Mount Amasa to Yatir Forest
with Al–Hashvil, guided by Avi Farjoun
Photos: Israel Trail Hike 2026-10-29
This hike on the Israel National Trail marked the beginning of our sixth and final season on the trail with Al-Hashvil. Our Brosh group has now officially joined with the Segalit group, bringing together some 40 hikers. After five years and countless kilometers, it’s quite an achievement that so many of us have stayed healthy, fit, and enthusiastic enough to continue the adventure!
The hike came just two days after Israel’s parliamentary elections. The votes had been tallied, but the outcome remained uncertain and contentious. I welcomed a break from the constant online news and discussions. As usual when hiking, I switched off my phone and simply enjoyed the scenery and camaraderie.
Kudos to our guide, Avi, for taking us off the official Israel Trail for part of the hike. He led us along a more interesting route that included a visit to the Yatir Reservoir. Unfortunately, the reservoir was drained recently, leaving behind a vast, exposed basin instead of a lake.
On the bus ride to our starting point, we made a detour to Horvat Anim. This ancient Jewish settlement in the southern Hebron Hills dates back some 2,700 years to the Kingdom of Judah. Its remains include a Byzantine-era synagogue, ancient water cisterns, agricultural installations, and fortifications.
Our hike began in the Mount Amasa area overlooking the northern Negev and Yatir Forest. On a previous hike (in season 2) we also started here, but headed in the opposite direction, south toward Arad.
Most of our route took us through Yatir Forest, Israel’s largest planted forest. Its greenery is a striking contrast to the surrounding semi-arid landscape. Planting began in the 1960s, largely through the efforts of Yosef Weitz of KKL-JNF. Beyond the goal of making the desert bloom, afforestation also served a strategic purpose. It helped establish control over land near the border and discourage unauthorized settlement.
I discovered a National Geographic article about the Yatir Forest, published in 2023. Its title and subtitle aptly describe the Yatir afforestation project:
They planted a forest at the edge of the desert. From there it got complicated.
Trying to judge the success or failure of Yatir, Israel’s largest human-made forest, depends on the way you define success. And the person you’re asking.
Pistachio trees planted in Yatir Forest to diversify the vegetation and reduce reliance on pine trees.
This hike was an ideal way to get back into hiking shape after our summer hiatus. For the remainder of the season and the trail, we will hike more difficult two- and three-day segments.
Photos: Israel Trail Hike 2026-10-29
