DUBAI: “Because it is there,” so replied English mountaineer George Mallory when asked, in 1923, by a New York Times reporter why he was climbing Mt. Everest.
The very same three immortalized words must have been in the minds of some 36 adventurous Filipinos who early this month traversed Ras al Khaimah’s Wadi Al Far near the border of Musandam in Oman.
Scaling is more apt a word as the team teetered its way through dangerously steep goat trails comprising most of the hike.
The adventure was organized by UAE Mountainbiking Jumeirah with Abu Dhabi’s Filipino Mountaineers Federation.
According to Engr. Frankie Boton, lead person at UAE Mountainbiking Jumeirah, the Dec. 7-8, 2017 attempt to the Al Far summit followed a failed hike in February this year and two bail outs later because of intermittent rain. The summit is at approximately 1,010 meters in elevation. The team needed 3.5 hours to ascend and another four hours descending to complete the 20-km traverse route.
“Ang camp base namin ay dun mismo sa starting point po ng Ferrata Zipline sa Jebel Jais. Nagstart kami ng 8am mula Sa camp site at nakabalik kami ng 5pm kasama na one hour break at kainan sa summit,” Boton said.
He added: “Ang dinaanan namin ay daanan lang ng mga kambing kaya napakadelikado at grabe ang bangin ang babagsakan.”
The group is organizing another adventure in January 2018. Interested persons or groups may get in touch with Boton at 050 206 2128. The mountaineering group shares free ride. Bring your own gear and food.
