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Saudi Bolting Project 2019 – Part II of II

Our new location - Wadi Al Akhu, Hariq, KSA Hariq constituted a complete change of scene. From the temperate weather and lush landscapes of the south, we were now in the rocky desert of the central Saudi plateau. Most noticeable was the temperature which was well into the 30ºs even in the shade and we had traded the baboons for countless camels! Wadi Al Akhu Crag Al Akhu means The Brother and the new crag is named for the friendly locals who befriended Joao Miquel, a Riyadh-based expat who bolted the first and only route at the crag in April 2019. The route is the namesake of the crag, Al Akhu. Big respect to all of the expats who spent countless hours checking Google Earth...

Saudi Bolting Project 2019 – Part I of II

Last year we installed 789 glue-in bolts and 91 anchors creating the first two professional developed sport crags in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation have major plans to develop and promote climbing and the community in the Kingdom and we are very proud to be able to continue on as integral partners in 2019. In October 2019 the team equipped 78 new sport climbs in KSA This year the work was split across the country. First up was a much anticipated return to the aesthetic sandstone of Tanomah in the lush south-west. Then, we were going to open a new crag in Hariq, not far from Riyadh. Both crags are about 9 hours apart so we began with a long drive from...

NEOM Project

Read here. In this blog we are heading back to Saudi Arabia where I got to bring the XC bolting team back, this time for a commercial related project. The project, NEOM, is located in the far north-west corner of Saudi Arabia and means “new future.” According to the website NEOM “is a bold and audacious dream…a vision of what a New Future might look like”. The official launch party was just as bold as their dream and I am very proud to have been able to involve the XC Bolting Team! The Request: Bring a team to the wilderness in NEOM to prepare a sport climb on which two “well known international climbers” would climb LIVE. The route should be objectively aesthetic, challenging and...