A group of hikers chose to mark the Sultanate of Oman’s 51st National Day by hiking and reaching the top of Al Amerat Mountain on November 18.
A group of 20 hikers consisting of Omanis and expatriates from the UK, India, Egypt, Jordan and Russia started hiking at 6:15 am and reached on top of the mountain by 7.45 am.
Shakir al Araimi, the team head, a hiking enthusiast who takes groups for hiking every weekend, said, “They are simply normal and ordinary people from different countries, who gathered over the love of nature and being outdoors in spite of work in their daily life.”
Ameer’s Saad, from Egypt, has been in the Sultanate of Oman for 23 years now. “Practically, I have been in the Sultanate of Oman for my whole life. Now I am 24, and have been hiking for two and a half years. I love the Sultanate of Oman because of its nature and people. The people are kind, helpful and peaceful,” he said.
So we wanted to celebrate the Sultanate of Oman’s National Day in our own way as we are hikers, and we decided to hike at Al Amerat. It is an incredible place!” We took with us Omani flags and portraits of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
According to the hikers, the weather was pleasant, and the sight one gets to see during hiking is also a treat.
The total distance covered by them was three km. Hiking, for Rima Fatima, from India, is a stress reliever and an energiser.
It was the first opportunity for Rima to scale the mountain in Al Amerat. “Climbing up was quiet comfortable as long as we watched our steps. However, descending was challenging with heavy boulders which resembled solving a maze puzzle.”
While six of the team members are regular hikers, the number goes up and down every week, but most of the members gathered to make November 18 special by celebrating with the Sultanate of Oman’s nature.
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