A little different from normal outdoor activities, it's high time for me to finally meet the famous rock climb spot at Stardust in Ras Al Khaimah. Stardust is a famous climbing crag in the community of rock climbers in the UAE and of course, I am not one of them. But the curious cat in me joined one time to see what really goes behind a rock climbing activity.
Disclaimer: This post is not my usual 'hiking guide'. I am not an expert on rock climbing as well. The post may be lacking of technical terms and information that you are looking for. Please check out other resources if needed.
Rock Climbing Location - Stardust, Ras Al Khaimah
Stardust is located along the wadi in Ras Al Khaimah and there are multiple crags and routes to choose from. I have seen some grades and numbers but since I'm bad at math, I shied away from that information which I regret the most. The spot we have used is at the last and the farthest one from the main road.
The terrain of the wadi is somehow similar to Wadi Shah or Wadi Litibah but what makes it different is that there are (as I said) multiple crags for rock climbing. Do take note that to reach the inner part of the wadi (where the crags are located), the off-road path can be accessed by 4WD but I will suggest taking a 4x4 with you.
An open area awaits you in front of the crag where you can park your vehicle and camp. There are two toilets (one for male and one for female) next to the shed and a small cave above that can be accessed using the stairs.
At the open area, the crag is right in front of you and you just have to select your route according to your preference. All ropes and gears are brought by the team and there are no gears that can be rented near the crags (as far as I know).
From what I heard, Stardust is quite popular because there are multiple crags ranging from easy routes to challenging ones. True enough, our team was able to try some of the easy ones and some of the not-so-easy ones.
First Glimpse of Rock Climbing:
While two weeks are not enough to learn everything, I get to see firsthand what goes through actual rock climbing. I learned all the different roles of people participating in rock climbing:
- Lead Climbers - those who climb and pitch the rope up to the top rope
- Belayers - those who support/protect the climbers in the event of an accident
- Climbers - those who climb to reach the top rope
More than the technicalities that I have witnessed, I am amazed at how strong and capable my friends are!
Although I tried rock climbing once on this day, what I enjoyed most was taking photos of everyone in action. But nevertheless, the activity is overwhelming and fulfilling despite the hot weather lately.
Personal Thoughts:
I climbed a challenging one at the beginning but couldn't climb any higher. I changed into an easy one in the end and I'm happy I did. It may be too early to say this by trying once, but I think rock climbing is not for me. I enjoy the camp watching everyone, and I may do it again if there's an occasion but not regularly. You may also check a recent event organized by FOX.AE with another rock climbing experience:
FURTHER READING: FOX.AEโs Climb for a Cause โ Hike, Rappel, Rock Climb 2021 in Wadi Litibah!
That's it for our (more of 'their' experience lol) rock climbing experience in Stardust and until next time! If you want to know more about Stardust's detailed information, check out dubaihiking.org's Post to help you plan your rock climbing adventure. Enjoy!
