GAATEH KUWAIT (CYCLING): ROUTE 12: MUTLA RIDGE

ROUTE 12: MUTLA RIDGE

Mutla Ridge

The Mutla Ridge is located in Al Jahra Governorate. It is the highest point in Kuwait, at 306 metres high.

During the Gulf War, the Iraq forces were going to launch bombs while they were on the ridge to threaten Saudi Arabia. In February 1991, American aircraft attacked retreating Iraqi forces fleeing Kuwait in the direction of Basra on the "Highway of Death."

Coalition forces later used the rocky outcropping for communication towers, to communicate with troops in Iraq.

During operation "Desert Spring" in 2003, a detachment of the Oklahoma National Guard 45th division 1/179 infantry B company followed by the Indiana National Guard watched and defended the outpost until late in the war, when they were moved to Tallil Air Base in Iraq. Also watching over the Ridge in 2003, was the 946th Transportation Co., a reserve unit, out of Lewes, DE.

(Sources: Wikipedia)

Direction:

Get on the sixth ring road and drive until you pass jahra and the 80 intersection (it's around the 51KM distance marker). Drive straight towards subiya, once you pass the weather balloon, take the first bridge to the right (Bridge 630), once you come down the slope, park anywhere on the left.

Coordinate:

29.406555 N, 47.701434 E

Time & Date

11 Nov 2016, 7:30 am

Location:

Seaside of Bridge 630 (the first bridge) Subiya road.

Terrains

50% Hard compounded sand

40% Loose compounded sand

10% Tarmac

CYCLING TIME

Total Distance: 25.2 km

Riders:
1. Bobak (Led)
2. Ahmad
3. Khalid
4. Mike
5. Ion
6. Robin
7. Aswade
8. Shelly
9. Lavinia

Strava Record

Note: Unrecorded for 7.2km

Google Map:

As usual, briefing for leader after taking attendance. For this ride Bobak led us for another adventures ride in Kuwait.

KM 1- KM 4 (4km)

Mixed compounded sand terrains. Some parts, we need to push our bike. Toward the end, very compacted sand, we can cycle very fast.

KM 4 - KM 10 (6km)

100% Tarmac; near to the beach.

I saw a house near to the beach. Quite remote from others. Selfie with camel shepherd.

KM 10 - KM 15 (5km)

Offroad - Mixed compounded sand

We stopped for awhile, take 5.

Selfie

We cycled until reaching to a roundabout about 5km from RV point towards to Boubyan Island road.

Bobak as tourist guide...

Khalid

Boubyan Island, other place to be rode.

We went to camping area.

KM 15 - KM 21 (6 km)

This is our climate challenges. Very touch; we couldn't ride at thick soft sand. I tried to reduce air pressure on the tires.

I looked like a mini Grand Canyon in Kuwait