December 6-8, 2012

In addition to my ESRA walking-group (midweek), I also belong to a group called "Raanan" which does seven walks a year. Three of them are one-day walks, three are for two days and the big event is the three-day trip to Eilat. This group does some 20 kilometers per day depending on the terrain, takes their own food with them, and sleeps overnight in personal tents in simple camp sites where there is no water or electricity. This group was started 35 years ago in memory of Raanan, who was killed in an accident. Originally, his parents supported the hikes in his memory, but today Raanan is run by the same guide -Ilana - who was the leader then. Due to the ageing of the walkers, an offshoot called Madlan was formed for them , and they also do seven walks a year, the difference being that they walk much less per day and sleep overnight in simple hotel facilities. The two groups have bus pickups from Hod Hasharon via Kastina, Lahavim and Beersheba if the walk is in the South. If the walk is in the North, the pickup is from Beersheba in the South till Raanana in the North. People also join us from Jerusalem. One of the pluses of this group is the early start; I’m from Kastina and am generally picked up at 05:00am, so we start walking early.

The Negev-Eilat Hike:

Day 1

Pickup at Kastina (t Kiriat Malachi junction) at 05:05 and Beersheba at 06:00 so that by 07.00 we were on Route 25, just before the Arava highway (90). We started at Nachal Tzafit, doing the lower portion. At the end, we were picked up by the bus to do our second hike for the day. 

Day 2

The second part was Nachal Barak, which is absolutely stunning. It is situated on the way to the Arava Valley. This canyon, between Paran and Tzukim, virtually in the middle of the road, offers a real desert experience and also takes one to the beautiful Barak Gorge and to a circular trail with breathtaking views of the Arava and Edom Mountains. Here we climbed with ladders and ropes - in short, all the factors for making a fantastic hike. 

Then we walked back to the bus to head for our campsite in the mountains of Eilat. It took to 19.00 till we reached our campsite, which was eight kilometers off the main highway, high in the mountains just north of Eilat. Below is the description of the site:

Hill Yocheved - Amram pillars

No water tap 

No services

No electricity

Information

Unauthorized camping park, nice and neat, has the Amram pillars nearby. Access to the parking lot is via a dirt road marked blue going a little north of Kibbutz Eilot, KM 20 in Route 90.  

The ground is sandy which is the best for putting up our tents. We prepared our backpacks for the next day, with food for breakfast, lunch and plenty of water - at least 3 liters per person.

Each person, either on his own or with his friend, then had a bite, (remember all this was in the dark, and only with torch-light). The highlight of the evening was a fantastic vegetable soup prepared by all (everyone brought some kind of vegetable), around the campfire with a bottle of wine and a lovely sing along. Soon it was time to sleep, and a good one it was.

Day 2

The next morning at 06.00 we were woken up with a communual coffee for all and by 07.00 we were on our way. The trip for the day was round-trip finishing back at the campsite. We walked through fields of copper from the old days, up the Camel via the mountain of Amir, and then using the Israeli trail, through hills of sand. 

After that we crossed the valley of the river of Schoret. We climbed up the side of the pathway of the river of Racham. We then dropped down the beautiful ridge, not missing the ponds that had collected water from the recent rains. Then we climbed up to and down from the outlook of Amram and back to our campsite (very welcome) just before sunset. On the way, we stopped for meal-breaks and also short stops to get our breath and enjoy the fabulous views of the Arava and the bay of Eilat.

Supper was similar to the previous evening and was much appreciated. 

Day 3

Again up at 06.00 and by 07.00 we had taken down all the tents, packed them in the bus and we were on our way. This time we only took food for breakfast and not too much water as we had a hard climb ahead of us, after which, the bus would meet us to take us to the last and final walk.

We walked up the Camel, though from a different angle, up the canyon of red san, which was magnificent. The ascent was long and challenging but well worth the effort and then a steep descent to the Amir River, which was both exciting and challenging, and demanded full concentration. On the way, we enjoyed our much-needed breakfast. On this Friday, there were a large number of youngsters in groups of 10-12 doing a 3-day hike and looking as if they were having the time of their lives. It was very rewarding to see so many youngsters away from their Ipods and computers and enjoying the simple good things in life.

As we finished this part of the walk, we were met by the bus, which transported us to our final hike. We were driven to Eilat and then to Nachal Netifin, where we were going to walk up its entire length in addition to climbing up its canyon, which has upright walls of 10 meters high. 

There are a series of little dry waterfalls and, at the end we reached Ein Netafin, a tiny spring where the water drips into a man-made trough which fills at the rate of 15 liters per hour. Lovely ferns grow around this area and the water is an important source for the local wildlife. From there, we climbed up the ladder of handles implanted in the rock crevices towards Mt. Yoash where we finished our trail and were met by the bus, just before 16.00.

Coffee and tea followed, with the last of our cake, and the bus started the long drive home. We made a wee stop at Ein Hatseva.

By 20.30, the bus dropped me off at Kastina after a most wonderful 3-day hike. I am now looking forward to the next one.  

       

 

 

 

 

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About the author

Henry Gild

Henry Gild was born in 1940 in South Africa, went to SACS. He was a keen Scout, acquiring the Queens badge. Henry studied agriculture at Elsenberg College, a faculty of Stellenbosh. 

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