The month of July is not a good month for hiking in our region. The weather this year has been windy and hot already and it’s extremely dangerous to be in the mountains at this time. However, what you can do is prepare a list of things to do here when the weather cools down after a few months. Those who have escaped to hike in foreign places will be very pleased that they have done so and be in great shape to plan what they are going to do over the UAE winter hiking season.
This month we are going to look at hiking and adventure challenges around the world and in particular focus on the Middle East region. Setting a challenge with multiple goals is a good way to keep up the motivation over a long period of time.
The Highest Mountains in the Middle East
We have taken 17 countries that compose the Middle East region and ranked their high points. The highest is in Afghanistan at a staggering 7492m. The lowest is in Qatar at only 103m, surely an easy option to say that you have climbed the highest point in a country if you have a layover.
Hikers and climbers like to build lists that they can set as a goal or objective. I have not heard of any individual having claimed to have done the highest points in the Middle East. It would definitely be a challenge logistically and physically to climb all of them. Anyone who did manage to climb all of these summits would get an understanding of the area in which we live and surely it would promote communication across the region.
The table shows all of the Middle East countries in descending order. Also shown is the ranking of the country in world terms. For example, the UAE would be ranked as being in 144th place for its highest peak in a list of countries and their relative high points. This is not the 144th highest mountain in the world as Nepal alone has more than 144 mountains higher than in the UAE. It means that there are 143 more countries with higher points as their highest mountain. All information about Middle East high points is taken from www.peakbagger.com
Some of these mountains are fairly low and easier to climb than others but to complete the collection would really be a challenge.
Other Collections for Aspiring Mountaineers
Throughout the world there are many collections of high mountains. The practice of climbing collections of mountains is often called “peak bagging” and very popular in other countries around the world. Here are some of the most common.
Seven Summits
The highest points of the seven continents of the world
Second Seven Summits
The second highest points of the seven continents of the world
The Volcanic Seven Summits
The highest volcanoes of the seven continents of the world
8000m peaks
The 14 mountains over 8000m in height
The Snow Leopards
All 5 peaks over 7000m in the former Soviet Union
Alpine 4000m
There are 82 peaks in the Europeans Alps that are over 4000m
US 14,000
Known as Fourteeners, this collection of 89 peaks in the US are all over 14,000 feet
All Mountains with 1000km of Isolation
There are 86 peaks in the world where the nearest high point is more than 1000km away
All Mountains with 4000m of Prominence
There are 22 peaks in the world that have a vertical distance of over 4000m from the summit to the lowest contour that circles it
Top 10 UAE High Points
The highest points in the UAE
Middle East High Points
The 17 highest points in the Middle East
The Munros
There are 282 mountains over 3000ft in the UK
Why You Should Set Yourself a Mountain Challenge
Mountaineering and hiking are both two of the most exhilarating and exciting sports you can do both in the UAE and worldwide.
The high mountains are nature’s most elegant objectives and goals combining the thrill of climbing to the highest points in your country or indeed the world with risks such as crevasses, avalanches and the changeable weather.
However as your experience progresses you will gain mastery and knowledge and this confidence will give you a feeling of wellbeing and progression.
Getting to the summits of any of these peaks requires experience, skill, physical strength; planning and mental fortitude. Being in the mountains uses a full range of outdoor skills, from hiking fitness, setting up camp to more advanced techniques such as scrambling, climbing and even travelling across glaciers and snow.
Whether planning a short summer walk or a multi-day expedition to the Himalayas, hiking and mountaineering offers something for everyone.
If you want to get started and learn new skills, the best thing to do is go with a qualified instructor, join a group, go out with friends or family or simply start exploring.
By reading and talking to likeminded individuals, you will soon learn essential skills and techniques such as the correct clothing and equipment, hazards and dangers to look out for, mountain weather, navigation, camping and survival skills, emergency procedures and first aid and generally how to have a good time and enjoy the outdoors.
A Hike for July
The hike this month is a really long one and is near Jebel Yibir, the highest mountain in the UAE and is definitely a good challenge to set for yourself. It is long and requires some advanced navigation, route finding and some tricky rock steps. Expect to be out all day with stops for water and lunch. There are no shops on the trail. It starts near the military post at the top of the new super road. Look over the wall and start heading down the steep slope before contouring around the hill. You must be in superb physical shape and not attempt this hike in the summer. Although it is higher, it is still hot and you need to take adequate water. You can also set this hike as a goal for the cooler winter months and use the exercises in the magazine to set yourself a goal.
Quick Checklist Route planning
| Start Point | 25°39’0.01″N56° 7’22.16″E |
| Off road driving required | No |
| Distance & Time from Mirdif to Start | 142km 105min |
| Navigation on hike | Advanced navigation and route finding |
| Time required for hike | 5 – 6 hours |
| Distance | 14.3km |
| Elevation gain on hike | 850m |
| High Point | 1366m |
| Grocery / water on hike | No |
| Possible to encounter a vehicle on trail | No |
| Suitable for all the family | Requires experience in scrambling, decision making and route finding. Some of the track is defined. There are some steep and loose rock sections with decisions to make at intersections. |
If you would like to join a guided hike with OutdoorUAE please contact us.
Contact OutdoorArabia to register your interest in climbing the highest points in the Middle East.
Words By: Sean James
