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![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0324-300x199.jpg)
Beehive tomb in the Eastern Hajar.
On Friday, we doubled back north and hiked the Wadi Shab with a nice soak at the far end. We then left the coastal highway and headed up into the Eastern Hajar mountains on a steep and sustained (endless 20% grade…1st gear and a prayer) dirt track passing some very isolated goat herding camps on the Salma Plateau, a remote village of Quran, and clusters of Bronze Age tombs. After 100+ km of off-road track we returned to Muscat via the town of Ibra. I have to mention here that despite their many great qualities, most Omanis seem to drive like maniacs. Tailgating a foot from your bumper at 140km/h is the norm. Most of the time, passing is not even the goal. In the evening we checked out Muscat’s famous souk – pretty fascinating indeed.
Photos
![Muscat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0179-1024x680.jpg)
Got to experience a Muscat rush hour traffic jam (Feb. 2014).
![Muscat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0185-1024x680.jpg)
Muttrah waterfront in daylight (Feb. 2014).
![Sur](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0198-1024x680.jpg)
Souk area in the coastal town of Sur (Feb. 2014).
![Oman](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0212-1024x680.jpg)
A beach somewhere between the towns of Sur and Tiwi (Feb. 2014).
![Tiwi](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0221-1024x680.jpg)
The coastal village of Tiwi at the mouth of Wadi Tiwi (with some spectacular looking climbing that we unfortunately did not get to try on this trip).
![Wadi Shab](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0232-1024x680.jpg)
Starting the hike into Wadi Shab. To reach this side of the wadi where the trail starts requires a 300 meter boat ride (Feb. 2014).
![Wadi Shab](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0237-1024x680.jpg)
The beautiful if crowded Wadi Shab (Feb. 2014).
![Wadi Shab](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0254-1024x680.jpg)
Deeper inside Wadi Shab (Feb. 2014).
![Wadi Shab](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0264-1024x680.jpg)
Wadi Shab (Feb. 2014).
![Wadi Shab](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0267-1024x680.jpg)
Sitting there on the warm rock and soaking in the pleasant waters deep in the Wadi Shab did not suck a day after finishing our climb of Jebel Misht (Feb. 2014).
![Wadi Shab](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0284_2-680x1024.jpg)
Wadi Shab on the way out (Feb. 2014).
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0291-1024x680.jpg)
Leaving the coastal highway for a drive up to the Salma Plateau and onwards to the village of Quoran in the Eastern Hajar mountains. This is some sort of a modern development on the coast – can you say cookie cutter?
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DSC_0299-1024x680.jpg)
Eastern Hajar (Feb. 2014).
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0296-1024x680.jpg)
Goats on a rampage. A lone settlement somewhere on the Salma Plateau in the Eastern Hajar range (Feb. 2014).
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0311-1024x680.jpg)
The very remote village of Quran in the Eastern Hajar mountains. It took some 25 kilometers of very steep and sustained dirt roads to reach it (Feb. 2014).
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DSC_0314-1024x680.jpg)
Driving the outskirts of the village of Quran (Feb. 2014).
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0324-1024x680.jpg)
Two poseurs in front of a restored beehive tomb in the Eastern Hajar mountains (Feb. 2014).
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0330-1024x680.jpg)
Making our way among the Bronze Age beehive tombs somewhere on the Salma Plateau of the Eastern Hajar range. A spectacular off-road drive indeed (Feb. 2014).
![Eastern Hajar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0337-1024x680.jpg)
A village mosque somewhere on the west side of the Eastern Hajar range (Feb. 2014).
![Oman](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0338-1024x680.jpg)
A camel in tow behind a truck (Feb. 2014).