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Under
the Patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan
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The
Emirates Natural History Group, Al Ain Chapter, PO Box
18057, Al Ain
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Ras
Al Khaima Weekend Tour – Feb 9 - 11
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article
& photos by Will Moore |
The mountains above Wadi Sili in RAK
are ancient sea-bed stone. |
No question about it – the RAK trip was a success!
From the Dhow yards to the mountain village of Sili, the
twelve people on the tour were engaged in serious contemplation
of both ancient and recent history. No words can summarize
the experience properly. For myself, the day spent in
Wadi Sili at the yanz (grain storage stone structures)
site and the village was the most interesting. The village
site is world class and should become a UNESCO World Heritage
site as far as I am concerned. But I get ahead of myself.
Let me begin at the beginning and attempt to summarize
the tour.
After driving to RAK on
Wednesday, we all gathered at the Hilton hotel parking
lot on Thursday morning at 8:00 am. We left two cars there
and headed north to the Dhow building yards located near
the tall power-line tower. Here an oversize dhow is under
construction – a “boom” – as ships
of this size are called. The keel had been laid, bow and
stern posts erected and maybe the first eight hull planks
fit into position. Some of the ribs were being cut while
we were there. High tech? – yes, if you count using
a Hyab hydraulic hoist to move the heavy planks around
– no, otherwise. Skilled workers chiseling away
at large pieces of Malaysian, Indian and possibly African
or Thai wood with mallets - as it has been done for centuries
– was the task of the day. The scale of the ship
in itself is impressive, but the fact that the application
of simple curves and joints to form this floating mammoth
comes from a single mind is staggering. No engineering
department, no blueprints or |
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| This broadsheet is published free to families in
the Al Ain area. If you are a member planning an activity with a natural
history theme please notify us so that others can join you. Everybody
is able to contribute to ENHG and Emirates recordings. For more on
our activities please visit our website <www.enhg.org> or join
our e-mail discussion group at ENHG@Yahoogroups.com. The Group meets
at 7.30pm on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month, usually at the
Intercontinental Hotel. New Members are welcome. |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Ras
Al Khaima Weekend Tour – Feb 9 – 11 cont…
scale models –
no factory-line mass production, and no white-collar/blue-collar
distinctions mar this ‘scape by the sea. I must return
(to the sea again…) to see how fast this ship takes
shape. Will it sail to Malaysia and on to China, or around
the Cape to Lagos, Casablanca or even Rio de Janiero? |
The “boom”
under construction at the Dhow yard in RAK – the hull
will extend upwards to the height of the two posts, bow and
stern. |
| Adjacent
to this shipyard site is a new addition to dhow building
– the racing dhow shipyard. Here, small scale racing
hulls are constructed – to be used in events such
as the National Day cele-brations, December 2 each year.
Rumor has it that an 18 man racing hull will only cost
you 37,000 Dh, but you can have one made for seven men
if this is too much. They are things of beauty. |
|
 Skilled
workmen chisel huge ribs to shape |
The owner greeted us and welcomed us to his humble place
of business. We were able to examine the work in progress
– some refurbishing and some new construction.
These sleek hulls have layer upon layer of varnish applied
– annually. Apart from the use of vibrating sanders,
there was no evidence of any hi-tech equipment. Just
good old hands-on wood-working. I envy those people
who get to work in RAK as they can drop in anytime to
check on the latest developments at these two most interesting
sites.
Left: - one of the racing
hulls under construction at the RAK dhow yards. Note
the sheen of the varnish and the smooth lines of the
hull.
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| The ENHG
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Ras
Al Khaima Weekend Tour – Feb 9 – 11 cont…
From the
dhow yards, we continued on to the morning fish souq
in old RAK. A good variety of species were available
and we got to watch the fish cleaners flash their knives.
Then it was on to the RAK museum where one of the finest
Gulf waters shell collections is on display. The Archaeology
room was a great attraction as it held many items taken
from the sites we would visit later in the day. The
Wadi Suq period, Julfar, and Iron age sites are well
represented. The presentation on the pearl industry
is very good. The courtyard provided cool, quiet relief
and after an hour and a bit we were on our way to the
area known as Shimal – an ancient settlement from
1500 - 1000 BC. Here, are long stone-capped tombs –
we must have seen a dozen or more
|
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A fish souq
offering |
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The RAK m,useum
courtyard – a quiet shady respite. |
| All ancient ruins are close
to the mountains, because the sea has receded over the
millennia so that some kilometers of flat land are now
available for man. The present day site of Ras Al Khaima
is all relatively new ground, but watch-towers, located
inland from the sea provide a clue to where the shoreline
was several thousand years ago. |
 |
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| during
the morning – some excavated properly by archaeologists.
There is also a small site showing walls, a well, falaj,
and other signs of settlement. The setting is quite unique.
|
The Shimal
site is located at the base of a small pyramid-shaped
outcrop. |
The
area is full of ancient bits and pieces which accumulated
over the millennia and are often not associated with
each other except through physical location –
there being some thousands of years separating their
construction. And the surface has hardly been touched
by the archaeologists. Much work remains to be done.
Again we moved on, southward to the next site –
Sheba’s Palace.
