Israel Trail Day 12
May 27, 2013
Harduf to Isfiya (Mount Carmel)
Wikiloc maps:
Total mileage this day: 16.6 (27 km)
3200 feet (1000m) of climbing
Total mileage since start at Tel Dan: 145 (235 km)
I’ve now finished about 1/4 of the entire Israel Trail; I think I’m still on track to finish by Spring 2014.
Today’s run/hike brought me to the top of Mt Carmel, and thus the conclusion of my second “major segment” of the Israel Trail, from the Sea of Galilee to Mt. Carmel. My next “major” destination is Tel Aviv, which I should reach later in the summer. I did this segment as a “day trip.” It’s a two hour drive from Jerusalem. I managed to actually get an early start and drove straight to Harduf. I parked the car by the turn off to Ka’abiya, and rejoined the trail within about a kilometer. The distance I covered today was what most people treat as a day and a half; I did a little extra on my previous day on the trail.
Most of the 16 miles were pretty easy — dirt roads, flat or downhill. Passed through a lot of agricultural areas and a few forests. Had to wade across Nahal Tzipori, but it wasn’t too bad. There’s an ancient mill at the crossing, a former monastery, which was subject to a vandalism attack last year. Just took off my shoes, the bottom was a little rocky but not bad. Earlier in the year when the stream would have been fuller I could see that it might have been more challenging to wade across. After about ten miles there was a longish stretch through Kfar Hasidim. I stopped at a grocery store for a cold drink. The trail continues and crosses under Highway 70 and goes into Kibbutz Yagur. VERY conveniently, right at the bottom of Mount Carmel was a nice cafe. Very convenient to be able to have lunch and a cold drink before starting the four mile 1,800 foot (550m) climb up Mt. Carmel. This was also much slower going as most of the way it was rugged trail, not a road. At least there was a breeze and some shade. Some excellent views along the way. I finished at the Druze village of Isfiya, right at the top of the Carmel ridge. Mount Carmel has a lot of interesting history, see the Wikipedia entry for more info.
I got to the top about 3:30pm. Given the location and the time, I decided to just take a taxi back to car. It would have been a hassle to try for anything else. A little pricey — NIS 200. But I saved money by not staying overnight this time.
“17 miles (27 km), 3200 ft (>1000m) of climbing See http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=4559449 and http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=4561303”
From Israel Trail Day 12 Harduf to Isfiya (Mt Carmel). Posted by Barry Leff on 5/28/2013 (78 items)
- Just outside Harduf, 8:40am
- This trail marker that looks like an arrow pointing straight ahead, actually indicate…
- Nahal Tzipori
- Just took off my shoes and went barefoot to get across Nahal Tzipori
- They are building some sort of center in the former "Monk’s Mill."
- Crossing Hwy 762
- The Carmel Ridge — top of the ridge is my goal fortoday
- First really clear view of Haifa and the Mediterranean
- Entering Kfar Chasidim
- Someone in Kfar Chasidim has an artistic sense of humor
- "This is the gate to God, chasidim enter it." A slight editing of a psalm,…
- The trail uses and underpass to cross Highway 70 between Kfar Chasidim and Kibbutz Ya…
- It’s very convenient that there is a coffee shop in Kibbutz Yagur right at the bottom…
- They offer horseback riding at the Kibbutz
- I was very glad for the shade and the breeze as I was climbing the Carmel during the …
- Approaching Isfiya at the top of the ridge
- At the top of Carmel Ridge — next major destination Tel Aviv!
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(Israel Trail Day 12 Harduf to Isfiya (Mt Carmel); 78 photos)
