Day 13, Shvil Yisrael: Kibbutz Yagur to Oren Junction (19 km)
I have been reading ‘To the End of the Land’ by David Grossman, one of Israel’s most famous authors. It tells the difficult story of a mother who has a…
Day 12, Shvil Yisrael: HaMovil Junction to Kibbutz Yagur (26 km)
I think ‘ayn hanachot’ would be the correct phrase in Hebrew. Normally used to mean ‘no discounts’ when shopping, but also colloquially it means ‘sorry, there’s no easy way, no…
Walking and Talking Shvil Yisrael – with Jamie Salter
Jamie Salter is a veteran Israel guide and educator. With the outbreak of COVID-19, he found himself with much more time on his hands than usual. In the wake…
Shvil Yisrael, Day 9: From Yardenit to Gazit Junction (25km)
Mud. Lots of it. Plentiful winter rains that have left their mark on the most luxurious of green fields. Overflowing streams with no way to traverse them and stay dry.…
Day 8, Shvil Yisrael: From Tiberias Illit to Yardenit (14km)
Day 8, Shvil Yisrael: From Tiberias Illit to Yardenit (14km) The seasons had finally changed! The long Israeli summer – and the second lockdown that followed it – were finally…
Day 7, Shvil Yisrael: Lower Nachal Amud to Tiberias Illit (16km)
I was feeling a little stuck. It was getting on for nearly two months since I had done the last section. This next section of the trail, coming so close…
Day 6, Shvil Yisrael: Nahal Amud (19 km)
Hiking in the Heat of the Summer So this section was going to have to be handled a little differently than the previous five. It was now the heat of…
Day 5, Shvil Yisrael: Tzivon Junction to Meron (14 km)
Seven kilometers uphill. Then seven kilometers downhill. Mount Meron, the tallest point on the Israel trail. The official altitude of Mount Meron is 1,208 meters – it is Israel’s highest…
Day 4, Shvil Yisrael: Dishon to Tzivon Junction (15.5 km)
It’s been a long commute to get to the beginning of this fourth segment – actually slightly longer (by bus) than the previous week which is counter-intuitive and also psychologically…
Day 2, Shvil Yisrael: Kfar Giladi to Koach Fortress (21km)
By 10 am (I had left my home in Jerusalem at 6 am), I was back at the marker where I finished my hike last week next to the Kfar…
