After getting to the top of Gheebar Rhahl (~1,000 ft up), we set an anchor, then lowered off the top. This area may only be a "top down" area, as to get to it directly from below would include roughly 300 feet of steep overhang on questionable rock! This area is PRIME for FA leading.

Routes: A. Osama Bin Leadin' B. Wet Burqa Contest

Route description is under the routes in Afghanistan

Rob the Special Forces guy following up the large detached flake in the middle of Pitch 2. Sure, his ass is sticking out, but remember this guy's in hiking boots so smearing small edges isn't going to happen! Pitch went at about 5.8R.

Starting up F.A. of Pitch 3 of Wet Burqa Contest. 200+ feet off the deck. The rock was pretty firm, but the little microflakes (you can see one in the lower RHS of the image) did break off occasionally. The highly questionable anchor was behind the detached block where Rob is belaying (the only place for it). I was wigged. Rating in this area was probably a 5.8, but it felt 5.11 scary. Especially because I had no idea what was up ahead, or if there was any pro to be had. Below me I think I had one size 1 microcamalot in. Sort of. Sketch.

Rob, who will remain "last name nameless," coming up the finger crack portion of Pitch 3. He'd cleared the sketch runout face, and is approaching the sweet crescent fingers/hands/lieback dihedral (5.10a/b)

Starting up Pitch 2. We'd scoped this part by zooming in with a digital camera from below, and thought the flake would be safe. It was kinda hollow sounding, but held. Thus it's OK?? Who knows. Scary as sh*t, but not as scary as the upcoming anchor.

"Always Choose A Route That's Well Protected" Photo of Gheebar Rhahl, literally on the edge of Kandahar (Afghanistan). The route Osama Bin Leadin' is shown in red in the background. The Hummer, and mountain itself, are actually within Mullah Omar's old compound (you know, the head Taliban guy in the south) so I suppose it's sort of an historic climb of sorts as well. Climbing is actually relatively safe in Afghanistan. Relative to walking around, that is. No landmines on the wall.

SF Rob pointing to a large missing piece of rock that has been "removed." Most likely eiter a bomb or a 107mm rocket. Makes you wonder if the climb will be the same the next time you climb it.

Pitch 4 of 4 from our August 9th, 2003 FA of "Osama Bin Leadin,'" which, while we randomly picked a line we thought would be easy, turned out to be a stellar route. This would also be the first FA I've ever done! Allow me to note that leading up something when you have no idea what you're going to run into or if you'll be able to get pro in leads to lots of anxiety. Pitch 1 went at 5.9, with a very small overhang/roof in the middle. Great pitch. Pitch 2 was a 5.8-ish chimney, and fun as well. Pitch 3 was a 5.2/4th Class scramble, and Pitch 4 (shown) went at about 5.10a. It actually goes slightly overhung (off vertical by about 5 degrees) at the top where the small and large cracks come together. This last pitch was also stellar. [Note: no one has confirmed these ratings, so it's more my guess. Were they in Yosemite Valley (e.g. compared to Reed's Direct), I'd drop them to 5.8, 5.7, 5.2, 5.9] I'll add more photos and a site description later, but overall this mid-sized rock-mountain that resembles the Prudential rock is going to be some hot shit FA's. [I'm the subject, and a Special Forces guy who would like to only be named as "Rob" was the photographer and follower, in hiking boots no less!]

This first pitch was suprisingly nice, and confirmed (thankfully) that the rock was solid enough to climb. And take pro. I think. I dunno, I didn't fall, but as long as it wasn't a thin flake, I think it'd be pretty good. I rated it at around a 5.9, which includes a nice little 3' roof/overhang with a large volcanic bubble pocket to use as an undercling.

The beginning of Pitch 2 is a little face climbing (easy) and then you tuck left into a 5.8-ish chimney which is protectable, but, like all chimneys, feels like a cluster-f.