Only 20 minutes from Ramallah, Yabrud has become the most prominent crag in the Ramallah area. It now features many climbing routes on superb limestone. It was first developed by Tim Bruns, Will Harris, Dario Franchetti and Kim Van Der Putten but over the years many foreigners and Palestinians have contributed routes to this amazing crag.
🍃❄️🍂 Season:
The Yabrud cliffs face south, which makes it an ideal climbing location in the late fall, winter and early spring but very hot in the summer. In the summer, the crag is in the shade until 11.00 am, thus it is recommended to climb in the early morning. The best months of the year are November / December and March / April. January and February can be great months, but the climbing days are limited due to rain and occasional snow.
🔩 Gear:
All the routes at Yabrud are pure sport and are equipped with an anchor station with rappel ring. Most routes range from 4 to 8 bolts long. A standard 60-meter rope will be plenty (and possibly even enough for two routes at once). Sunscreen is a must!
Preservation and etiquette:
Climbers have formed a good relationship with the local Yabrud municipality and gained permission and support for climbing activity at the cliffs. That said, it is vital that visitors perpetuate the good relationship with the local community by being respectful and culturally sensitive.
Leave No Trace: Pack up all trash (including cigarette buds), toilet paper, follow established trails, respect flora & fauna and even pick up trash that is not yours.
Cultural sensitivity: Climb with a shirt on, avoid wearing revealing clothes, be friendly and respectful to locals. Feel free to share your harness with locals and give them a chance
Highlining:
In 2016, Yabrud was host to the first ever highline in Palestine. The highline rig is about 40 meters long and traverses the valley from north to south over the dirt access road. The site is equipped with 5, 10mm expansion bolts at either anchor point but the hangers have been removed. There is a definite “no – fall” zone on the north side of the valley. It is best to walk from the obvious rock protrusion on the southern side of the valley.