Left:
The watchtower at Shimal – an ancient
shoreline. |
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| The ENHG
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Ras
Al Khaima Weekend Tour – Feb 9 – 11 cont…
Sheba’s Palace has no relationship with the Queen of
Sheeba – let us be clear on this. But it is a massive
structure located on top of an outcrop right back against
the mountains. It is fortified, has its own large stone-lined
reservoir, and commands a view of almost the entire RAK plain.
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Brigitte, Brien and Steve with the view from
Sheba’s Palace - a large area of the RAK flatlands –
in the background. |
The group taking in
Sheba’s Palace – there are 265 stair steps leading
up to this site – no clambering needed. The fenced off
area guards a hidden room several meters deep. The cliffs are
nearly sheer on three sides. Someone knew what they were doing
when they selected this site.
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| The ENHG
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Ras
Al Khaima Weekend Tour – Feb 9 – 11 cont…
From Sheba’s
Palace, we moved on to Falayah – a site of great importance
more recently in UAE history as this is where the ruler of
Ras Al Khaima and other sheikhs of the Gulf region signed
a treaty with Britain, forming the Trucial States in 1819
– the predecessor to the UAE. The site is closely associated
with a farm that existed there over the previous hundreds
of years – which is the subject of archeological study.
And finally, we stopped at the deserted city of Jazeerat Al
Hamrah, the first city to be built with oil money in the late
50’s. This site evoked many strange feeling amongst
group members as it is still new enough to remind us of our
own homes – places we do not associate with “history.”
The use of beach sand to make the concrete guaranteed a swift
end to the place as the salt simply dissolved causing failure
of walls. The extensive use of coral as a building block material
is unbelievable – until you consider the use of timber
in Canada – it was simply a natural resource readily
available!
Some members met for dinner at the Sahari restaurant Thursday
evening, while others took advantage of the outing for some
private time. It was a fine day, but Friday held more in store
than Thursday.
At 8:30 Friday morning the group headed north to wadi Silli
and old Silli village. Our first stop was right up against
the base of the mountains at a “yanz” site. These
rock “granaries” are so well camouflaged that
from a mere 200 feet you can look right at them and not see
them.
|
The “yanz” from 50 feet away are
practically invisible – you might notice the roof lines,
or you might not! |
| Some
are in current use. The terraces here are the result of great
labor, with retaining walls of 2 meters in height and several
hundred meters in length. There is evidence of falaj-type channels
leading from the adjacent wadi to the fields. A large reservoir
still remains, wet in the bottom. The use of huge boulders in
the building of the yanz and walls is near unbelievable. It
is no wonder the site was not “discovered” (by westerners)
until quite recently. This site is worthy of some special effort
to rebuild those yanz that are fallen in now. It would make
a fine project for a community-minded group. Of course the consent
of the nearby community would be essential. And it might lead
to a larger project to restore the old village of Sili –
a project worthy of UNESCO involvement, as the photos on the
next page may show. I hope you get the opportunity to visit
someday. I know I’ll be returning. |
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| The ENHG
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Ras
Al Khaima Weekend Tour – Feb 9 – 11 cont…
The village is split into 4 levels or areas,
possibly developed in stages due to expanding needs, or possibly
developed in parallel by four family groups – this remains
to be determined. There is no question that this was a peaceful
farming settlement as no fortifications are evident. The steep
ground may have given the occupants enough of an advantage
that fortifications were not considered necessary. So many
questions! |
The
Inter-Emirates Weekend,
16-18th March 2005 |
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| Every year the Al Ain, Dubai or Abu Dhabi
Natural History Group organises a weekend of activities to
which all members throughout the UAE are invited. Organised
activities include exhibitions, quizzes, excursions, family
activities, a communal dinner, and the opportunity to meet
members from other chapters who share similar interests. This
year the Inter-emirates Weekend (IEW) is being hosted by Abu
Dhabi at the Mafraq Hotel. The event will also provide an
opportunity for Abu Dhabi Chapter to present the Sheikh Mubarak
and Bish Brown Awards for 2004, and this will take place at
the formal dinner on the Thursday evening.
Wednesday
16th March
Our weekend will begin with the opening, at midday Wednesday
16th March, of an ENHG Registration Desk, which will be located
close to the Mafraq Hotel Reception area. Sign-up sheets for
most of the excursions will be available at the ENHG Registration
Desk. It is recommended that participants book in to the hotel,
and confirm their accommodation and meal requirements (which
may mean thinking forward to packed lunches on Thursday/Friday)
after registration. The Registration Desk will be
staffed permanently until approximately 10am on Friday morning
to allow arriving participants to register.
In the afternoon there will be a flora and fauna competition
(Perimeter Walk) in the grounds of the hotel. There will be
a slide show near the Registration Desk to help participants
with their identification. This activity will be repeated
on Thursday morning.
There will be a Natural History Display on the first floor
of the hotel, with quizzes attached.
A display of members' photographs will be mounted and judged
by participants and a selection of the winning photographs
will be used to produce an ENHG calendar for 2006. Participants
(Junior and Senior) wishing to submit photographs should
email newsletter@chirri2000.com or
contact Hazim Chalabi (050-6145155, email: hchalabi@adco.ae)
for further details. Closing date for entries in the Photography
Competition will be Wednesday 16th March 2005.
In the evening (19:00-20:00), Alan McGee
give a talk on the basics of GPS navigation (sign-up sheet
at Registration Desk) and at approximately 21:00,
after dinner, there will be a quiz on a variety of natural
history topics.
