Jebel Qihwi is one of the beautiful peaks in the Hajar Mountains; standing at a spectacular 1792m, this place really makes you feel like you are no longer in the UAE.
It all starts with a drive through the Wadi Khab a’ Shamis, where we had heard that the road may have been washed away due to recent rainfall, but thankfully it was not. We were treated to a spectacular Wadi; if it wasn’t for our time constraints, we would have stopped to savour the experience more. We were running late from our original plan. By departing from Dubai at 5:30am, we were hoping to get to climbing by about 7:30am, but after making stops, we got to the start point at 8:45am. We knew it was going to be about a 7 hour return trip and with the winter sun, we didn’t want to be coming back in the dark. Navigationally this hike is fairly straightforward. The peak of Jebel Qihwi is fairly noticeable and there is one giant spur that leads up to the summit. There are basic goat tracks, and although sometimes helpful, they can trick you into a false sense of security – or a lovely side trip to the local goat herds. The morning climb was to be the toughest part of our day, but thankfully, it wasn’t too steep until the final kilometre.
The weather was being extremely cooperative – being December, it was mild and we were lucky to have a clear blue sky, so every step we took, we were surrounded by a spectacular view. One of the most delightful aspects of our journey was the lack of trash near the track. After the first kilometre or two you really start to get a feeling of complete isolation- something I find very precious; especially with the large amount of pollution and graffiti in what would otherwise be beautiful wadis. Nearing the summit, the climb started to get more difficult, with rocks scrambling in places, and the elements started to take their toll. The wind had picked ers. Lovely people, they stopped to say hello and they were very interested in our gear. One of the herders was especially interested in one of the walking poles and was so excited by it that he wanted to take it home.
After our chance meeting, we headed down to the cars. We had heard some stories of cars being broken into, but we didn’t think too much of it. We did, however, notice that some of the dust had been cleared off some of the windows, as if there were up and the temperature had dropped, so if it wasn’t for the hard work we were doing climbing, I would have been very cold. The last hurdle was a chimney we had to climb to get to the top. It was a fairly straightforward climb, but because we had used so much energy getting to that point, the straightforward climb becomes a little more difficult. However, the reward was in view, and so once we emerged from the rock we were treated to an unbelievable, almost surreal view. It was so quiet; far from the hustle and bustle of busy Dubai, and we savoured every moment. The walk down was a refreshing cool down, although loose rocks made it tricky at some points. Near the end of the track, we were met by the local goat herdpeople looking inside for items. This reinforced the need to take all valuables with you on the hike (or leave them at home), even if the locals are generally pleasant. Just as the sun was setting, we got into our cars to head back to Dubai after a truly amazing experience. It definitely provided a great break from Dubai city life. Alex Turnbull Green Turtle Adventure +971 56 107 3486