Today, I woke up at 6 am to go on a "hike". I use quotations because this was more than just a typical HIKE! It was more of a try-out for Survivor, the reality show. A try-out I DIDN'T plan on attending!
My god!
We drove about 2 hours...through Jerusalem and then downhill to the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on Earth. Then...we got out of the car and the first thing we saw was a memorial for 2 guys that DIED on the very "hike" we were about to go on (1st photo) OK? Yea....they fell off some boulders. Sure...let's DO IT! GREAT IDEA!
We had a group of about 20 people...all Russians who are avid followers of my uncle's hiking "club".
We went about 8 miles. The first hour was hard core steep climbing of huge boulders (2nd photo). I thought I was going to DIE. Little did I know...this was JUST the beginning! Once we climbed about 2500 FT (yes, that's right), we hadn't even completed a quarter of the "hike".
We proceeded to wander through the desert for another 4 hours...taking a couple breaks to eat a light lunch and rest. I say wander...but we were actually following a few paths so as not to get lost and wander for 40 years (like the slaves of Egypt). THEN..once I thought I couldn't go any further, we had to freakin climb down one of the steepest inclines EVER....it was soooo rocky and I fell several times. I was actually almost in tears at one point because my feet hurt and I kept falling and I kept thinking "WHY DID I COME?" (part of my trouble was that I was wearing regular sneakers not hiking boots).
Finally, we arrived to the end and we waited for all the drivers to go pick up the cars and then drive back to pick us up. We stopped to get beers, coffee, sodas, etc and then proceeded on our two hours drive back. During the last hour, I had to pee SOOOOOOO bad but there weren't any stops between Jerusalem and Rehovot. Once we arrived, I RAN to the apartment and found it to be locked (by my mother who had the key and was off doing much more trivial things today). IT WAS TORTURE.
I'm quite aware no one cares how badly i had to urinate....but I just had to paint the proper picture of my day. I'm sure tomorrow, i will really be feeling it...in my toes, feet, legs, butt, back....EVERYWHERE!
Moral of the Story:
1.) If you're going on a real hike, get some hiking boots;
2.) I am not very hard core; and
3.) The Israeli desert is freakin' beautiful!
Enjoy the photos! Gorgeous that they may be, they came at a VERY high price!