The emphasis on Wednesday will be on ‘in-hotel’
activities, socialising and meeting other members and their
families.
All excursions will start in the lobby of the
Hotel. For some excursions numbers will be limited
(allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis)
and other trips (ie, sand driving & dhow) will need to
be pre-booked. Please take the time to look at the brief descriptions
that follow so that you have the chance to plan your time
and book if need be.
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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| IEW
2005 cont…
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Thursday 17th March
06:30 – approximately 10:00: Bird Watching
with Andrew Twyman. No limit on numbers.
Andrew is a regular visitor to the fodder fields in Al Wathba,
where, arguably, the best bird watching in Abu Dhabi emirate
is possible. Saloon cars may participate. A sign-up sheet
for this activity will be available at the ENHG Registration
Desk.
08:30 – midday: Al Wathba Wildlife Sanctuary
with John Newby.
John will lead a group to this nearby sanctuary, which has
many reptiles, aquatic birds, mammals and a variety of plants.
A 4WD vehicle is NOT required. A sign-up sheet for this activity
will be available at the ENHG Registration Desk.
08:45 –10:30: Mafraq Perimeter Walk.
No limit on numbers.
This will be a repeat of Wednesday’s flora and fauna
walk, guided by at least one local expert. There will be a
checklist and younger members will be able to draw their answers
in order to enter for the competition. This activity can take
place at any time during the day. There will be a slide show
at the ENHG Registration Desk to familiarise participants
with some of the plants they will encounter. A sign-up sheet
for this activity will be available at the ENHG Registration
Desk.
09:00 – 17:00: Sand Driving for Beginners
with Alan McGee.
Alan McGee will set off at 09.00 for a nearby location ("Ghaftain")
with a group wishing to master basic sand driving skills.
They will start with a talk and demonstration followed by
lunch. In the afternoon newly taught techniques will be tried
and tested on location. Packed lunch needed. For safety reasons,
places for this activity are limited and advance booking is
needed. Email Alan.McGee@zu.ac.ae to book.
09:00 – 18:00: Miocene Elephant Tracks and
Desert Ecology with Drew Gardner.
Drew Gardner will lead a trip to the elephant tracks, and
cover aspects of desert ecology on this whole day trip. The
site is approximately 90 min from the hotel by car. A 4WD,
and a packed lunch, is needed. A sign-up sheet for this activity
will be available at the ENHG Registration Desk.
10:30 – 16:30: Spoon Worm Walk (Ras
Hanjurah), with Dick Hornby. Four vehicles maximum.
Dick Hornby will lead a limited group of vehicles to a coastal
area near Taweelah, about 45 minutes from the hotel to look
for an extraordinary creature: the Spoon Worm. There will
be a stop for birds. The mangrove habitat requires wetsuit
boots or sandals, sunblock and hats. Packed lunch required.
A sign-up sheet for this activity will be available at the
ENHG Registration Desk.
16:00 – 19:00: Mammal Trapping with
Chris Drew.
This activity will take place in two parts - Thurs pm and
Fri am. Chris Drew will lead a group to a location where desert
mammals can be found. Chris will explain techniques to participants
who will help to set traps and then return to the hotel. Four
wheel drive vehicles only. A sign-up sheet for this activity
will be available at the ENHG Registration Desk.
During the evening on Thursday, Brigitte
Howarth (Al Ain Chapter) will set up an insect trapping station
– it will provide an excellent chance for IEW participants
to find about what type of insects are flying around in the
Hotel grounds. Please take the opportunity to have a look
(but watch where you step!).
21:00 – 01:00: Star Gazing with Alan
Carruth.
After the IEW dinner Alan Carruth will lead a group
to a nearby dark location (approximately 20min drive from
the Hotel), where the group will spend some time looking at
the heavens above. A sign-up sheet for this activity will
be available at the ENHG Registration Desk.
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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| IEW
2005 cont…
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| Friday
18th March
Two of Thursday's excursions are repeated on Friday: Bird
Watching (06:30 onwards) and (if there is
sufficient demand) the Spoon Worm Walk (10:30 –
16:30) …………… and the
mammal traps set on Thursday evening will be checked on Friday
morning (time TBA).
09:00 – 12:00: Sand Driving for Advanced Learners
with Alan McGee.
Alan McGee will conduct a three-hour activity for drivers
who already have sand driving skills and who wish to improve.
Either packed lunch or return. For safety reasons, places
for this activity are limited and advance booking
is needed. Email <Alan McGee@
zu.ac.ae> to book.
08:30 – 16:00pm: Island Dhow Trip.
Large group activity. Cost: approximately 65 AED per
person
Participants will check out from the hotel by 08:30 and drive
to Abu Dhabi city to link with a dhow, which will take them
to a nearby island (most likely Futaisi Island, alternatively
Bahraini Island – the destination will be confirmed
ASAP). Participants will be able to go on guided walks have
lunch and there is a possibility that there will be some opportunity
for swimming. The dhow will return to Abu Dhabi at 16.00.
Advance booking is needed for this trip.
Email address for booking: allestree.fisher@hct.ac.ae
or tel. 02-6775717.
THURSDAY NIGHT DINNER
The dinner on Thursday night will be held around the pool
area of the Hotel (from 19:30). During the evening the winners
of the Sheikh Mubarak and Bish Brown awards will be announced,
as well the winners of the photography competition and floral
walk.
