Stairway, Hidden Peak , Wadi Shaam
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 10.19 mi
- Elevation gain
- 4,997 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Very difficult
- Elevation loss
- 5,295 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,622 ft
- TrailRank
- 52
- Min elevation
- 684 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 6 hours 56 minutes
- Time
- 10 hours 42 minutes
- Coordinates
- 3009
- Uploaded
- March 20, 2022
- Recorded
- March 2022
near Ḩārat ‘Awālī, Raʼs al Khaymah (Yunaayitid Arab Imireetis)
Viewed 229 times, downloaded 9 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
I have done a similar route to this about 3 times and always tried to descend into Wadi Ghalilah and in each case this was very difficult and not without drama and a late in the dark finish. I did not find a good descent path and on this basis decided that the villages at circa 1000m altitude must be accessed from Wadi Shamm. Based on my exploration and others I believe the main access to this area is from Wadi Shaam
Waypoints
Car park
761 ft
Start
An early start from the head of the wadi. Slight change to the path location at the start for 50m. Its becoming too sanitized ! I remember my first outing in 1991 - the path was very sketchy and we hiked up the wadi - a real scramble
Waypoint
1,138 ft
New barrier
I have occasionally seen hand rails on some steep climbs in the UAE. This was a steel tube wrapped with hessian that was constructed at bend in the track with no specific danger. At this rate the entire route will have barriers :) What next escalators :)
Intersection
1,322 ft
Wadi path tree
This section is a super highway now, previously one had to dodge the tree branches whilst balancing on a ledge
Intersection
1,539 ft
Retail opportunity
The rustic authentic stone table and benches has now been upgraded with a canopy. I see a branded retain outlet on the horizon
Intersection
1,834 ft
Cleaved rock
On previous trips we have climbed to the top for a picnic or photo shoot
Intersection
2,215 ft
Struggling tree and hikers ?
An attempt has been made some years ago to grow a tree with a metal protection to keep the goats at bay, unfortunately unsuccessful
Intersection
2,782 ft
Top of scree
The boulder field eases off here with a ruined old wall and the tree at the foot of the cliffs visible
Intersection
2,805 ft
Ghalilah east wall climbing route
I understand that there is a climbing route up this face - wow
Tree
2,917 ft
Danger eye tree
The lower branches of this tree have now been trimmed but on one previous trip a member of my party had a nasty accident when arriving at a fast pace and standing up and catching a low branch in her eye
Intersection
3,812 ft
Sharp R turn narrow ledge
After a long traverse to the left there is a right turn and then slight descent across a sloping slab to more open ground
Mountain hut
4,147 ft
Top of stairs
The small settlement at the top is in Oman although more generally accessed on foot from the UAE by emiratis
Fountain
4,193 ft
Demolished water cistern
Relatively new construction has been partially demolished - unclear why and when and by whom
Intersection
4,354 ft
Can refuse
A lot of old food cans are dumped here adjacent a relatively new construction
Intersection
4,593 ft
BM 45-46-1
Border marker between the UAE and Oman with different metal plate logos on the UAE and Oman sides. Reference number BM 45-46-1
Intersection
5,102 ft
Ridge tree
A sole tree at the ridge at the top of a gully that I originally used for the ascent in 1991 prior to finding the stairway
Intersection
3,287 ft
Cosomoplast 4 mm x 500
Plastic water pipe that runs from wadi shaam up to the villages
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