Exceeding Expectations on the Israel Trail

Exceeding Expectations on the Israel Trail

18 October 2009
Segment 15 – Meir Sh’feya Youth Village to Bet Hanania *   We had several notions of what today’s hike on the Israel National Trail would be like. Predictions of extremely hot weather caused several group members to back out, and made us concerned about coping with the heat. Certain Israel Trail reviewers have described the first four kilometers as a boring leg, so we had visions of a dull climb alongside high-tension power lines for the first hour or so. I know Ramat Hanadiv from orienteering and had recollections only of the thorny thickets across the reserve. So by the end of the day’s hike, we were all totally delighted to realize that are fears had not materialized, and our expectations had been far exceeded. 6:45: At Beit Hanania, Yuval, Varda and I join Ilan and his passengers…
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…
Sweet, Sweat and Wet on the Israel Trail

Sweet, Sweat and Wet on the Israel Trail

18 September 2009
Segment 1: Tel Dan to Tel Hai *   After a six-week hiatus, the Mishli hiking group is back on the Israel National Trail for two days (September 11 and 12). To begin our second season, we are starting at the northern trailhead at Tel Dan, and plan to hike the first two segments of the trail. The start is a long way from home, and most of us had gotten up before dawn to make our way to the meeting point at the Tel Hai cemetery next to Kfar Giladi, where our first hike will end. Earlier in the week, cooler weather had been predicted for the weekend, but by Friday the weather had plans to heat up again. So we were eagerly looking forward to the watery and wet portions of today’s hike. 9:25: After a few group…

Israel Trail Subtotals – Our First Season

5 August 2009
We have now completed our fourth hike, and first season, on the Israel Trail. I consider this our first season, or year (Hebrew or school calendar) of hiking, since this set of four hikes was my prototype. It was very much an experiment, in seeing whether I could assemble a group of like-minded friends from various walks of my life, physically fit and capable of hiking 15 kilometers in a single day. Now for some numbers - Subtotals, so far: We have hiked 61 kilometers, according to my GPS-recorded tracks. 34 people have hiked the trail with me and Yuval. An average of 16 hikers on each segment. Top honors go to partipants in all 4 hikes: Varda Ingels, Ruthy Alush, David Alush, Musa Yehoshua, Yuval Mishli, and me, of course. Honors go to participants in 3 hikes: Miri Berman,…
Beaches, Beaches and More Beaches on the Israel Trail

Beaches, Beaches and More Beaches on the Israel Trail

4 August 2009
Segment 18: Gaash to Tel Aviv * This hike is the second half of the route from Netanya to Tel Aviv. We started this hike in early morning sunlight at the point we finished our last hike in early evening darkness. This hike was a long, long walk on the beach, followed by a few final kilometers on city streets of Tel Aviv. We began on a nearly deserted stretch of shore; besides us there were just a few campers still asleep in their tents, and some fisherman tossing their lines out.
Hike 3 on the Israel Trail, Post-Mortem Redux

Hike 3 on the Israel Trail, Post-Mortem Redux

8 July 2009
Netanya to Gaash on the Israel Trail - July 3, 2009 *   We are still in a learning mode. Many of our hiking group members are orienteers and skilled at making "route choices" while on an orienteering race course. But the Israel Trail is another challenge. The concept here requires knowing where to look for trail markers (even, and especially, on city streets), keeping them in sight, and following them! I'm sure our Trail skills will improve the more we hike. On our last hike we had two instances of deviating from the trail. The images below show where we actually hiked in those two spots, as compared to where we should have hiked according to the Israel Trail markers. In Netanya we were simply careless about following the markers. When we didn't see the markers, we assumed they'd been removed or obstructed…
Slumdog Adventure on the Israel Trail

Slumdog Adventure on the Israel Trail

5 July 2009
Segment 17-18: Netanya to Gaash *   After two rather conventional Saturday morning hikes through the fields and forests of Israel, our third hike was a different sort of adventure. It was a Friday afternoon hike that took us first through the urban landscape of Netanya, and then along the seashore from Poleg to Gaash, and ended at the Hof Hasharon National Park with a night-time picnic lit by a nearly full moon and flashlights. Friday afternoon. 4 p.m. We leave a couple cars at the Gaash beach parking lot, and head for Netanya. I have not been in Netanya for some 20 years. Downtown does not seem any different than what I remember. 16:30: We are pleased to find the designated parking lot in Netanya is empty and free of charge! Weather is lovely. We are a group of…
The Mishli Hiking Group Takes to the Israel Trail Again

The Mishli Hiking Group Takes to the Israel Trail Again

8 June 2009
Segment 22: Latrun to Shaar Hagai * For our second hike on the Israel Trail we were a group of 18. We were missing 7 from the first hike, several of whom were unfortunately suffering from back ailments. The 6 newcomers had expressed interest from the start, but for various reasons had not been on the first hike. (My apologies to the group: we forgot to take a group photo this time. We must remember to do on every hike.) 6:45: Meet-up at gas station near Messilat Zion, regrouping into 4 cars, and shuttle back to Latrun. 7:15: The GPS (”the Garmin”) starts recording. We leave the parking lot next to the restaurant and head north to reconnect with the trail where we left the trail last time. We walk around the east side of the Armored Corps Museum…

Israel Trail Guidebook Author Zevi Gilat

21 May 2009
Best Wishes from the Israel Trail Guidebook Author *   Last week I attended an interesting lecture about the tombs of the righteous. The speaker, who has published a book on the subject, was none other than Zevi Gilat, author of the Israel Trail guidebook. After the lecture I approached Zevi, told him I had organized a group to hike the trail, pulled the guidebook out of my bag, and asked him to autograph it. He very kindly wrote an inscription, dedicated to me and my hiking friends. "To Lisa and to those walking the way, best wishes for a good journey, from Zevi Gilat" Summer Hiking Segments Save the dates. Friday, July 3 and Friday, July 31. We will hike along the sea shore in the late afternoon, followed by a kumsitz (campfire picnic) when the sun goes down. On July 3, moonrise…