MAFRAQ HOTEL DETAILS
The Mafraq Hotel is conveniently situated at the intersection
of the east-west highway and the Al Ain road, 35 kms from
Abu Dhabi. A special Group Rate has been negotiated, and it
is recommended that intending participants make their own
reservation as soon as possible. The rates are as follows:
Mafraq Hotel Rates (inclusive of
16% service charge):
• Deluxe Single Room with half board (breakfast
+ Barbecue Dinner) AED 350/- net per night
• Deluxe Double Room with half board (breakfast
+ Barbecue Dinner) AED 350/- net per night
• Deluxe Single Room with breakfast AED 230/-
net per night
• Deluxe Double Room with breakfast AED 270/-
net per night
(Room accommodation is free for children under 12).
For bookings tel: 02-7155856 / 02-5822666, email: mafraq@emirates.net.ae.
Members are asked to book directly to the Hotel Bookings service,
as above.
Directions to the Mafraq Hotel can be supplied to you on
request. Please email newsletter@chirri2000.com
if you would like directions to be sent to you.
***
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All in all the weekend promises to be informative as well
as entertaining. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
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| The ENHG
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Mountain
trip
Article and photos by khudooma
Al Na’imi
My friend Alan
is a very intelligent man, he is satisfied in his family and
work life. On the other hand he is very worried about one
thing - which is the mountain trip. He loves these beautiful
Creatures from Stone fixed deep in the ground, raised with
beautiful architecture, painted to include wadis, valleys,
running arteries of water, home of many reptiles, insects,
plants, animals, etc. Also, they include fingerprints of humans
who lived and built their own tiny civilization one time in
history and continue to do so.
If Alan does not
like mountains, it’s up to him - nobody can make him
go there, but it seems that he likes mountains, he just does
not know how he can overcome his fear and anxiety.
|
Dr. Tom Weeks at
the doorstep of Wadi Khutwa |
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Without going deep inside the medical meaning,
anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state consisting of psycho-physiological
responses to anticipation of unreal or imagined danger. Don’t
forget that some fear is very important to our life and health.
Feeling anxiety and fear about a trip to the mountains could
be accumulated from traumatic past of accidents (falls and injuries),
the influence of other peoples’ thoughts about mountains,
and personal negative ways of thinking.
Know you fear and talk about it to somebody
who can listen and understand. Maybe your fear is about slipping
- catching your leg between rocks, flying eagles, animals
or the feelings of the people living in the area who will
start looking at you. Your listener can clear you fear and
explain to you the unknown.
Read about the area which you are interested
in visiting, so you know what others write about it and where
the beautiful spots are (and where the unpleasant ones are
located).
Make yourself ready by considering things
such as the type of car you need, GPS, food, water, shoes,
etc. Control yourself in the mountains specially during walking
so you control your body mass and movement - as they always
say, “Watch your step!” Think about your goal
and the feeling of discovering new things by yourself which
you did not know before. Listen to the trip guide’s
explanations and enjoy group discoveries. Touch with your
naked hand the traces of old human settlements and civilizations
which belong to all humans. (That is why the UN protects some
places). The late Sheikh Zayed has said, “A human without
a past is a human without a future”
I hope these words can help Alan visit
the mountains and do other things also which he fears. As
someone said before, “If I have one day left in my life,
I will use it to know and build the lives of others - to continue
writing the human history."
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Al
Ain English Speaking School – Year Five Field Trip
courtesy of AAESS
On Monday and Tuesday,
January 17 & 18, three ENHG members accompanied the AAESS
year five – all 40+ of them – together with several
teachers and parents, to several local sites of interest.
Here are some of the letters of thanks generated by the students
after they returned to classes.
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There just isn’t space to print all
the letters – sorry – so we chose a few, just
to share the enthusiasm these students showed on the trip. |
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| The ENHG
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February, 2005– Issue #225 |
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Al
Ain English Speaking School – Year five Field Trip cont...
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The students also put together a wall display
depicting some of their experiences. |
You’re
welcome Year Five – We enjoyed it as much as you did! |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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First
Annual International Date Palm Festival
article
and photos by Bob Reimer
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The First Annual Date Palm Festival was held at the
Islamic Institute, UAE University from December 14th to 16th,
2004. The event was organized by the Date Palm Friends Society
and occupied two large tents taking up one end of the UAEU
parking lot. In conjunction with the trade show, a scientific
conference was held to discuss various aspects of date palm
cultivation and exploitation. |
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The exhibition was opened by our patron, H.E. Sheikh
Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan on Tuesday morning. The trade
show displayed everything from the cultivation of date
palms through cloning as studied by the UAEU College of
Agriculture, through commercial date processing from
all over the Middle East and North Africa, to use of palm
fronds and logs for making construction materials. There
were lots of samples of dates to try and buy. There were
some delicious date concoctions that I hadn’t had
the opportunity to try before. |
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H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak
Al Nahayan opens the exhibition |
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There were some delicious date
concoctions |
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Exhibits by the Al Ain Depart-ment of Antiquities,
Fujairah Heritage Village, the Emirates Heritage Club
and Darwish Heri-tage House of Ras Al Khaimah highlighted
the rich impact the date palm has had on the lives of
people in the UAE. The Department of Antiquities was particularly
generous in their provision of traditional foods for sampling,
although their samples were more like a full meal!
