Balaa  Adventures 

The adventures shown here are of high level of risk and danger. Safety measures taken were less than minimum. It is recommended NOT to try to do any similar acts.

Location

Scale

---- Trip of   1994 ------

    Balouh was a stop-point for lunchtime in a trip organized by Architecture and Design Committee in August 1994. While some persons were preparing the food. Jean, Tony, Seika and Waleed took an unusual act by deciding to climb down the Balouh with their bear hands equipped only with a strong rope. The four tied the rope to a large rock and climbed down. They reached a spot down where they needed another small rope. They had to use a thin rope, tied to the belts they were wearing. It was still short that they had to let three hold each other with the third of them holding the rope, and the forth one climbs down and up. That was possible only for one at a time, since three were needed at the higher edge. The four climbed back up safely. However, while climbing up, they had to use the long rope one-by-one so Seika decided to take a short cut without using the rope. He did it holding the breath of everyone including the other crazy climbers. 

The four points circled are the four adventurers, zoomed by the camera.

--- The Fall of 1995 ----

Tony and Marwan, 5 minutes before falling

    In August 1995, Marwan, Tony and Tony Nasrallah decided to go camping. The first part of their camping journey was to go climb down the Balouh. Marwan and Tony were to climb while Tony N. can take some pictures.  A rope was tied to that same large rock, and the two started climbing down. Tony was going first, while he was hanging on the air, the rope was cut suddenly, and he started to fall; about 20 ft direct chute, then  about 50 ft of rolling down(and that was not funny). He was, fortunately, held by a small bush, which prevented him from rolling for the rest of the distance and smashing himself with the large rocks. On the other hand, Marwan was pulled by the tension of the rope that he was holding. He snapped up in the air and fell down. Tony helpped him to stop. The two were trying to check for any dangerous injuries while the photographer was astonished. It was about to get dark and the two had no rope.  The only way to climb was from the short cut that Seika used last year. It was an absolute risk, especially with two hurt persons, but the two made itup. It was another adventure for the three to carry Marwan on the sleeping bag they had, to go to the hospital. Marwan had a brace around his back for a fraction in his L1 bone for three month, while Tony’s hand was broken, in addition to the wounds that were covering their bodies.  

Tony climbing up without the rope. what you see in the background, is what he was seeing growing larger (and darker) while falling down.           

the photographer was so shocked that he could hardly took the pictures shown. From the distance he was watching, he could not recognize the rope. He though at first that the two were showing some "climbing skills".

-- 1998, The revenge --

    In August 1998, Lara, Tony, Hisham and Wadih decided to climb down that Balouh. Such step has been discussed several times for the past couple of years, after the accident of 1995. Lara suggested using a different route this time, going between the rocks on the other side. This should shorten the length where the climber is totally suspended in the air and the rope is in tension. A “strong” rope was prepared, and the new path-of-Lara was the way. The four went down successfully and managed to climb up injury-free.

The new path-of-Lara 

Lara climbing down

Wadih climbing down

Hisham, Lara and Tony at the bottom of Balouh

Volleyball, 3OO ft underground

A break, underground 

The people mentioned in those stories are living "healthy" nowadays.

Marwan got married in summer of 2OO1 (do not worry about him),

Tony is the one who prepared this Web-site,

All of the people mentioned above thank God and his angels for making it possible for them to stay alive.

Photographs Credit:

Hisham Abou Zeid, Tony Nasralleh and the Lady from Canada who joined us in the first trip.