The Israel National Trail ( Hebrew : שביל ישראל , Shvil Yisra'el ) is a hiking trail that crosses the entire length of Israel , with its northern end at Kibbutz Dan in the far north of the country, extending to Eilat at the southernmost tip of Israel on the Red Sea , with a total length of 1,040 km (650 mi). The trail was inaugurated in 1995.
119-748: The trail is marked with three stripes (white, blue, and orange), and takes an average of 45–60 days to complete. The Israel National Trail has been listed in National Geographic's 20 most "epic trails." It is described as a trail that "delves into the grand scale of biblical landscapes as well as the everyday lives of the modern Israeli." Since January 2016, the Israel National Trail can be explored on Google Street View. Israel National Trail on Google Street View . The best hiking seasons are either from mid-February to mid-May or from September to December. The summer months (mid-May to
238-461: A campsite. Hikers also create their own community while on the trail. Many hikers create long lasting friendships while on the trail. Conversations are easily started because of the common interest of hiking . The Appalachian Trail is relatively safe. Most injuries or incidents are consistent with comparable outdoor activities. Most hazards are related to weather conditions, human error, plants, animals, diseases, and hostile humans encountered along
357-424: A great deal of attention to the project by publicizing the first claimed thru-hike. The claim was later criticized for the hike's omission of significant portions due to shortcuts and car rides. Shaffer later claimed the first north-to-south thru-hike, the first to claim to do so in each direction. Chester Dziengielewski was later named the first southbound thru-hiker. In 1998, Shaffer, nearly 80 years old, hiked
476-695: A hiker visiting from England was killed on the trail by falling while taking photos at the Annapolis Rocks overlook in Maryland. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to discourage use of the trail and the National Park Service to close all AT-managed hiking shelters from Virginia to Maine. The withdrawal of volunteers and trail-maintenance crews left the trail unprepared for
595-758: A hiker was killed on the trail in Maryland when a large tree blew over and fell onto him. Violent crime is rare but has occurred in a few instances. The first reported homicide on the trail was in 1974 in Georgia. In 1981, the issue of violence on the Appalachian Trail received national attention when Robert Mountford, Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both social workers in Ellsworth, Maine , were murdered by Randall Lee Smith . Another homicide occurred in May 1996, when two women were abducted, bound and murdered near
714-859: A major birdwatching site. In 2011, Israeli ornithologists confirmed that Lake Hula is the stopover point for tens of thousands of cranes migrating from Finland to Ethiopia every winter. In Israel, farmers set out food for them to keep them from damaging crops near the lake. Some 24,000 ha of the northern Hula Valley, including the nature reserve, has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of many species of birds, especially raptors and waterbirds , either as breeding residents, winter visitors or passage migrants . These include marbled teals , pygmy cormorants , sociable lapwings , European honey buzzards , greater and lesser spotted eagles , eastern imperial eagles , Levant sparrowhawks , lesser kestrels and Dead Sea sparrows . In November 2011
833-468: A reference to yellow road stripes, is given to those who hitchhike to move either down or up the trail. Part of hiker subculture includes making colorful entries in logbooks at trail shelters, signed using pseudonyms called "trail names". The Appalachian Trail Conservancy gives the name "2000 Miler" to anyone who completes the entire trail. The ATC's recognition policy for "2000 Milers" gives equal recognition to thru-hikers and section-hikers, operates on
952-817: A second producing longer, coarser mats which were used for constructing huts and shelters. The first modern Jewish settlement in the Hula Valley, Yesud HaMa'ala on the western shore of the lake, was established in 1883 during the First Aliyah . In 1948 there were 35 villages in the Hula Valley—12 Jewish and 23 Arab. The Hula Valley lies within the northern part of the Syrian-African Rift Valley at an elevation of about 70 meters above sea level, and covers an area of 177 square kilometers (25 km by 6–8 km). On both sides of
1071-465: A shower, allowing them to pitch a tent in their the yard or helping with transportation. Most of the "angels" do not require compensation for their support. In 2012, National Geographic magazine included the trail on its best hiking trail list. It was praised for "connecting to something that often gets lost in all the headlines: the sublime beauty of the wilderness of the Middle East." According to
1190-495: A soldier leaves the key to her room for hikers who need a place to sleep and a farmer in Hadera forest offers sleeping quarters in exchange for a day's work. A unique phenomenon that developed with the increase in popularity of the trail is that of "trail angels" ( Hebrew : מלאכי שביל , Mal'ache Shvil ). This nickname refers to people who live along the trail and offer hikers assistance, such as providing accommodation with beds and