While most of the literature avail-able at
the festival was in Arabic, several exhibitors provided
some interesting material in English. The Private Department
of the President provided a nice pamphlet on |
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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First
Annual International Date Palm Festival cont...
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the
various date varieties with an emphasis on when they matured.
The Al Ain Municipality had publications
on the Falaj and Oases of Al Ain and on Major Pests of
Date Palm in UAE. I was able to obtain copies of the proceedings
of past date palm conferences for our library courtesy
of UAE University.
All the exhibitors are to be commended for
their efforts. The festival was interes-ting and
informative. I want to especially thank the Department of
Antiquities for their interesting booth and excellent
food. I certainly hope that there is a Second Annual International Date
Festival next year. If you missed this one and there is,
be sure to go! |
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One of the many
exhibits at the conference |
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Musah
to Khutwah – a Hiking Misadventure |
article
and photos by Brien Holmes |
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The planned hike between Musah and Khutwah,
through the mountains, began routinely enough. However, for
the four participants, the walk ended as an unforgettable experience. |
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The four, all experienced hikers, set off early Thursday,
February 3 with the plan to explore and, if possible, complete the trek between the two mountain
villages. In previous months, various teams from the Al
Ain chapter had explored the possibility of an established
path beginning from the Khutwah side. The teams had discovered
a well-worn path from Khutwah past two abandoned villages
and ending in a bowl about half way to Musah. One exploratory
hike, completed at the end of December, ended at a
waypoint
called a ‘Turn Back”, the summit of a mountain
where the group decided they did not have sufficient daylight
remaining to make it through to Musah. |
| Left:
Map of the region - roughly a 10 km straight line distance
from Masah to Khatwah |
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February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Musah
to Khutwah – a Hiking Misadventure cont...
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The plan on February 3 was to follow wadi
beds from Musah towards “Turn Back”. Having reviewed
satellite images of the area with Bob, the group was reasonably
confident the route existed though at least two mountains
would have to be crossed, one near Musah, the other at “Turn
Back”.
The day began by leaving one
vehicle at Khutwah, where the group stopped to watch workmen
trimming date palms. As the material was removed from the
top of each palm, the grubs of the date weevils were left
on the ground. The group collected a few specimens and left
them under the truck, to collect at the end of the day. The
four then drove back to Musah to begin the hike. |
The view from the
BNHB summit out of
Musah |
|
The planned route was to hike
straight back into the mountains from Musah, looking for an
obvious route to the east. After about an hour, the four were
climbing up out of the wadi that extends beyond Musah, and heading
for “Turn Back”.
The four climbed to the summit, approximately 920 m high, and
enjoyed the view back. The oasis of Musah was clearly visible
and, beyond, the town of Mahdah. The location was entered in
the GPS as “BNHB”.
Ahead, the route to “Turn Back” was visible. The
group would have to descend into the labyrinth of wadis and
mountains; it was apparent that the traverse could be made without
having to climb any other summit until the ridge at “Turn
Back”. However, the network of valleys and wadis was like
a maze. The GPS would be important to find the direction.
After descending from “BNHB”, the group quickly
made its way across the expanse and was soon climbing up to
“Turn Back”. There were numerous small ravines stretching
down from the ridge and, after exploring, a decision was made
to abandon the hike, even though the group was about 100 m or
less from crossing the ridge and descending down onto the Khutwah
side. The group had made very good time; it was shortly after
1 pm and there were still many hours of sunlight. They had most
of their food remaining, and there were dozens of pools of fresh
water available, though all still had some water.
The plan, if the hike had to be abandoned, was to return down
to the network of wadis and make our way out, exiting near the
new village of Khutwah. We felt a combination of satisfaction
and regret; satisfaction that we now knew there was a route,
though obviously not an easy walking route; regret that we had
not made it that day. |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Musah
to Khutwah – a Hiking Misadventure cont...
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After 5 pm, the group was making its way down the wadi and was within a few hundred
meters of exiting the mountains when they were faced with their first real obstacle of the day.
The rains had created a water hazard, several pools of deep water, with steep, slippery drops
into each pool. The only other obvious route was over a steep drop of three or four meters. The
group was stuck. There was no time to reverse and head back to “Turn Back” or to “BNHB”. They
were stuck. |
Khutwah at sunrise – so close,
yet so far |
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The group made its way to the top of the
gravel beds and a decision was made that someone should get
a message out to our friends and family in Al Ain. We knew that
some would be very worried as we would soon be overdue for the
scheduled return to Al Ain. We also did not want anyone coming
out in the morning to try to find us on foot; they would never
be able to locate us in that maze. We did not have any phone
access though one member of the group did manage, somehow, to
receive at least two phone calls in the most unusual situations.
Finally, we wanted to get word out that we were all safe –
well, but awkwardly stuck.
So two of the four remained at
the location, now known on the GPS as “Stuck”, while
two others headed out to contact friends, get supplies and return
to lead the others out. Before long, it was very dark; the moon
would not rise until almost dawn. One of the two was uncomfortable
with walking in the dark – the group had only one flashlight
– so they returned and two others set off.
Because the plan had been to hike for most of the day and return
to Al Ain that night, no one had brought any supplies for sleeping
in the open. Nor did anyone have any matches. We were conscious
of the fact that our batteries were running low and we could
not afford to have the GPS fail. We always knew where we were;
we were just not able to find a safe route out of the mountains.
