Go back to Egypt.
Go back to Penthouse.
Jethro Tull.
Another short cab ride the following day back to Jebel Batta where this time we headed up for a route named Jethro Thull, a nice old school 5.9+ established back in the day by some Israeli climbers. The first pitch was the crux – a slick and reportedly unprotected chimney; though with a couple of hybrid Aliens the pro was sufficient. The remaining 3 pitches were pretty good as well and went quickly. Misha once again met us at the top and we were back in St. Catherine in the early afternoon. That night we supplemented the rice and chicken fare with some beef.
Photos
Packing in for another short cab ride out to Jebel Batta (Dec. 2020).
Back at Jebel Batta; this time we’re bound of a line called Jethro Tull (Dec. 2020).
Misha and Shirley on the hike up (Dec. 2020).
The route starts deep in the obvious cleft (Dec. 2020).
A bit of scrambling (Dec. 2020).
And even bouldering. Photo by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Starting up the first pitch of Jethro Tull (Dec. 2020).
Out of the chimney on pitch 1 (Dec. 2020).
Higher on pitch 1 (Dec. 2020).
Shirley on pitch 1 of Jethro Tull. Photo by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Shirley high on pitch 1 (Dec. 2020).
Views from Jethro Tull (Dec. 2020).
Shirley arriving at the first belay (Dec. 2020).
Grovelly start of pitch 2 (Dec. 2020).
Shirley on pitch 2 (Dec. 2020).
Views from high on Jethro Tull (Dec. 2020).
Shirley on pitch 2 (Dec. 2020).
Arriving at the second belay (Dec. 2020).
Starting pitch 3 of Jethro Tull (Dec. 2020).
Higher on pitch 3 (Dec. 2020).
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 3 (Dec. 2020).
More pitch 3 (Dec. 2020).
Shirley on pitch 3 (Dec. 2020).
Shirley arriving at the third belay (Dec. 2020).
Leading the nice pitch 4 (Dec. 2020).
A closer look by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Pitch 4 (Dec. 2020).
Almost done with pitch 4 with Misha taking photos from the top (Dec. 2020).
Like this one. Photo by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Shirley on pitch 4 (Dec. 2020).
Belaying Shirley from the top. Photo by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Shirley near the top (Dec. 2020).
Photo by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Views from the top of the route (Dec. 2020).
Shirley and I atop Jethro Tull. Photo by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Jebel Safsafa from Jebel Batta (Dec. 2020).
Starting the hike down from Jebel Batta. This time aiming for a return to the front side and a cab ride back to Fox Camp (Dec. 2020).
Scrambling down (Dec. 2020).
On the way down (Dec. 2020).
A rider in the valley below. Click for a short video (Dec. 2020).
Getting there (Dec. 2020).
Some nice looking faces (Dec. 2020).
In the desert (Dec. 2020).
Misha, Shirley, and Jebel Batta (Dec. 2020).
The cab and the welcoming committee (Dec. 2020).
Shirley, Misha, and some kids from the village (Dec. 2020).
Early trad indoctrination (Dec. 2020).
Short cab ride back to camp (Dec. 2020).
Driving back (Dec. 2020).
Fox Camp (Dec. 2020).
Is it any or all? With a high altitude desert air, there might’ve been a symptom or two (but never all 3!). Fortunately, the room had no phone and the hotel had no doctor (Dec. 2020).
Misha surprised us by getting dressed-up for our last dinner in St. Catherine (Dec. 2020).
Complete with a dyneema securing his keffiyeh (Dec. 2020).
Heading out for a night on the town…well, dinner in the village anyway (Dec. 2020).
Last dinner in St. Catherine (Dec. 2020).
At The Panorama. Photo by Misha (Dec. 2020).
Some company for dinner (Dec. 2020).
Strolling through the village in the evening (Dec. 2020).
Popping into a village minisuper for some stuff (Dec. 2020).
Misha and Shirley in St. Catherine (Dec. 2020).
Go to St. Catherine Monastery And Dahab.
Go back to Egypt.