1309-491: A system of communication for a network of hikers along the trail. Shelter logs—entries written in log books at certain shelters—can provide proof of who summits certain mountains and can warn about dangerous animals or unfriendly people in the area. Hikers may cite when a certain water source is dried up, providing crucial information to other hikers. In addition to official shelters, many people offer their homes, places of business, or inns to accommodate AT hikers. One example
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#17327823825371428-465: A two-day site trip to see the city. The route passes by Yad Kennedy ; a memorial to John F. Kennedy , and Hirbat Khanot, an old traveller's stop. Now pushing away from Jerusalem , the path climbs up to Azekah , a historical ruin on top of a hill. Continuing south, the route goes over a hill, with the ruin of Tel Goded on top. Onward, the route leads into Beit Guvrin National Park ; through
1547-589: A wooden floor, although some shelters are much more complex in structure. Shelters are usually spaced a day's hike or less apart, most often near a water source (which may be dry) and with a privy . They generally have spaces for tent sites in the vicinity as the shelters may be full. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) operates a system of eight huts along 56 miles (90 km) of New Hampshire's White Mountains. These huts are significantly larger than standard trail shelters and offer full-service lodging and meals during
1666-563: Is a separate trail and not an official extension of the Appalachian Trail. Other branches are designated in parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and along the western shore of Newfoundland, to the northern end of the Appalachian Mountain range , where it enters the Atlantic Ocean, near L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site . The route has since been extended to Greenland , Europe , and Morocco . Although
1785-757: Is elevated, providing views of the Hula Valley , a part of the Great Rift Valley . Further along, the path reaches Nabi Yusha fort/Metzudat Koach , and then a shrine, Al-Nabi Yusha' (Prophet Joshua). The trail continues up to Mount Meron . It passes by a rock formation known as Elijah's Chair, and the archaeological site of Khirbet Shema . Further, the trail sees exposed pipes of the National Water Carrier of Israel . It then passes in Nahal Amud , more than two hundred meters below
1904-613: Is far more prevalent along the trail than true alpine conditions. While it mainly exists in the north, a few mountains in the south have subalpine environments, which are typically coated in an ecosystem known as the Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest . Southern ranges and mountains where sub-alpine environments occur include the Great Smoky Mountains , where sub-alpine environments only begin around 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in elevation, Roan Highlands on
2023-584: Is featured prominently in Israeli author David Grossman 's 2008 novel To the End of the Land . In that story the mother of an Israeli soldier takes to the trail to occupy and distract herself while her son is engaged in a military operation. 31°23′52″N 34°51′41″E / 31.39778°N 34.86139°E / 31.39778; 34.86139 Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail , also called
2142-658: Is made up of maples, birch and beech , with colorful foliage displays in September and October. While the vast majority of lowland forest south of the White Mountains is hardwood, many areas have some coniferous trees as well, and in Maine, these often grow at low elevations. There is a drastic change between the lowland and subalpine , evergreen forest, as well as another, higher break, at tree line , above which only hardy alpine plants grow. The sub-alpine region
2261-800: Is only around 3,500 feet (1,100 m). This elevation in Massachusetts would barely be a subalpine region, and, south of Virginia, consists of lowland forest. This illustrates the drastic change in climate over 2,000 miles (3,200 km). Bicycles are prohibited from most of the trail, except for the sections that follow the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) in Maryland and the Virginia Creeper Trail in Virginia . Horses and pack animals are prohibited except horses on
2380-429: Is over 1000 kilometers long and is marked, managed and maintained by The Israel Trails Committee which also blazes, marks and maintains the 15,000 kilometers of hiking trails all over Israel. The Israel National Trail was officially inaugurated by then President of Israel , Ezer Weizmann in 1994. One of its purposes is to give Israelis a way to experience the entire breadth of the land firsthand. The various sections of
2499-567: Is the Little Lyford Pond camps maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Inns are more common in sections of the trail that coincide with national parks, most notably Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. The trail crosses many roads, providing opportunity for hikers to hitchhike into town for food and other supplies. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy lists over 40 communities that have qualified as part of
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#17327823825372618-500: Is the largest omnivore that may be encountered on the trail, and it inhabits all regions of the Appalachians. Bear sightings on the trail are uncommon, except in certain sections, especially Shenandoah National Park and portions of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts sections, where bear populations have increased steadily since 1980; confrontations are rarer still. Other hazards include venomous snakes, including