While two huddled on top of the
gravel plain at “Stuck”, the two others hiked until
they managed to get a telephone signal around 1:30 Friday morning.
Because of the darkness, it was impossible to make good time
and crossing summits was dangerous because they could not see
down the opposite slopes. By 3 am, the two had to abandon plans
to get back to the vehicle at old Khutwah; they were now stuck
on a ledge overlooking the new town of Khutwah. Though the village
was clearly visible below, seemingly just a few hundred meters
away, the two were stuck on a ledge about 700 m high, with no
way down and no possibility of climbing up until there was more
light. It was a long, cold night for the four.
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Musah
to Khutwah – a Hiking Misadventure cont...
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At first light, while two waited patiently
at “Stuck”, the other two looked quickly for a
way to the vehicle at old Khutwah. However, before noon, they
realized they were not going to find a quick route down to
the oasis so they decided to return to “Stuck”
and lead the group out via “BNHB” to Musah.
The reunion was mixed with regret that we had not been able
to reach our friends or the vehicle and happiness that we
had all made it through the night. And so we headed off to
“BNHB” and Musah, up the wadi bed we had walked
down the afternoon before. By now, many of the features were
familiar.
With the GPS device showing us just a few hundred meters from
“BNHB”, we looked for our route back up the mountain.
However, we could not find a safe route. By this time, late
Friday afternoon, we had been walking for two days and were
emotionally and physically exhausted.
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Bell
214ST helicopter similar to the one used in the rescue.
(photo courtesy of ROP website - http://www.rop.gov.om/gallery/igcontent.asp?img=41)
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The group made several attempts to find an easy
and safe route to the ridge but, with daylight hours dwindling,
failed to find a route.
Around 5 pm, we held a meeting on the
gravel plain and agreed that there were just too few hours of
sunlight remaining and that we were going to have to spend another
night in the mountains. The plan was to descend into the wadi
bed, scoop out a depression in one of the gravel beds, line
the depression with grass and get a good night’s sleep.
Then, in the morning, we would decide whether to continue to
look for a safe way out to Musah, or return to “Turn Back”.
Just moments after the meeting concluded, we heard the sound
of a helicopter approaching from our left. We quickly started
waving our arms and backpacks and anything else that might attract
the attention of the people aboard the helicopter. However,
it continued towards Khutwah and, we thought, on its way.
Then, we noticed it was circling
over Khutwah and we were then confident for the first time that
the helicopter was searching for us. After a few minutes, it
returned, this time flying straight towards us. In moments the
headlights of the helicopter flashed; they had spotted us. It
flew overhead then circled back, landing on the gravel plain
on the opposite side of the deep wadi where we had been planning
to spend the night.
Four men emerged from the helicopter,
including Bob who had no doubt joined the crew because of his
knowledge of the area from maps we had studied. One of the crew
fired two smoke grenades to measure the wind direction and speed.
Then the crew signaled to us to remain where we were. In a few
moments, the helicopter had lifted off again, flown to the narrow
gravel plain where we were waiting; we quickly climbed aboard.
Then a quick jump back across the wadi to pick up the three
who were waiting there, and a short flight back to Musah. |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Musah
to Khutwah – a Hiking Misadventure cont...
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Unbeknownst to us, our friends in
Al Ain had started to organize a rescue with local police
before noon on Friday. The police officials in the UAE and
Oman were both extremely cooperative and supportive and a
host of ENHG members came forward unselfishly to do what they
could to help, whether responding to our telephone messages
for supplies, translating at the police station, or coordinating
the information network to distribute news to worried individuals
around Al Ain and beyond.
As I reported shortly after
the experience, while I was picking up my truck in Khutwah,
I was greeted by several of the Afghani workers who manage
the farms in the oasis. All were grinning and pleased that
we had made it out safely. And our dear friend Obaid, sitting
in front of his house in Khutwah, smiled when he recognized
me. He knew my truck had been there and the police had visited
the village many times Friday to enquire if anyone had seen
any sign of us. Obaid said we must celebrate the safe return
by preparing a meal with a freshly killed goat or sheep!
All of the hikers returned
exhausted and suffered only a few minor scraps, typical of
a hike in the sharp stones of the Hajjar mountains. We also
had many mosquito bites; the rain had provided lots of fresh
drinking water but it had also provided numerous pools for
mosquitoes to lay eggs.
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The Committee held a special
meeting to review the events of the weekend. A set
of recommendations was prepared and was considered
by the full Committee at its regular meeting in
March.
There was an acceptance
that, even with the most efficient and thorough
planning, situations can develop that are unforeseen.
However, with some additional precautions taken
in advance, some of the frustrations experienced
by both the hikers and the rescuers could have been
avoided.
Among
the recommendations being considered:
-
purchase of a satellite telephone
- a special mountain hiking pack
including matches, chalk, head lamps, batteries,
and space blankets
- designated contact person to
be notified of the size of groups heading into
the mountains; if the contact person is not notified
of the safe return by a designated hour, a plan
of action is initiated automatically
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Left:
Why go there? – Because it is there
– and it is a beautiful place to be –
out there in nature! |
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Our thanks go
out to the many people – especially the Omani and Emirati
Police - who helped bring back our friends! |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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A
Study of Jebel Ali Beach,
as
conducted by a group of enthusiastic environmentalists
from The British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi,
and with the support of the ENHG, Al Ain Chapter
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article and
photos courtesy of Camilla Baba
former Al Ain resident/ENHG member |
| On
the weekend of 2 – 3 February, a group of enthusiastic
environmentalists from The British School Al Khubairat, Abu
Dhabi, conducted a study of Jebel Ali Beach as part of the BEA
scheme, a competition organized by Shell Cooperation. We were
privileged to have had our proposal chosen by the organization
to receive a grant of DH 3,000 to aid us with our study. |
Two
lads doing a grid survey. |
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Hey! Who ate all the peanut butter? |
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We went.
