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.
Perfect Timing on the Israel Trail

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…
Heat, Hills and a Hammock — and some great vistas

Heat, Hills and a Hammock — and some great vistas

20 September 2009
Segment 2: Kiryat Shemona to Mezudat Yesha *   In today’s hike, we will not be hiking the first part of the segment -- from Tel Hai to the Geological Park. I realized that the route would simply be too long, especially in the heat, and decided that it was better to cut out a few kilometers of ascent rather than skip the best part (Nachal Kedesh) at the very end of today’s route. I have promised the group we will return to complete this segment at another time, in another season. 9:25: Our hike begins at the Geological Park just above Kiryat Shemona. I am delighted that we are able to drive to the park on a paved road and park our car right near the trail; I had not realized there was vehicle access, and had thought we’d…