Israel National Trail

I was delighted with the positive responses from friends who want to hike the Israel Trail with Yuval and me. A group has formed and we hope/expect to have 15-20 people hiking on each segment. Our first hike on the Israel National Trail: Shabbat, May 2, 2009 Meeting Point: We will all meet at the segment END POINT -- in the parking lot of Asa Restaurant at Latrun. Meeting Time: 6:45 a.m. We will leave most of our cars at Latrun, and take as few cars as needed to get us all to Mitzpeh Modiin, where we will begin our hike. Start Point: Mitzpeh Modiin (Ben Shemen Forest) Start Time: 7:30 (or sooner, if we organize quickly) End Point: Latrun (Asa restaurant / gas station) Route Length: 17 km Difficulty: medium Time: about 7 hours, including rest stops Route:…

I had a number of immediate positive responses to yesterday's announcement about hiking the Israel Trail. Unfortunately a few will not be able to participate in the first segment. I suspect it might take a few hikes before we get a full and committed group formulated. But I figure the early two segments can be easily completed afterwards by the late joiners.

For several years I have contemplated and often talked about hiking the Israel National Trail. Now that we have sold our 4x4 pickup, the time is ripe to embark on this project. MAPA's Guide for Israel Trek by Zevi Gilat breaks down the 940 kilometer trail into 44 segments. My idea is to form a group that hikes a segment of the trail about once a month, and not in sequential order.  The plan is to start with segments that are easier, to leave the more difficult segments for later, and to do segments best suited to the season. It will take several years to complete the entire trail. An orienteering friend, Shimon Shomrony, initiated such a plan four years ago. He has generously shared his group's itinerary and logistical plans with me and Yuval, and they will serve…