We saw.
We investigated! |
After
a number of delays in the form of public holidays and ski trips,
not to mention schoolwork, we were finally able go forth and
investigate. Unsure of what to expect, or what would be successful,
we packed up over 3 truck-loads of equipment, not to mention
enough food to feed a starving nation!!!
Thanks to the Al Ain Natural History Group coming to our rescue,
by providing us with not only equipment, but also ideas, advice
and energy, and armed with a previous survey by the ENHG, Abu
Dhabi, we were able to investigate many different aspects of
the beach and its environment. Though some experiments were
more successful than others (the fiasco of the malaise trap
- it blew over twice!! Sorry Brigitte!), we realized that these
were not problems, but in fact were discoveries within themselves.
Accompanying us were the fathers of three of the group members,
Patrick Sullivan, Alan Mcgee and Javeed Sayeed (a round of applause,
please) who were our support group, our cooks and our mentors,
and altogether indispensable!!
Now all we have to do is analyze what we found (yet another
obstacle)!!
Once we have made sense of what we found, or more often than
not, did not find, we will update you all further. Wish us luck!!!
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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The Arabian Peninsula - Pieter Van
Der Aa (1659-1733)
Van Der Aa (Dutch) was
apprenticed to the booksellers trade at the age of nine,
progressing later to bookseller and auctioneer. In 1692
he was appointed as a High Commissioner of The Booksellers
Guild. He was a prolific map publisher working in Leiden,
Holland during the early 18th Century.
Much of his output consisted of
re-issues and re-engravings of maps and plates that he had
acquired from earlier mapmakers. Though little of his output
was original, the few that were confirmed him as stylish
and quite revolu-tionary in his design. Several of his atlases
contain a clever and interesting method in that he printed
these maps inside a separate border. He basically used two
engraved stamps; one an elaborately inscribed outer border
like a picture frame and the other the map …Observe
the yellow picture framed map illustrated and you will see
very slight variance in the alignment of the map inside
its frame. Not bad for 1710!
His most remarkable work was the
elaborate 100 set limited edition of “Galerie Agreable
du Monde” issued in 1729 in 66 parts bound into 27
volumes and containing 3000 plates. Another was the “Cartes
des Itineraires et Voiages Modernes” weighing in with
28 volumes of travel accounts illustrated with small but
finely engraved maps often with decorative pictorial title
pieces.
Van Der Aa loved to use the sea
on his maps as his canvas to illustrate huge and elaborate
cartouches, map keys, topical scenes, sea battles, and compass
roses.
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The Arabian Peninsula - the original image
is 30 x 23 cm |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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article
and photos by Brien Holmes |
Three
students from the Al Ain women’s campus of the Higher
Colleges of Technology enjoyed the mountain hike from Khutwah
oasis to “Village One” Thursday 17 February,
part of the students preparation for a weekend of camping
and hiking. When we were approached by the College to see
if we could offer a hiking opportunity for the students,
we presented a number of options but settled on this interesting
hike into the mountains near Khutwah. This is one trip that
the ENHG group has enjoyed on at least three occasions this
season, including one hike in the moonlight.
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Taking
a break in the water-filled wadi |
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Hiking
along the donkey trail |
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The three women were preparing for an “outdoor
adventure” experience that would eventually lead to a
certificate, similar to the Duke of Edinburgh program. The weekend
includes overnight camping, preparing meals and hiking. The
ENHG was asked to organize a practice hike that would last up
to five hours.
With two instructors from the
HCT along for the day, we began in downtown Khutwah with a brief
visit to Obaid’s house to chat with Obaid and his sister
Fatima. The students were impressed with Obaid’s hospitality
and stories. After a quick inspection of the oasis clock –
now relocated yet again to another location in the square –
we headed up through the old houses and through the oasis on
the footpath.
The students were shown some
of the copper smelters at Khutwah, as well as the Islamic and
pre-Islamic graves along the route. One of the students was
familiar with the prayer that is often recited when encountering
a grave; she has promised to provide a translation as soon as
possible. The students were very interested in the archaeology
of Khutwah and were impressed that the site had been occupied
as long as it had.
From the smelters the group proceeded
to Sultan’s Oasis before turning up the side wadi and
heading into the mountains. The pace was considerably slower
than a regular ENHG walk. The group paused at Sultan’s
Oasis to take photos of one of the two donkeys that are now
resident at the oasis.
In the mountains, the group moved slowly along the trail, the
students curious about the geology and the features that dotted
the trail. The sun-bleached bones of a donkey were especially
interesting and each student collected a sample to take home.
One new sight was a series of
circles that had been scratched into the surface on top of the
gravel plains. At first, it appeared these had been made by
an individual using a stick to scratch out crude circles. Later,
it was apparent the marks had been made by someone on a motorcycle
who was following the trail, at least as far as the ‘donkey
trail’. Along the trail there were signs of the motorcycle
following the path.
