Local Bedouin Guides from Wadi Rum, Jordan form new society to help climbers.

Local Bedouin Guides at Wadi Rum have been iinvolved in all the rescues in the area to date, and they have now formed the Wadi Rum Volunteer Rescue Society. They are looking for contributions to costs of rescues they are involved in so they can purchase much-needed essential rescue equipment. Wilf Colonna, a French guide who runs a Jordanian travel agency says "The Wadi Rum boys are very efficient. Anybody getting help from them or wishing to assist financially having enjoyed their holiday in Rum, should make a donation via Sabbah Eid al Zalabieh who is looking after the Rum Rescue Fund in the Arab Bank." The Guides have identified a number of accident "hot spots" and popular routes and are carrying out training of aspirants on these routes before issuing them a guiding permit, to be recognized by ASEZA.

The Guides are also hoping for assistance from the French Mountaineering Federation (FFME) with a technical guiding course, to be supported by their Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile Rum's youngest "aspirant guide", Mohammad Hammad (a good climber, son of Hammad Hamdan and grandson of Sheikh Hamdan, two of the most illustrious of Rum¹s climbing pioneers) is now in France on his own initiative and climbing in Chamonix and elsewhere with French guides and friends. Visitors to Rum are advised to leave notification of their intended treks and climbs at the Tourist Police Office in the Rum Rest House (not at the new Visitor Centre as originally proposed). This is a sensible precaution in an area where the mountains are unusually complex. Finally visitors to Wadi Rum are highly advised to have a complete travel and sport activities insurance (such as the BMC policies), even if climbing with Bedouin Guides.

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