Habel / Al-Aqbiyah Plateau Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The Cache’s location is N23 27.463, E58 17.887.
Habel / Al-Aqbiyah Plateau Cache
Set your map datum to WGS 84
Features:
Great rock formations, occasionally water (plenty after rain!), nice Wadi hike, stunning view from plateau, opportunity for rock climbing. Extensive but easy scrambling.
Be aware:
The walk requires reasonable fitness and stamina (especially from kids!). Hiking shoes, preferably ankle boots, are recommended. Take plenty of water, snacks and fruit, a sunhat, suncream and start early to avoid the midday heat!
APPROACH:
From Seeb-Muscat highway, turn off at Ghala and head for the mountain range, passing The Grand Mosque and The American International School (TAISM) on the left. Stay on the road and turn off to Al-Ansab (signposted) to the right (N23 33.160, E58 22.286). Keep following this main road for some 10 km, going through a village and past various new construction areas, finally having the mountain range both on the left and in front of you. Turn off left at blue signpost indicating ‘Al-Aqbiyah 4km’ (N23 28.911, E58 18.562). You are now on Al Aqbiyah Road. Follow this road. It will eventually make a left turn uphill and change into new tarmac, with a concrete Falaj running to the right. At the signpost follow direction to Habel. After going down the hill you reach a fork and the end of the tarmac (N23 27.848, E58 18.054). Take a sharp turn to the right and follow the graded road (NOTE: when visited last, some days after slight rainfall, this graded road was washed away and we had to leave the car at the fork. This will add some 20 mins extra hiking to the trip). Follow the graded road, stay left of the white house and park your car at N23 27.727, E58 17.908.
HIKE:
Walk south from your car. There is no designated path, so it’s pretty much free style, and you will need to scramble over the water washed rocks. Keep right (NOTE: if you are into some real rock climbing, don’t keep right but go straight on. You’ll eventually reach a dried waterfall wall, which is great for top roping with kids), and after some ascent, you will reach some abandoned terraces with man-made walls (N23 27.545, E58 17.897). This is a good and shady place for a rest. Proceed with your scramble up until you reach the plateau at about N23 27.515, E58 17.906. Looking North, you should see your car, the white house and an electric overhead line pole in the distance. Proceed with your walk on the plateau to the South. In the Centre is a ‘canyon in the making’. A couple of hundred meters into that canyon there are two old trees standing left and right like gate posts. You will find the Cache just before the two trees somewhere up to the right. The Cache’s location is N23 27.463, E58 17.887.
After celebrating the catch, you may proceed further into the canyon (it won’t change much) or you can walk back to the edge of the plateau from where you have a fantastic view over an old village nestled in the valley beneath. You might descend here, slightly keeping to the right. This way is relatively comfortable and will lead you via some abandoned terraces to the village. If you follow the village’s main (partly concrete ceiled) Falaj and make it to its source, you’ll be in for a real and great surprise. Bring your Speedo’s, but respect the villagers’ privacy. In return come with an extra rubbish bag and collect some of the stuff you find there …
You can return via the village and you will end up at the fork.
Depending upon the variants you choose to take, this hike will be a great weekend morning out, being anything between 2 and 4 hours. ENJOY!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va n fznyy ubevmbagny pnir fbzr rvtug zrgref nobir cyngrnh yriry.