Upper Nahal Amud with Al–Hashvil, guided by Avi Farjioun
Photo album: Israel Trail Hike 2023-03-08
This was not a walk-and-talk kind of day on the Israel Trail. It was a day for concentration and cautious footwork.
Tia and I had planned to hike Upper Nahal Amud last year with our hiking group. But on the scheduled date, she had a family committment and I had a knee injury. We were able to take advantage of Al HaShvil’s generous “make-up” policy and postponed the hike for a year.
Last year’s hike was shortened due to high temperatures. We got lucky this year. The temperature was ideal for the lengthy (time-wise) and challenging segment. Neither too wet nor too hot.
The early part of the hike, which starts in Nahal Meron, had some rocky parts going down.
And some rock-climbing some going up. But nothing particularly challenging.
It was fascinating to learn about the water-powered industries that developed in Nahal Amud, dating back centuries.
During the Ottoman Empire, the nearby town of Safed became an important center of textile manufacturing. The waters of Nahal Amud were harnessed to power a fulling mill – a plant for treating woolen materials.
When the textile industry declined in the late 16th century, the fulling mill was converted to a flour mill. Additional flour mills were built, often with khans (inns) that served as trading centers and inns for those bringing loads of wheat for grinding.
Remnants of these structures are a reminder of the rich industries that once flourished in Nahal Amud.
Nahal Amud is a deep canyon. For much of the hike we were trekking along the slope, halfway up.
Or halfway down, depending on the camera angle.
The late-winter landscape was stunning.
The trail presented many physical challenges. I had to put away my camera and use both my hands during the most daring parts of the hike.
There were some harrowing moments for those with a fear of heights.
Scaling up rockfaces with the help of rungs was actually not hard at all.
We reached the endpoint of the hike as the sun was beginning to set.
Blossoming and often aromatic wildflowers brought color to the trail throughout the day.
The complete set of photos in a Flickr album: Israel Trail Hike 2023-03-08
