EMIRATOS (EAU) - Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) - De Wadi Ghalilah Dam a Deira Al-Rakba y Wadi Barut Dry Falls Area
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 3.28 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,791 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 1,791 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,876 ft
- TrailRank
-
84
5
- Min elevation
- 465 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 6 hours 56 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1000
- Uploaded
- January 30, 2024
- Recorded
- January 2024
near Ras Ash, Raʼs al Khaymah (United Arab Emirates)
Viewed 276 times, downloaded 2 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) - Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) - From Wadi Ghalilah Dam to Deira Al-Rakba and Wadi Barut Dry Falls Area
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The extensive area through which the different arms of the Wadi Barut , a left tributary of the Wadi Ghalilah , run, has a complex orography, with a very abrupt, almost inaccessible relief, which contributes to making it a little-known wadi in practice, despite being in the center of one of the most active hiking and climbing areas in the United Arab Emirates, next to the border with the Sultanate of Oman, between the Wadi Ghalilah hydrographic basin (to which it belongs) and the sub-basin hydrographic of the Wadi Shah, a tributary of the Wadi Bih / Wādī Al-Bayḥ (in Arabic: وَادِي ٱلْبَيْح).
As is known, the name of this wadi was recorded in the documentation and maps prepared between 1950 and 1960 by the British Arabist, cartographer, soldier and diplomat Julian F. Walker , during the work carried out to establish borders between the then called Trucial States, later completed by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom, with maps at a scale of 1:100,000 (Ref. FCO 18/1785 -1971 -Trucial States, Muscat and Oman: Al Rams) , in which appears with the spelling Wādī Barut
Detail of the map of the Wadi Ghalilah area and its tributaries. Map of Trucial States, Muscat and Oman - Rams - Scale 1:100 000 - Published by D Survey, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom (1971) - Edition 3-GSGS - The National Archives, London, England
It also appears, with the spelling Wādī Barut, in the National Atlas of the United Arab Emirates .
In a previous walk we had tried to follow the course of the Wadi Barut, at least from its confluence with the Wadi Litibah (where the Wadi Ghalilah is formed), to the area of confluence of its three main branches or tributary ravines, but it proved impossible because the great labyrinth of large rocks that block the course of the wadi in that area.
On this day's route we are going to try to approach again that area of confluence of the three main arms of the Wadi Barut, which pour their waters into the main course through large waterfalls (dry, except in the rainy season), and We will do it by following a short but intense and very interesting trail, the Deira Al-Rakba Hiking Trail , which leads us from the Wadi Ghalilah Dam to the village of Deira Al-Rakba .
The names of small villages such as Deira Al-Rakba, in which there are no permanent inhabitants, are often very difficult to specify, since there is no one to ask, and their toponyms are not recorded on maps (nor in ancient, nor in modern ones), and there are usually no documentary antecedents of any other type.
However, with Deira Al-Rakba we have been quite lucky, because one of its owners, Muhammad Saeed Al-Shehhi, remains very active in the desire to preserve the traditions and heritage of his ancestors, and despite not living permanently there , regularly sows the village terraces, mainly with wheat, harvests the crops, and has ensured that the name of the place also appears on Google Maps.
A few years ago, some of his statements were published in the Aletihad News Center newspaper in which he also referred to the village of Deira Al-Rakba and some of the peculiarities of sowing and harvesting in mountain villages.
This is a copy of that press article, in Arabic, from which we have extracted and translated the following fragment:
Article published on 8-4-2020 in Aletihad News Center
Muhammad Saeed Al-Shehhi, from Wadi Ghalilah and who cultivates one of the pastures in Deira Al-Rakba , said: The harvest season was delayed in the high mountainous areas, due to low temperatures and the continuation of rains for longer periods. long and distant, which contributed to the growth of the sown crops and their arrival at the harvest season according to the specified time, which is estimated at about 4 months for the wheat season, which begins with the preparation of the crops for the sowing, starting in December, and continuing until mid-April, for mountainous areas.
So, with this background, and although it may seem like an overly generic name, we have no reason to doubt that the village is called Deira Al-Rakba. Despite everything, and to corroborate this, we have also spoken with two muleteers who were guiding a team of donkeys in the vicinity, and they assured us that, indeed, the place is called Al-Rakba . They must have known it very well, since they gave us many details regarding the trail.
