Lisa Saltzman Mishli

MTBO at Gevaram

21 June 2010

Prior to the mountain bike orienteering event at Gevaram, I had begun announcing my intention to quit doing MTBO. Having tried it for 2 years, I still don't have the expertise or confidence to go out without a riding partner (Yuval). I'm happy to do MTBO in the fields of Yizrael, but not in the hills of Alon Hagalil. I do not have the skills or fitness of a serious trail rider. I prefer "KKL" trails to "singles", flat routes rather than climbs and steep descents, soft paths rather than rocky roads. Riding conditions at Gevaram were exactly the kind I prefer. I actually got to ride my bike -- rather than push it -- for practically the entire course. Makes me have second thoughts about continuing in the sport

Flash Mob on the Israel Trail

1 June 2010

Segment 14 – Meir Sh'feya to Kerem Maharal (Hof HaCarmel) * Where is the best place to hike once hot weather has descended on the land? Yuval suggested the shore. Ruti wanted shade. I knew we needed a shorter-than-usual distance. After considering everyone's preferences, I selected the southern half of the "Finger Cave to Har Horshan" segment from south-to-north. The reversal of direction did not save us any climbs, as the path had both ups and downs. But it allowed us to hike in the open areas earlier in the morning when the air was still on the cool side, and to enjoy the shade of the forest as the day heated up later on. The beach was just a few minutes drive from our end point, giving us the option of a swim at the end of the…

Celebrations on the Israel Trail

2 May 2010

Segment 23 – Shaar Hagai to Sho’evah (Shoresh) * We should have celebrated an anniversary on the trail yesterday, but I didn't realize it until last night. Exactly one year ago (May 2, 2009) I began my journey on the Israel National Trail. Over the year, my hiking group has evolved and established a pace and rhythm that suits our personalities and physical abilities. It has been such a pleasure and a success! May our adventures continue! After checking the weather forecast and the route topography, Yuval and I planned a "standard" 15-kilometer route on the Israel Trail for our hiking group, from Sho'evah (Shoresh) to Shaar Hagai. We also decided to formally adopt the philosophy of hiking each segment in the direction that is easiest on the hikers, rather than conforming strictly to a north-to-south progression. That meant today's hike was mostly downhill, although it did include one long tough climb. Close…

Farewell to Spring on the Israel Trail

19 April 2010

Segments 6-7 – Lower Nahal Amud to Migdal * Only two weeks had elapsed since our last hike on the Israel National Trail. But we took to the trail again to catch the springtime greenery and blossoms before they dry and fade away for the summer. Once again it was a hot day, but the 9 hearty hikers who showed up were ready and eager for another adventure. After leaving one car at the gas station in Migdal, we drove to the gas station at Kedarim, where we parked our other cars, enjoyed a good cup of Segafredo coffee, and then headed for the trail. Note: I plan the hiking route and prepare the maps, which I put in Yuval's hands. Yuval is responsible for keeping us on course since I take photos continuously during the hikes and am liable to miss…

MTBO at Eshtaol Forest

18 April 2010

My husband Yuval and I have been riding MTBO events together for the past two years. Often we ride the course with a couple friends (who may or may not have a map). I wear a Garmin Forerunner 305 and keep a log of my sporting activities. The MTBO event at Eshtaol Forest this past weekend proved quite a challenge for even the serious and seasoned riders. So I've decided to share my impressions of the event.

Family History on the Israel Trail

10 April 2010

Segment 3 – Yesha Fortress to Nahal Dishon (Alma Bridge) * Our eleventh hike on the Israel National Trail began at the Yesha Fortress (also called Metzudat Ko'ah) overlooking the Hulah Valley. In the early days of Israel's War of Independence, April-May 1948, the Palmach 3rd Regiment waged three battles with the Arabs before gaining control of the fortress. The weather forecast predicted high temperatures, and indeed it was a hot day. But that did not stop 17 hikers from showing up for today's trail adventure. Our group this time included three couples of friends from Maccabim who had not yet hiked the trail with us. One of our newcomer friends was Alon Friedman, who was about to see something he was probably not expecting. Moments after starting the hike, we crossed Route 899 and entered the grounds of Nebi Yusha, a mosque…

Perfect Timing on the Israel Trail

12 March 2010

Segments 28 - 29 – Kibbutz Dvir to Pureh Nature Reserve * This post is dedicated to my mother Bernice Meyer Saltzman, of blessed memory, who would have celebrated her 81st birthday on March 6th, the day of this hike. If it had been a week earlier, we would have been slopping around, cold and wet, in mud and rain (and our scheduled hike was indeed postponed). If it had been a week later, we would have been hiking in heat, and the wildflowers would be wilting. But on this first weekend in March, the forces of nature were with us, and our hike on the Israel National Trail in the northern Negev was picture perfect. We broke an unwritten (and non-enforced) rule: we hiked this segment from south to north. This was a decision I made to…

A Stroll in the Park on the Israel Trail

7 February 2010

Segment 19: Ganei Yehoshua (Park Hayarkon), from West End to East End * It had rained heavily throughout Israel in the preceeding week. Trails everywhere in Israel were too muddy to hike. Starting at the Tel Aviv Port, we would end our hike at the eastern end of Park Yehoshua, in the Ramat Hahayal high-tech business park. Our Israel Trail hike thus became a stroll in the park, on a cool but sunny winter day. For the most part we walked on asphalt and packed-dirt paths.

Winter Green on the Israel Trail

3 January 2010

Segment 27 – Moshav Ahuzam (Tel Keshet) to Pureh Nature Reserve * After a hiatus of some ten weeks due to my recovery from retinal reattachment surgery, I was delighted to usher in New Year 2010 with a celebratory hike on the Israel National Trail. The hike today (2 January 2010), from Tel Keshet to the Pureh Nature Reserve, was originally scheduled for early December. In retrospect, we were fortunate that the hike on this segment was postponed a month. Although flowers are not yet in blossom, the landscape now glows brilliantly green. The meadows have begun sprouting new growth and the vast expanses of recently planted wheat fields have turned velvety green. With few significant highlights, this hiking segment can be easily summarized: Leave Moshav Ahuzam, hike across farmland, cross under Highway 40, pass the Tel Keshet mound.…

The Genesis of a Flood

3 December 2009

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were not just watching a flood in the Judean Desert. We had actually seen it materialize, starting from the first drops of rain up on the heights of Hyrcania, growing into cascading torrents, and rushing into the stream beds below.