Surf and the City
Our group's 20th hike was an easy trek along the coast, from the mouth of Nahal Alexander to the Victory Monument in Netanya, followed by a small end-of-year party in the adjacent park.
Short and Shady
This was a short and easy hike on the Israel Trail. This trail segment winds its way down, 500 meters in altitude, from Ussifiyah to Kibbutz Yagur. Undamaged by the massive forest fire in 2010, this side of Mount Carmel remains shady and thick with vegetation.
Box of Chocolates
This hike on the Israel Trail was like Forrest Gump's (you never know what you're going to get) box of chocolates. In just one hike, from Ussifiyah to Pitchat Nahal Oren campground, we got a taste of everything. Easy and challenging. Ups and downs. Views and vegetation of all kinds.
Collages
People sometimes seem surprised to hear I am repeating a hike on the Israel Trail. I find it surprising, and in fact wonderful, how different hiking experiences can be. The season, the weather, land development, and the passing of time, all contribute to putting a different face on the same place.
A Grand Canyon
Hiking the upper Nahal Amud segment of the Israel Trail is not a walk-and-talk kind of outing. It requires concentration and cautious footwork. I was forced to put away my camera and use both my hands during the most daring parts of the hike. But the weather was ideal and the late-winter landscape was stunning, It was a great day for hiking in this glorious canyon.
Attempting to Escape
I usually switch my smartphone to airplane mode while hiking the Israel Trail. Primarily it preserves the battery power, which I need for all the photography I do. But it also prevents text messages and news notifications from popping up on my screen. It feels good to be off-grid and out-of-touch for a while. I had hoped to escape current events for the day. But it was impossible to avoid talking with my fellow hikers about the dire situation in Israel. The only thing easy about this escape on the Israel Trail was the hike itself.
Majestic Desert
I love spending a day in the desert. Vast expanses and stunning views. Indeed it is majestic, as my hiking buddy Tia declared. No people except my fellow hikers. No traffic or industrial noise. No mobile reception. Just nature and me.
Southern Exposure
Because of the heat, the hiking season in southern Israel is shorter than in the north. To complete the 6-year Israel Trail hiking plan on schedule, the organizers slot in a couple hikes on southern segments each year (starting in year 2). Although I occasionally go on jeep trips in the desert, those excursions typically lack physical activity. So I welcomed the change in terrain and scenery offered by this hike.
On the Paved Path of Jesus
Har Devorah to Har Tabor. Nazareth to Shibli. The Israel Trail, the Gospel Trail and the Jesus Trail. The highlight of the day was our guide Avi, who fascinated us as he unfolded the history of Yeshu and the events that led to Jesus becoming the Christian messiah.
We Did It!
Could we do it? That question nagged at Tia and me in the days leading up to our hike on the Israel Trail. We were facing a 500 meter ascent and descent of Mount Tabor. On a trail that goes mostly straight up, and then straight down. It was just the second hike of our second season, but rated the most difficult one we would do this year (2.5 on a scale of 3, or 4.3 on a scale of 5).