THE ROUTE:
Starting from the Wadi Ghalilah Dam, the trail begins a continuous zigzag climb, up a partially stepped slope, following the bridle path that leads to the village of Defels (Dirat Dafalas) and the Jabal ar Rahrah Ridge . It is the same trail used to follow the Wadi Ghalilah Dam Hiking Trail .
During the first kilometers this road is safe and fairly well conditioned, possibly in order to install or access the water pumping tanks, and the power line that serves the Palace of Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimim, in the highest part of the mountain, near the top of Jebel Jais.
bridle path
Every 500 meters, the path has distance markers, but they are out of phase, and the distance they indicate is greater than the real one.
At km. 1.1 we find one of the water pumping tanks and at that point the road forks, and to head to Deira Al-Rakba we take the path on the left, marked with a green arrow.
Well-defined path with some milestones and steps. some green arrows
Although at first it may seem that the new section of trail is poorly defined, this is not the case. It is a trail of only 1 km. long, with a good layout, defined and generally marked with green arrows.
It is also a bridle path, and for the first 700 m. It ascends on a moderate slope, but in its last 300 meters, until reaching the village, it presents a flight of stone stairs, on an almost vertical slope, with some sections in which it is necessary to use feet and hands, and with segments of slight exposure. , without safety equipment. I highly doubt that the donkeys will be able to pass through this final stretch.
Section with slight exposure to vacuum. The platform is narrow, has loose stone, and lacks equipment. To improve safety it might be enough to widen the platform a little
Initial segment of stairs. They impose a little, but up close they seem quite safe
Climbing section between rocks
Once at the top, the village of Deira Al-Rakba extends across a small plateau that dominates the entire valley.
There are old dry stone buildings, in ruins, but also several houses renovated and in use. We have also seen several cisterns and pipes to collect runoff.
The terraces are very well cared for and it can be seen that they are already planted or plowed and prepared for planting.
Terraces and some houses and other constructions in the village of Deira Al-Rakba
From this privileged vantage point, especially from the southern part of the village, there is an extraordinary and very direct view of the Wadi Barut Dry Falls , which are located just a few meters away.
In this photograph, marked in yellow, red and blue, you can see the (dry) waterfalls that receive the waters of the easternmost tributary arms and ravines.
Wadi Barut Dry Falls. Marked in yellow, red and blue, the (dry) waterfalls that receive the waters of the easternmost tributary arms and ravines
and in this other photograph, marked in orange, the (dry) waterfall that receives the waters of the westernmost tributary arms and ravines
Wadi Barut Dry Falls. Marked in orange, the (dry) waterfall that receives the waters of the westernmost tributary arms and ravines
Some of the terraces of the village are in the lower part, very close to the waterfall that receives the waters of the westernmost tributaries, and although we have not gone down to check it, it seems that from there you can even reach the foot of the waterfalls .
The view is spectacular, and one imagines how shocking it must be when after a storm or torrential rain the channels of all the tributary ravines fill up and the waterfalls pour their waters impetuously and with great noise.
After a brief rest, we headed back to the starting point following the same path.
ACCESS TO THE ITINERARY AND PARKING:
The starting point of the route can be easily accessed with a sedan vehicle, since the road is paved.
There is a well-equipped parking lot at the southern end of the Wadi Ghalilah Dam, at coordinates 25.981013, 56.145390.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THIS ROUTE:
The degree of difficulty of a route is measured mainly based on three factors: effort, technicality and risk , although the real difficulty of an itinerary must also take into account other variables, such as the weather situation, the weight of the backpack and the preparation. or physical form of the walker, who must know how to evaluate himself.
To know the physical difficulty or physical effort required, it is useful to use an automatic assessment system, such as the one provided by the PPI index. This is the index that corresponds to this route:
IBP index: 65 HKG
Total distance: 5.15 km
Desn. Accumulated climb: 524.05 m
Desn. Accumulated descent: 551.55 m
Maximum height: 571.9 m
Minimum height: 141.8 m
Total time: 6:56:03 h
Moving time: 2:33:37 h
Stopped time: 4:22:26 h
Total average speed: 0.74 km/h
Average moving speed: 2.01 km/h
IBP index. IBP index is an automatic rating system that rates the physical difficulty of a route
GENERAL TABLE OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY AND RISK LEVELS:
Pictograms with the degrees of technical difficulty and risk of a hiking route
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THIS ITINERARY:
Level 3: LOW DIFFICULTY: Route or section of route that presents at least one obstacle of a height less than or equal to knee height. The posture of the foot adapts to the irregularity of the support. The placement of the supports is carried out on the areas with the best grip. This degree of difficulty of the route is mainly concentrated in the 300 meters of ascent through stone stairs, shortly before reaching the village, in which we will have to use our feet and hands to find support.