2737-714: Is walked either North-to-South or South-to-North, both directions are common. However, the North-to-South is more frequently taken. Therefore, a description of the route in that direction follows. The trail starts in Kibbutz Dan , behind the Beit Ussishkin Museum . It proceeds down to the Upper Galilee, passes through the city of Kiryat Shmona , and goes near Tel Hai , where it passes by a memorial to Joseph Trumpeldor . The path in this area
2856-616: The 1948 Siege of Jerusalem by Palmach soldiers of the Harel Brigade ; passing by many military posts nearby. Shortly it passes by Bnei Brit Cave, a memorial dedicated to victims of the Holocaust. Further east, the route goes through what was the village of Sataf , and then along Nahal Sorek . Shortly the route reaches as close as it gets to Jerusalem ; from here, a separate trail, the Jerusalem Trail can be taken for
2975-580: The A.T. , is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States , extending almost 2,200 miles (3,540 km) between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy claims the Appalachian Trail to be the world's longest hiking-only trail. More than three million people hike segments of it each year. The trail was first proposed in 1921 and completed in 1937. Improvements and changes have continued since then. It became
3094-876: The Appalachian National Scenic Trail under the National Trails System Act of 1968. The trail is maintained by 31 trail clubs and multiple partnerships and managed by the National Park Service , United States Forest Service , and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Most of the trail is in forest or wild lands, but some parts traverse towns, roads, and farms. From south to north it passes through Georgia , North Carolina , Tennessee , Virginia , West Virginia , Maryland , Pennsylvania , New Jersey , New York , Connecticut , Massachusetts , Vermont , New Hampshire , and Maine . Thru-hikers walk
3213-648: The British Mandate , the Zionist Palestine Land Development Company was awarded this concession by the Mandatory government and drew up plans to drain and irrigate the valley which brought scientific expeditions to the area. A visitor to the area in the 1930s reported that the villages in the area harvested the papyrus for weaving. They used two distinct styles of loom: one for fine mats for interior use, and
3332-658: The Hula painted frog , classified as extinct since 1996 by the IUCN as a result of the marsh drainage, reappeared to park patrollers in HaHula. The reappearance was confirmed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority . Since the discovery of the first specimen at least ten more have been found, all in the same area. The IUCN has accordingly reclassified the species as critically endangered . Archaeological findings in 2009 show that
3451-664: The National Forest service actually mows the grasses periodically in order to keep the balds free of trees. There are no subalpine regions between Mount Rogers in Virginia and Mount Greylock in Massachusetts , mainly because the trail stays below 3,000 feet (910 m) from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Mount Greylock. But Mount Greylock has a large subalpine region, the only such forest in Massachusetts, extending down to 3,000 feet (910 m), which in
3570-550: The National Park Service to map a permanent route for the trail, and by 1971 a permanent route had been marked (though minor changes continue to this day). By the close of the 20th century, the Park Service had completed the purchase of all but a few miles of the trail's span. The International Appalachian Trail is a 1,900-mile (3,100 km) extension running northeast from Maine into New Brunswick and Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula , where it ends at Forillon National Park . It
3689-646: The North Carolina - Tennessee border, where sub-alpine growth descends below 6,000 feet (1,800 m), and Mount Rogers and the Grayson Highlands in Virginia , where there is some alpine growth above 5,000 feet (1,500 m). Appalachian balds are also found in the Southern highlands, and are believed to occur due to fires or grazing in recent centuries, or in some cases due to thin, sandy soils. Several balds are sprouting trees, and on some,
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3808-655: The Sea of Galilee . After following it for a while, the route departs from the Sea of Galilee , at Yardenit Baptismal Site , onto the Jordan River , which is follows very briefly. The route passes by what were the villages of Awlam and Sirin , as well as the archaeological site of Tel Rekhesh . The route then continues over Mount Tabor , located at the top is the Church of the Transfiguration . After descending,
3927-416: The Sea of Galilee . The Hula Valley has a Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and cool rainy winters, although its enclosure within two mountain ranges leads to more extreme seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations than in coastal areas. Annual rainfall varies greatly between different parts of the valley and ranges from about 400 millimeters in the south of the valley, to up to 800 millimeters in
