Mesuah to Netiv HaLamed Heh
with Al–Hashvil, guided by Avi Farjoun
Photo album: Israel Trail Hike 2025-05-29
We hiked this segment of the Israel Trail. from south to north. The number ascents and descents would have been the same in the other direction. But for the sake of storytelling, it offered a better chronology. Leading us on the trail, Avi took us from the biblical David and Goliath to modern day Israel.
We started with a climb.
We enjoyed a scenic view of the Elah Valley from Tal Shkalon.
And then headed down into the valley.
We crossed almond orchards and wheat fields.
We were never far from the sounds of highway traffic or the sight of the continually-expanding city of Beit Shemesh.
It was a day of glorious vistas across the Elah Valley.
We detoured from the trail to visit Khirbet Qeiyafa (חוֹרְבָת קַייָאפַה), also known as Elah Fortress.
The site is an ancient fortress city encircled by a 700-meter-long city wall constructed of field stones. The ruins were uncovered in 2007. The excavators, Yosef Garfinkel and Saar Ganor, claimed it might be the biblical city Sha’arayim because of the “two gates” in the wall. Archeological evidence dates the site to the first half of the 10th century BCE, which corresponds to the biblical Kingdom of David. This has led some to believe King David may have actually dwelled here.
Heading out of the gate.
The final climb of the day.
At the top — overlooking Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Heh, and the Gush Etzion/Hebron hills in the distance.
Netiv HaLamed-Heh was established in 1949, and later named for the 35 Haganah and Palmach soldiers who carried supplies on foot to the blockaded Gush Etzion kibbutzim in January 1947. En route, the convoy was delayed due to the evacuation of an injured soldier. They failed to reach their destination under the cover of night darkness. At daybreak they were spotted, and a prolonged battle ensued with Arab irregulars and local villagers. All 35 soldiers were killed. Their bodies were so badly mutilated they could not be identified. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy_of_35]
The final hike of the season would not be complete without a bit of a party. We raised a glass in honor of our guide, our escort, and our new best friends and hiking buddies.
I could not end this blog post without a word of gratitude and appreciation to my close friend/distant cousin, Tia Pinsky. It was Tia’s initiative got me back on the Israel Trail four years ago, after the hiking group I organized in 2009-2011 lost its momentum. Over time, hiking has become physically more difficult. I hope I can complete the final two seasons, most of which will be 2-day adventures in challenging desert terrain. Tia has decided to call it quits, but hopes to join the group on the occasional, easier hikes closer to home. Props to her for all her effort — her initial goal was only to complete season one.
Photo album: Israel Trail Hike 2025-05-29