RISK LEVEL OF THIS ITINERARY:
RISK LEVEL: Level 3: MODERATE: Moderate level of accident risk. There are points of slight exposure to danger: mountainous route that exposes the walker in certain passages to serious injuries, fractures, etc.).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The extensive area through which the different arms of the Wadi Barut , a left tributary of the Wadi Ghalilah , run, has a complex orography, with a very abrupt, almost inaccessible relief, which contributes to making it a little-known wadi in practice, despite being in the center of one of the most active hiking and climbing areas in the United Arab Emirates, next to the border with the Sultanate of Oman, between the Wadi Ghalilah hydrographic basin (to which it belongs) and the sub-basin hydrographic of the Wadi Shah, a tributary of the Wadi Bih / Wādī Al-Bayḥ (in Arabic: وَادِي ٱلْبَيْح).
As is known, the name of this wadi was recorded in the documentation and maps prepared between 1950 and 1960 by the British Arabist, cartographer, soldier and diplomat Julian F. Walker , during the work carried out to establish borders between the then called Trucial States, later completed by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom, with maps at a scale of 1:100,000 (Ref. FCO 18/1785 -1971 -Trucial States, Muscat and Oman: Al Rams) , in which appears with the spelling Wādī Barut
Detail of the map of the Wadi Ghalilah area and its tributaries. Map of Trucial States, Muscat and Oman - Rams - Scale 1:100 000 - Published by D Survey, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom (1971) - Edition 3-GSGS - The National Archives, London, England
It also appears, with the spelling Wādī Barut, in the National Atlas of the United Arab Emirates .
In a previous walk we had tried to follow the course of the Wadi Barut, at least from its confluence with the Wadi Litibah (where the Wadi Ghalilah is formed), to the area of confluence of its three main branches or tributary ravines, but it proved impossible because the great labyrinth of large rocks that block the course of the wadi in that area.
On this day's route we are going to try to approach again that area of confluence of the three main arms of the Wadi Barut, which pour their waters into the main course through large waterfalls (dry, except in the rainy season), and We will do it by following a short but intense and very interesting trail, the Deira Al-Rakba Hiking Trail , which leads us from the Wadi Ghalilah Dam to the village of Deira Al-Rakba .
The names of small villages such as Deira Al-Rakba, in which there are no permanent inhabitants, are often very difficult to specify, since there is no one to ask, and their toponyms are not recorded on maps (nor in ancient, nor in modern ones), and there are usually no documentary antecedents of any other type.
However, with Deira Al-Rakba we have been quite lucky, because one of its owners, Muhammad Saeed Al-Shehhi, remains very active in the desire to preserve the traditions and heritage of his ancestors, and despite not living permanently there , regularly sows the village terraces, mainly with wheat, harvests the crops, and has ensured that the name of the place also appears on Google Maps.
A few years ago, some of his statements were published in the Aletihad News Center newspaper in which he also referred to the village of Deira Al-Rakba and some of the peculiarities of sowing and harvesting in mountain villages.
This is a copy of that press article, in Arabic, from which we have extracted and translated the following fragment:
Article published on 8-4-2020 in Aletihad News Center
Muhammad Saeed Al-Shehhi, from Wadi Ghalilah and who cultivates one of the pastures in Deira Al-Rakba , said: The harvest season was delayed in the high mountainous areas, due to low temperatures and the continuation of rains for longer periods. long and distant, which contributed to the growth of the sown crops and their arrival at the harvest season according to the specified time, which is estimated at about 4 months for the wheat season, which begins with the preparation of the crops for the sowing, starting in December, and continuing until mid-April, for mountainous areas.
So, with this background, and although it may seem like an overly generic name, we have no reason to doubt that the village is called Deira Al-Rakba. Despite everything, and to corroborate this, we have also spoken with two muleteers who were guiding a team of donkeys in the vicinity, and they assured us that, indeed, the place is called Al-Rakba . They must have known it very well, since they gave us many details regarding the trail.
THE ROUTE:
Starting from the Wadi Ghalilah Dam, the trail begins a continuous zigzag climb, up a partially stepped slope, following the bridle path that leads to the village of Defels (Dirat Dafalas) and the Jabal ar Rahrah Ridge . It is the same trail used to follow the Wadi Ghalilah Dam Hiking Trail .
