History of Rock Climbing  in Wadi Rum * The Beduin have been climbing the rocks and mountains in their area since time immemorial. This was mainly for practical reasons - hunting, herding goats, and collecting plants. Also, some of the young men climbed for "sport". All these traditional routes  were climbed solo, barefoot, with no equipment. They are still the best in the area and are serious undertakings, with climbing up to (French) grade 5, fragile rock, and intricate route-finding.  Remember that many of these routes have been down-soloed carrying an animal....this is an indication of what incredible natural climbers the local people are. The first recorded climb by outsiders was the ascent of Jebel Rum by Major Henry Coombe-Tenant and Lance Corporal "Havabash" Butler in 1947. Another route on Jebel Rum was climbed by Sylvia Branford and Charmian Longstaff, guided by Hamdan Amad, in 1952.  No more routes were recorded until 1984, when Tony Howard and Di Taylor first visited the area. With the help of the local climbers, they repeated many classic Beduin routes, and began to develop the "modern" climbs.  Gradually, Rum acquired a reputation among climbers and trekkers. Articles in the specialist climbing press contributed to this - although, personally, an article by the Remy brothers put me off visiting Rum for over a decade ! *This section is loosely based on the two definative guidebooks : Jordan: Walks, Treks. Climbs and Canyons Di Taylor and Tony Howard. Cicerone Press, March 1999 ISBN 1852842784 Treks and Climbs in Wadi Rum, Jordan Tony Howard. Cicerone Press, March 1997 ISBN 1852842547   THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.....TO BE COMPLETED SOON !