Treks and Climbs in Wadi Rum, Jordan

by Taylor, Di; Howard, Tony

• ISBN13: 9781852842543
• ISBN10: 1852842547
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-01-01
• Publisher: Cicerone Press Limited

Summary

Wadi Rum is tucked away in the south of Jordan, close to the Red Sea port of Aqaba, remote and splendid in both landscape and culture, yet only a five-hour flight and a short onward journey from Europe. The first edition of this guide, published in 1987, contained about 140 routes. Since then the number of climbs has doubled. Here are detailed descriptions and 'topos' of all the known routes to date, from short walks, camel treks and 4WD journeys through to sports climbs and major 'big walls' of the highest technical difficulty. Additionally, the author gives information on sites of antiquity, flora and fauna and life with the Bedouin. It is their roguish humour and warm hospitality as much as the magnificence of these deserts and mountains that make a visit to Rum a unique experience. This book tells you everything you need to know.

Author Biography

Toni tarted climbing in 1953 and was very active in the Peak District in 1950s and 60s, writing guides to gritstone and limestone. In the early 1960s he worked as an outdoors instructor in Wales and the Lake District, qualifying as a British Mountaineering Council guide in 1965, the year he was on the first ascent of Norway's 1000m Troll Wall, "the biggest unclimbed rock wall in Europe". He then worked as a Mountain Guide in Romsdal from 1965 to '70. Elsewhere, he has climbed in most north African and Middle Eastern countries from 1963 onwards, and climbed and/or trekked in Greenland, Canada, America, South Georgia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Madagascar and Iran.

He was a founding partner of Troll climbing equipment in1965. In 1984 together with Di Taylor he founded the adventure travel consultancy N.O.M.A.D.S. (New Opportunities for Mountaineering, Adventure and Desert Sports), when they discovered the climbing potential of Wadi Rum in Jordan.

Tony has worked with Austrian and BBC TV, filming in the mountains of Jordan and is a regular contributor to outdoor magazines and travel guides. He wrote 'Walks and Climbs in Romsdal, Norway', 'Treks and Climbs in Wadi Rum, Jordan' and, together with Di Taylor, 'Jordan - Walks, Treks, Caves, Climbs and Canyons' and 'Walks in Palestine with the Nativity Trail'. They return to the Middle East every spring to enjoy the hot rock, great trekking and the companionship of their many Bedouin friends.