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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Nov 18, 2013 - 10:25am PT
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The French can get away with existing in such areas.....they leave toilet paper on the trail just like the locals so no one suspects they are there.
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chick_on_ice
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 18, 2013 - 10:26am PT
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Also why ask when you've already made up your mind ...
I believe I wasn't asking about whether or not I should go, because you're right Chim-Chim, I've already made up my mind. I'm not interested in Greece/Turkey/Thailand for this trip, because I'm going to Yemen not just for the climbing and drinking on a beach (shocking, I know), but more for broader worldly/travelesque/curiosity aspects.
I approached supertopo's collective wisdom in order to get specific information on the climbing itself that I couldn't get in a political science zine.
And I'm tracking down that Rock and Ice issue right now. You all have been very helpful, and I appreciate the safety concerns, but my parents are worrying more than enough for everyone :)
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Majid_S
Mountain climber
Karkoekstan
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Nov 18, 2013 - 01:44pm PT
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going there with American passport ?
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Nov 18, 2013 - 03:08pm PT
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going there with American passport ?
Majid, did you bother to read any of this thread? My god...
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Nov 18, 2013 - 04:23pm PT
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The French can get away with existing in such areas.....they leave toilet paper on the trail just like the locals so no one suspects they are there.
heheheh
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Nov 18, 2013 - 04:38pm PT
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I spoke with a young fella at the local nabe market, the A & M.
He was finishing up his last shift and leaving for home the next day, having made enough money to get back there.
The A & M is run by Yemenis.
This fella told me he hates California--the people in the hood are all Spanish and he can't speak Spanish; the water's good, but not as good as well water in the desert; it's TOO HOT IN THE SUMMER (a half-baked idea--I like it fine); he hates working in a dump disguised as a store.
Sounds hard to believe that it is SO COOl over in Yemen.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Nov 18, 2013 - 04:47pm PT
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thank GOD we shipped al queda into their midst after we decimated their civil government!
They gotta go someplace, rSin.
Short of hell, it's pretty damned hot there!
The Flames avoid it, of course.
Ever tried to low-ride a camel?
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Dapper Dan
Trad climber
Menlo Park
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Nov 18, 2013 - 04:49pm PT
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Forget the naysayers ice_chick . Get after it , a post a TR later!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 18, 2013 - 05:02pm PT
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Ever tried to low-ride a camel?
Mouse, was yer next question gonna be - why are they called 'ships of the desert'?
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chick_on_ice
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 18, 2013 - 05:35pm PT
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I must ask how does it feel to visit a war torn country like Yemen... I think i would feel rather akward as a spoiled westerner "vacationing" in such a place
Please don't make assumptions about where I am from Ron. I grew up in a war-torn region of the world, and I try not to use it as an excuse for anything. I'm just thankful my parents got us out when they did. I found (in my limited and naive experiences that have composed my life up to this point), that when you interact with people and treat them not as refugees or someone to be pitied, but as real people, they tend to respond in kind. They want to share their way of life, because they tend to be proud of their culture and the little that they do own. By giving them the respect they deserve, and not thinking of yourself as being'above' or 'better' than them, both parties walk away having learned something. And in my idealistic opinion that has been fostered by years of liberal arts indoctrination (guilty as charged), if we can learn from each other, we understand each other better and that leads to us trying not to kill each other. QED
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
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Nov 18, 2013 - 06:47pm PT
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War zones are pretty exhilarating and do change your perspective on the world in an important way. I would not go as a tourist, though. Generally two kinds of foreigners, military, and NGOs. The military are either wearing uniforms or look way too tough, so the locals will assume you're with some NGO. Then everyone wants to know which one, since a lot of them are suspected of spying and do in fact get debriefed when they return. When I've traveled (and lived) in war zones I've always had a legitimate reason that was more or less acceptable to everyone. Living in the killing fields on the Colombia-Panama border, we work with families of victims of both sides of the war and are respected by everyone.
