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Khazareh Canyon, Jebel Um Ishrin, Wadi Rum, Jordan

Publié le 24 December 2013 | Jordan Eng

To the west of Rum village, the jebel Rum and to the east, the long jebel Um Ishrin, these 2 mini rock chains form a natural access corridor to the wadi Rum. The Kazarek canyon is a huge fault that almost splits the Um Ishrin jebel in two at village level. With a series of abseils in the middle, it can only be traversed in an east-west direction, i.e. from the other side of Jebel Um Ishrin, ideally to complete the return journey from Rakabat Canyon, which crosses the mountain a little further south in the opposite direction. The very steep passage consists of a long climb up a ramp to reach a small interior pass before descending on the opposite side via 2 very narrow abseils and finishing in the sand to emerge into the light. The scenery on the east and west sides is quite fabulous and well worth the detour, even if the canyon itself is quite short.

Technical summary

Access to the place

From the village of Rum through the Rakabat canyon or be dropped off on the other side at the canyon entrance by Bedouin cab.

Map & topo

Itinerary description

Hiking to the start 20'

From the Rakabat canyon exit, it's easy. Follow the cliffs due north, with a "great pyramid" in your sights. Then you come to a wide entrance with a tongue of sand between the walls. You can now see the canyon's perspective, with the ramp leading up the right-hand side.

Course

The canyon starts out uphill on the right-hand side, before descending a little and attacking a III or IV climbing section and a trickier step or 2. It takes around 30′ to reach the narrow pass, a platform and the 1st abseil belay on the left.

The 1st abseil (40m) is very vertical after the first 10m. The second abseil (25m) starts off to the right, at the foot of a very narrow fissure into which you have to squeeze and land in almost total darkness and sand. The crack is very narrow, barely shoulder-width wide. Walk out, then the passage widens and gradually opens up. At the end, climb up again to the right (several options available) to reach a large plateau overlooking the Rum valley. Here you'll find the passage leading down to the goat's gully (see article on Rakabat canyon).