During the first kilometers this road is safe and fairly well conditioned, possibly in order to install or access the water pumping tanks, and the power line that serves the Palace of Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimim, in the highest part of the mountain, near the top of Jebel Jais.
bridle path
Every 500 meters, the path has distance markers, but they are out of phase, and the distance they indicate is greater than the real one.
At km. 1.1 we find one of the water pumping tanks and at that point the road forks, and to head to Deira Al-Rakba we take the path on the left, marked with a green arrow.
Well-defined path with some milestones and steps. some green arrows
Although at first it may seem that the new section of trail is poorly defined, this is not the case. It is a trail of only 1 km. long, with a good layout, defined and generally marked with green arrows.
It is also a bridle path, and for the first 700 m. It ascends on a moderate slope, but in its last 300 meters, until reaching the village, it presents a flight of stone stairs, on an almost vertical slope, with some sections in which it is necessary to use feet and hands, and with segments of slight exposure. , without safety equipment. I highly doubt that the donkeys will be able to pass through this final stretch.
Section with slight exposure to vacuum. The platform is narrow, has loose stone, and lacks equipment. To improve safety it might be enough to widen the platform a little
Initial segment of stairs. They impose a little, but up close they seem quite safe
Climbing section between rocks
Once at the top, the village of Deira Al-Rakba extends across a small plateau that dominates the entire valley.
There are old dry stone buildings, in ruins, but also several houses renovated and in use. We have also seen several cisterns and pipes to collect runoff.
The terraces are very well cared for and it can be seen that they are already planted or plowed and prepared for planting.
Terraces and some houses and other constructions in the village of Deira Al-Rakba
From this privileged vantage point, especially from the southern part of the village, there is an extraordinary and very direct view of the Wadi Barut Dry Falls , which are located just a few meters away.
In this photograph, marked in yellow, red and blue, you can see the (dry) waterfalls that receive the waters of the easternmost tributary arms and ravines.
Wadi Barut Dry Falls. Marked in yellow, red and blue, the (dry) waterfalls that receive the waters of the easternmost tributary arms and ravines
and in this other photograph, marked in orange, the (dry) waterfall that receives the waters of the westernmost tributary arms and ravines
Wadi Barut Dry Falls. Marked in orange, the (dry) waterfall that receives the waters of the westernmost tributary arms and ravines
Some of the terraces of the village are in the lower part, very close to the waterfall that receives the waters of the westernmost tributaries, and although we have not gone down to check it, it seems that from there you can even reach the foot of the waterfalls .
The view is spectacular, and one imagines how shocking it must be when after a storm or torrential rain the channels of all the tributary ravines fill up and the waterfalls pour their waters impetuously and with great noise.
After a brief rest, we headed back to the starting point following the same path.
ACCESS TO THE ITINERARY AND PARKING:
The starting point of the route can be easily accessed with a sedan vehicle, since the road is paved.
There is a well-equipped parking lot at the southern end of the Wadi Ghalilah Dam, at coordinates 25.981013, 56.145390.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THIS ROUTE:
The degree of difficulty of a route is measured mainly based on three factors: effort, technicality and risk , although the real difficulty of an itinerary must also take into account other variables, such as the weather situation, the weight of the backpack and the preparation. or physical form of the walker, who must know how to evaluate himself.
To know the physical difficulty or physical effort required, it is useful to use an automatic assessment system, such as the one provided by the PPI index. This is the index that corresponds to this route:
IBP index: 65 HKG
Total distance: 5.15 km
Desn. Accumulated climb: 524.05 m
Desn. Accumulated descent: 551.55 m
Maximum height: 571.9 m
Minimum height: 141.8 m
Total time: 6:56:03 h
Moving time: 2:33:37 h
Stopped time: 4:22:26 h
Total average speed: 0.74 km/h
Average moving speed: 2.01 km/h
IBP index. IBP index is an automatic rating system that rates the physical difficulty of a route
GENERAL TABLE OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY AND RISK LEVELS:
Pictograms with the degrees of technical difficulty and risk of a hiking route
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THIS ITINERARY:
Level 3: LOW DIFFICULTY: Route or section of route that presents at least one obstacle of a height less than or equal to knee height. The posture of the foot adapts to the irregularity of the support. The placement of the supports is carried out on the areas with the best grip. This degree of difficulty of the route is mainly concentrated in the 300 meters of ascent through stone stairs, shortly before reaching the village, in which we will have to use our feet and hands to find support.