With all the stops to appreciate
the archaeology, geology, donkey bones and other attractions,
it took almost two hours for the group to reach “Village
One”. The students were amazed to find an abandoned village
in such a remote place. They made a quick study of the remains,
took more photos, and relaxed before heading back to the vehicles.
The Al Ain chapter was pleased
to have this opportunity to work with the HCT and provide some
community service. We look forward to finding more ways to share
some of interests and experiences with the students in the near
future.
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Recycling
Center Officially Opened…
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article
by B. Howarth & photos by B. Reimer |
On
February 22nd a long-awaited event finally took place. For
quite some time ENHG had been looking into possibilities
of participating in some way to waste reduction, and recycling
of materials is a way of doing such. Therefore, several
months ago we talked about a program with Al Ain English
Speaking School (AAESS). Literature obtained from the
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) discussed a scheme where,
with the aid of a corporate sponsor, a recycling centre is
erected in a prominent place so that easy access is gained
by members of the community to deposit their materials for recycling.
From the beginning of our enquiries, AAESS has been happy
to provide the location for the centre, and so a corporate
sponsor had to be found. Professional Investment Consultants
(PIC), based at the Hilton Hotel, was approached and they
very kindly offered to cover the complete cost of purchasing
and implementing the recycling centre.
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The official opening of the Recycling
Center
L-R Front row: AAESS students, S. Brannon - Head of
Primary, AAESS,
2nd Row: T. Ashton - PIC, B. Holmes - ENHG Chair ,
Back Row: , G. Cosson - Head of Secondary , AAESS, W. Moore
- ENHG, J. Verster - PIC
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So,
an order for two crates was placed, one to hold paper and the
other to hold metal cans. The crates arrived sometime in January
and the sign was put in place last week. With the units in place,
the official ‘opening ceremony’ took place as mentioned
above, on the 22nd of February, in the presence of the Chairperson
of EEG, Habiba Al Marashi, students from the Primary and Secondary
School at AAESS, Heads of Primary and Secon-dary School, Sarah
Brannon and Geoff Cosson, Tony Ashton and Jaco Verster of PIC,
members of the Al Ain ENHG, and a welcome surprise visitor,
Mr Ahmed Sultan Al Nuaimi from the Health Education Department
at Al Ain Municipality, the gentleman who had been heavily involved
in the EEG’s Clean-up UAE campaign in Al Ain.
Al Ain Municipality does have various
waste management projects ongoing, much of which the general
public either doesn’t get to see, or simply isn’t
aware of. Separation of waste is in place, but separation at
source is something Al Ain Municipality is striving toward with
schemes such as the pilot scheme of red and green bins in some
districts around Al Ain. Thus, with our project we are supporting
efforts of Al Ain Municipality. But why only paper and metal?
Our Chairman, Brien Holmes, explained the reasons in an email
to our discussion group. He wrote:
"Plastic: with so many plastic processing
plants in the country, there is a huge supply of plastic from
factories. In fact, plastic recycling operations in the UAE
have, it is estimated, sufficient supplies on hand to meet their
requirements for the next two or three years.
Glass: Likewise, the glass recycling
plants in Jebel Ali have a good supply of glass for recycling
and so there is no market for glass collected from recycling
centers. However, Habiba noted today that there are changes
underway at Jebel Ali, requiring plants to reduce waste emissions.
Since it is more efficient -- and there are fewer emissions
-- associated with recycled glass, it is hoped that a market
for recycled glass will exist in a year or more.’ |
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| The ENHG
Newsletter…
February, 2005 – Issue #225 |
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Recycling
Center Officially Opened… |
It is possible, therefore, that we may expand
the recycling unit at a future date.
For now, waste can be reduced in the form
of any paper whatsoever, and any metal cans. When collecting
your materials for recycling, please bear the few guidelines
below in mind.
• Location -- The recycling bins are
located just inside the gate of
the school staff car park, near the caretaker's house. The
sign is clearly visible from outside. Should the gate be
closed, leave your material near the gate and the caretaker
will ensure it gets deposited in the bins later.
• Cans -- either aluminum or tin --
should be rinsed; if possible, remove any labeling material.
If you are using a carrier bag to carry the cans in, please
do not include it in the crate with the cans but take it
back to be reused at a later date.
• Paper -- We can accept any paper product
-- newsprint, card stock,
corrugated paper, magazines -- preferably tied with non-plastic
string. Please do not deposit any envelope with a plastic
window or envelopes with adhesive. Thermal fax roll paper
is also not to be deposited.
We, together with AAESS will be in competition
with other schools to see which school can collect the most
material for recycling (based on weight). Schools are eligible
to win a new laptop computer, a new desktop computer, a
new digital display unit or other prize.
The last item remaining is to thank everyone
involved in this initiative. We are delighted that PIC funded
this project and our sincere thanks go to them. We are also
thrilled that AAESS has been supportive in the implementation
of the Centre, and thank them for providing the site for
the bins. Many people have persisted with enquiries with
regard to recycling in our community and so our thanks go
to them for encouraging us. Thank you to the Al Ain people
for supporting this initiative.
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L – R: Habiba
Al Marashi– EEG, students – AAESS, B.
Holmes – ENHG, S. Brannon – Head of
Primary School, AAESS |
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THIS is how you do it – RIGHT! |
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