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[Trekking] [Mountain-biking] [Historical sites] Trekking If you stay overnight at the Bagdad Café you have a few excellent possibilities for exercising your legs, amongst which the two most interesting are the Jebel Kahwla and the Jebel R'mah, the former to the North and the latter to the East of the settlement itself. Although of similar altitude, at around 1200 metres , the two mountains are completely different in both origin and characteristics. Jebel R'mah: forming one of the south easternmost extensions of the Palmyrides range, the "jebel" itself formed by a well preserved thrusted anticline with its gentler slope sharply raising from the Bagdad Café and the steeper one, faulted, facing the Southeast . Most of the rock formations forming the "jebel" are carbonates of marine origin and Cretaceous age; only in its southern face the faulted core of the anticline is exposed showing a colourful ensemble of volcanics of Jurassic age. Best way to climb it would be walking from the Bagdad Café towards the easternmost edge and walk along the crest until its summit, or set of summits. The entire range can be walked within one morning so that the return to the shelter can be done before the hotter hours of the day. Another itinerary would be a round-walk along the base of the anticline itself; although this could take a bit longer it provides you with the opportunity to observe the southern flank and the core of the anticline. Jebel Kahwla: its name derived from the ream of black basalt rocks forming the flat top of the mountain. "Kahwla" is the Arabic name for the thin black shadow with which many Bedouins make-up their eyelids. A very impressive and interesting "jebel" formed preferentially by soft white evaporitic marls of Paleogene age capped by a thick layer of a much younger (Quaternary) and harder lava flow, deposited as a black basalt, which has preserved, indeed, the underlying softer formations from erosion. Although it is also within walking distance from the Bagdad Café, it is recommended to get closer to the foot of the mountain by a short drive. The climbing of the Jebel Kahwla is best done along its south westernmost slope, silhouetted on the left looking from the Bagdad Café; it is just an easy one hour climb to the top, following a number of faulted terraces that become more and more difficult to walk as they get filled-up with the rubble and boulders of the eroded crestal basalt layer. A very relaxing and interesting walk across the flat top provides a spectacular view of all surroundings. The descent is best done towards the small "wadi" on the northeastern side of the "jebel" along the ridge facing the Damascus-Palmyra road. If you are lucky you can observe the elegant and smooth gliding of beautiful Egyptian vultures (connexion con Egyptianvulture) , particularly during the spring. If you are not so lucky, you may have an encounter with one of the rare specimens of hyenas that seem to wander still around in some remote areas of the Syrian interior. Fossil collecting. Are you a fossil collector? Ask Redwan, one of the Sherfaldine brothers, I'm sure he will indicate you best places to find, in the vicinity of the Bagdad Cafe. |