RISK LEVEL OF THIS ITINERARY:
RISK LEVEL: Level 3: MODERATE: Moderate level of accident risk. There are points of slight exposure to danger: mountainous route that exposes the walker in certain passages to serious injuries, fractures, etc.).
Waypoints
Car park
Photo
656 ft
Subida escalonada y muy empinada ya desde el inicio
Stepped and very steep climb from the beginning. Views towards Jabal Hudayd, Jabal Qandus and Jabal Khabb, Wadi Ghalilah Dam and area where Wadi Litibah meets Wadi Barut
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Photo
649 ft
Confluencia. Cauces muy definidos del Wadi Barut y del Wadi Litibah, al pie de la Barut Nose
Confluence. Very defined channels of the Wadi Barut and the Wadi Litibah, at the foot of the Barut Nose
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Photo
906 ft
Vista hacia la Barut Wall y cascadas (secas)
Vista hacia la Barut Wall y cascadas (secas)
Photo
1,126 ft
Continúa el sendero, pendiente y en zigzag. Hay una senda menor que se dirige a la derecha
The path continues, sloped and zigzag. There is a minor path that heads to the right
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Intersection
1,352 ft
Depósito de bombeo e intersección. Marcador de 1500 m. Senda a la izquierda, con flecha verde
Pumping tank and intersection. 1500m marker. Path to the left, with green arrow
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Photo
1,380 ft
Senda bien definida y con algunos hitos y peldaños. Algunas flechas verdes
Well-defined path with some milestones and steps. some green arrows
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Tree
Photo
1,577 ft
Brazo afluente del Wadi Barut, por la izquierda, que pasa por la aldea de Barut
Tributary arm of the Wadi Barut, on the left, which passes through the village of Barut
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Photo
1,629 ft
Hasta aquí, la senda tiene escasa pendiente y está bien cuidada, con plataformas de piedra y con frecuentes marcadores
Up to this point, the path is gentle and well maintained, with stone platforms and frequent markers.
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Photo
1,675 ft
Tramo de subida. Algunos segmentos con leve exposición, en los que no vendría mal un cable o sirga
Uphill section. Some segments with slight exposure, in which a cable or wire rope would not hurt, or simply improve safety by widening the platform a little
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Photo
1,690 ft
Algunas plataformas de piedra, antes de las escaleras
Algunas plataformas de piedra, antes de las escaleras
Photo
1,703 ft
Escaleras. Imponen un poco, pero se perciben bastante seguras
Escaleras. Imponen un poco, pero se perciben bastante seguras
Photo
1,795 ft
Primeras vistas de la aldea de Deira Al-Rakba, y algunos bancales
Primeras vistas de la aldea de Deira Al-Rakba, y algunos bancales
Photo
1,874 ft
Deira Al-Rakba. Pozo o cisterna, bancales y otras construcciones, algunas en ruinas, otras reformadas y en uso
Deira Al-Rakba. Well or cistern, terraces and other buildings, some in ruins, others renovated and in use
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Photo
1,864 ft
Más construcciones y bancales recién sembrados o preparados para la siembra
More buildings and terraces newly planted or prepared for planting
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Waterfall
1,821 ft
Vistas hacia la confluencia de los tres brazos principales del Wadi Barut, en las Wadi Barut Dry Falls
Views towards the confluence of the three main branches of Wadi Barut, at the Wadi Barut Dry Falls
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Photo
1,715 ft
Algunos bancales en la parte baja, muy cerca de las cascadas
Algunos bancales en la parte baja, muy cerca de las cascadas
Photo
782 ft
Escalones y zigzag en el trayecto de regreso, muy cerca ya del Wadi Ghalilah Dam
Steps and zigzags on the return journey, very close to the Wadi Ghalilah Dam
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Comments (4)
You can add a comment or review this trail
Buenos días, Pablo: fascinante ruta y excelente y completo trabajo de documentación con bellísimas fotografías.
¡Impecable!
Nos haces soñar con esos lugares tan remotos como preciosos y que tan bien describes e informas.
Admiración es poco...
Un abrazo.
Muchas gracias, querido amigo, por tu valoración y amables palabras.
Un gran abrazo
Bonita ruta. Un abrazo
Hello my friend, very nice trail m.r pablo