracks to a short series of 6a face moves (Feb. 2012).

Shirley on pitch 4 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

Leading the fifth pitch of The Star Of Abu Judaidah - a flared 6a+ chimney (Feb. 2012).

Shirley on pitch 5 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

Leading pitch 6. This is the other 6b pitch of the route but it felt much easier than the finger crack of pitch 3 (Feb. 2012).

Pitch 6 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah - I think the crux was just above (the OW crack; Feb. 2012).

Shirley on pitch 6 of The Star Of Abu Judaidah above the difficulties (Feb. 2012).

Shirley rapping off The Star Of Abu Judaidah - a fantastic route and our favorite of the trip (Feb. 2012).

Happy Shirley sorting gear at the base of The Star Of Abu Judaidah route. This is after our climb of this (favorite) line (Feb. 2012).

Shirley hiking down to our pick up point after the climb of The Star Of Abu Judaidah (Feb. 2012).

Shirley and The Star Of Abu Judaidah line (starts in shadow and finishes up the left trending flared chimneys above) after our climb of it (Feb. 2012).

Baby camels…

…who doesn’t love baby camels?!

Next day we woke up to rain and socked in formations. This is the Rest House with Jebel um Ishrin in the clouds. We went to see Petra that day (~1.5 - 2 hours drive away; Feb. 2012).

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