Hakim Tamimi — a cliffhanger with a mission

AMMAN — Unlike the fictional characters in the 1993 action film “Cliffhanger”, Hakim Tamimi and his group of young enthusiasts are real next-door daredevils. 

Until 2007, when Tamimi co-founded Tropical Desert, very few people in Jordan knew anything about rock climbing. 

He said Tropical Desert was the first enterprise in the country dedicated to the promotion of ecotourism, trekking, hiking, canoeing and rock climbing. 

Its first office, located at the 3rd Circle, instantly became a hub for local and foreign adventurers, mountaineers and extreme sports lovers, according to Tamimi.

"My initial idea was to put Jordan on the hiking, trekking, climbing and camping map. I set a wall up on one of my apartment building's faces to teach a newbie how to really climb," the 29-year-old said. 

Tamimi had been playing basketball for years at different levels, representing the University of Jordan in many tournaments in the region. He later shifted his focus towards extreme sports. 

"I've always been a guy looking for the adrenaline rush, action and excitement," the athlete said. 

His Spanish mother and Jordanian father often took their children to the wilderness for hiking and exercising, an experience to which he attributes his early love for nature. 

As a self-taught climber, Tamimi suffered many injuries (broken ribs and skull, bruises and a collection of scars), but this did not discourage him from pursuing his dream.

"Broken climbing helmets, chipped rocks lodged in my legs, rope burns and minor cuts: These were decorations and this is my hobby," he said while sipping coffee at his Jabal Amman office.

Tamimi has climbing experiences in Europe, where the sport is very popular. Now his aim is to help Jordan become a full member of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), previously known as the International Council for Competition Climbing, which was created in 1997. 

The goal of the organisation is to regulate climbing competitions worldwide and promote the sport.

After Tamimi set a foothold as a pioneer, several ecotourism, trekking and mountaineering groups have emerged in recent years. 

International NGOs with offices in Jordan have brought with them an increasing number of young expatriates, especially from Western countries, which has led to the sport’s fan base expanding in the Kingdom. 

Tamimi believes that much of what Jordan has to offer is either still undiscovered or inaccessible to mountaineers, hikers and climbers. 

This aspect of the country could attract a different type of visitor than the regular tourist who sticks to routine visits to Petra, Jerash, the Amman Citadel, Aqaba and the Karak, Ajloun and Shobak castles. Those who seek a real physical challenge — young, bold and agile — are his target group.

Last year, in collaboration with Spanish climbers, Tamimi masterminded the Jordanian Track, a route that stretches from the north all the way to the south of the country. 

His plan is to introduce the Kingdom's rich natural beauty to as many people as possible. 

"There is plenty more for locals and tourists to see in Jordan, but they don't explore enough."

Tamimi's mission is to educate Jordanians about their country's diverse ecosystem and how to preserve natural habitats of many endangered species.

In order to have a team of professionals, he established training courses for guides. Tropical Desert guides, according to Tamimi, are multilingual, specialised in first aid, rescue and night navigation. Once Jordan becomes a member of the IFSC, these standards will be easier to implement, he noted.

Despite the current regional turmoil, he is optimistic about the future of mountaineering and rock climbing in Jordan.

"We can soon become the world's top destination, not only for rock climbing but also canoeing, due to [the presence of] many waterfalls and the captivating beauty of the landscape. We just have to become aware of our natural heritage, attract the right type of people and share secrets of Jordan's diverse countryside."

That might be an uphill mission, but for Tamimi it is another peak to scale.