In Afghanistan it was much harder and I was watched all the time, but more so by the secret police of the Afghan govt. Whoever I was I was not spying on the Taliban so it was OK. That was pretty sketchy and poorly planned.I had planned to go to Iraq and sued a private security contractor, but the case settled and its not been financially possible to go back to get more cases. My strategy had been to hold public meetings telling everyone I was there to put a stop to the contractor killings, which was true, and preventing innocent people from being shot down in the streets by the panicked contractors is the kind of issue that would be supported by nearly everyone, from the govt to the insurgents. And make sure you're hooked up with a mosque.
I think that has been the key to my security in Colombia - don't threaten anyone and be very proactive about your public image. On the other hand if I'd gone down there into a war zone and started buying coke and teenage hookers, somebody would have grabbed me or taken me out. You have to navigate the social scene just like you'd navigate a melting glacier on a mountain. You need to get from point A to point B over and over and always have an escape route. You also have to have local people whom you absolutely trust with your life. This kind of travel can get you killed, but so can a mountain, and you can accomplish a lot doing humanitarian work that makes it worth the risk.
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jgill
Boulder climber
Colorado
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Nov 18, 2013 - 06:50pm PT
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You might consider kidnapping insurance unless your family and friends have lots of money. However, it might not be available for Yemen.
Probably a good idea to buy an AK47 as soon as you arrive.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 18, 2013 - 08:16pm PT
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John, in the 'event' I alluded to on the first page my friends had M-16's and they were majorly out-gunned. That's why they had to call in a favor.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Nov 19, 2013 - 10:58am PT
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The granite in SW Saudi Arabia was beautiful, and empty. We were close to Yemen, but it was a long time ago.
Above all, be smart. Constant awareness about surroundings. Be with your friend and his friends as much as possible.
Think ahead, plan ahead. Study as much Arabic and Yemeni culture as you can.
Study the country.
Be respectful of Islam, cover your hair and wear modest clothing covering to the wrists and ankles, especially in the countryside.
Don't look wealthy or flashy at all.
Never forget that Americans have been killing Yemeni civilians in their attempt to drone the bad guys. Lots of hard feelings in some places.
There is plenty of good reading you can do.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Nov 19, 2013 - 11:45am PT
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Check out the average weather for that time of year.
Be prepared for rain and chilly nights.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Nov 19, 2013 - 02:10pm PT
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Chick, I posted a little sound advice, because you said your mind was made up.
That being said, I will add that I would not go to Yemen at this point in history. I was in the Middle East for 4 years, and I'm a professional Survival Instructor.
Of course it could turn out to be perfectly fine, but are you willing to bet your life on it? That's kind of a reality that you have to face if you really want to go.
You will never face harder stares in your life, and you won't know what's behind them.
There are lots of peaceful places to go in this world. Some of them are in Yemen, along with many people who would love nothing better than to have a better world and have an American friend. Unfortunately mixed with some deadly hate, just like the duality of man here in America.
Best of Luck.
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YosemiteSteve
Trad climber
CA
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Nov 19, 2013 - 03:34pm PT
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Mike Libecki and Josh Helling climbed in Socotra two years ago. There was a video online, but now it's got a password. Here's a page that used to link to it:
http://mikelibecki.com/video/
I know that they did a couple of what they thought were FA's, but upon reaching the top, they found some very old rock cairns. Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a big article in the newest Rock & Ice about another team climbing these same towers. December issue, I think.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Social climber
SLO, Ca
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Nov 19, 2013 - 04:03pm PT
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Awesome!! plz go forth and crush! I bet 99% of the naysayers on this thread have never left the United States. In Pakistan we would see stuff like like "Die Americans!!" spray painted on rocks but everywhere we went people were insanely friendly.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Social climber
SLO, Ca
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Nov 19, 2013 - 04:10pm PT
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Huh? Turns out they didn't put all the big mountains in the U.S., so some of us have to travel.
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