4046-575: The Shenandoah region of Virginia. Shelters are generally maintained by local volunteers. Almost all shelters have one or more pre-hung food hangers (generally consisting of a short nylon cord with an upside-down tuna can suspended halfway down its length) where hikers can hang their food bags to keep them out of the reach of rodents. In hiker lingo, these are sometimes called "mouse trapezes". Most shelters also contain "unofficial registries", which are known as shelter logs. These logs usually come in
4165-622: The Smoky Mountains ; and moose , which may be found in the vicinity of Massachusetts and northward. Small mammal species that inhabit along the trails are beaver , squirrel , river otter , chipmunk , porcupine , bobcat , two species of fox , boar , woodchuck , raccoon , and coyote . Bird species that reside in the trails are wild turkey , ruffed grouse , mourning dove , raven , two species of eagle , wood duck , three species of owl , and three species of hawk as well as warblers . There are different kinds of squirrels along
4284-622: The Talmud it is called the Sea/Lake of Siwkhi ([יַמָּהּ שֶׁל סִיבְכִי] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |3= ( help ) ). Both names are identified with the place-name Šamḫuna found in the Amarna letters written in the Akkadian language c. 1360 BCE. The Waters of Merom has sometimes been used in scientific literature, although that term refers specifically to springs on
4403-668: The Triple Crown of Hiking in the United States. The trail was conceived by Benton MacKaye , a forester who wrote his original plan—called "An Appalachian Trail, A Project in Regional Planning" —shortly after his wife's death in 1921. MacKaye's idea detailed a grand trail that would connect a series of farms and wilderness work/study camps for city-dwellers along the Appalachian Mountains from
4522-506: The White Mountains in New Hampshire , it often occurs well below 3,000 feet (910 m). At Mount Moosilauke , which summits at 4,802 feet (1,464 m), the first alpine environment on the trail is reached, where only thin, sporadic flora are interspersed with bare rocks. Between the two regions is the krummholz region, where stunted trees grow with their branches oriented away from the winter's prevailing northwest wind, giving
4641-427: The hominids who inhabited the area exploited Lake Hula fish. Analysis of the fish remains recovered from the archaeological site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov (GBY) has shown that they exploited a wide range of fish including catfish, tilapia and carp. Some of the carp were over a meter long. Tools to light fires and crack nuts were also discovered at the site. In December 2007 Israel issued a set of three stamps featuring
4760-616: The spread of malaria . In 1882, a traveler wrote that the region was "among the finest hunting grounds in Syria," home to "panthers, leopards, bears, wild boars, wolves, foxes, jackals, hyenas, gazelles and otters." During World War II, officers of the British Army wrote about hunting birds there. In 1908, the Ottoman government granted a concession to drain the marsh to a French firm, which sold it to Lebanese businessmen. In 1933, during
4879-635: The " Daughters of Jacob Bridge " at the southern end of the valley. The first permanent settlement, Enan ( Mallaha ), dates from 9,000–10,000 years ago and was discovered in the valley. The Hula Valley was a main junction on the important trade route connecting the large commercial centre of Damascus with the Eastern Mediterranean coast and Egypt . During the Bronze Age , the cities of Hazor and Laish were built at key locations on this route approximately 4,000 years ago. At some point,
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4998-598: The 1920s. Fink was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame in 2019. In 1922, only a year after MacKaye's article proposing an Appalachian Trail was written, Fink began corresponding with hiking leaders in New England about building the Trail. When Avery began planning the Trail's route in the south, Fink was the first person he contacted. Many of the trail's present highlights were not part of
5117-467: The 19th century, the valley, mainly marshy ground and a shallow lake, was inhabited by Ghawaraneh Bedouin who wove matting from the papyrus with which they built their homes. John MacGregor , a Victorian adventurer, was captured with his boat, the "Rob Roy", by dark-skinned Bedouin living in the Hula marshes. He was responsible for the first modern maps of the area. Mortality rates were very high due to
5236-659: The A.T. above treeline include Mount Moosilauke , several miles along the Franconia Range and along the Presidential Range . In the Presidentials, the trail climbs as high as 6,288 feet (1,917 m) on Mount Washington and spends about 13 miles (21 km) continuously above treeline, in the largest alpine environment in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains . The segments of
5355-464: The AT with automobile support teams, without backpacks, and without camping in the woods. Thru-hikers are classified into many informal groups. "Purists" are hikers who stick to the official AT trail, follow the white blazes, except for side trips to shelters and camp sites. "Blue Blazers" cut miles from the full route by taking side trails marked by blue blazes. The generally pejorative name "Yellow Blazers",
5474-404: The Appalachian Trail as well, especially in Maine. They are generally smaller and very territorial, and produce a loud call if approached. For most hikers, the most persistent pests along the trail are ticks , mosquitos , and black flies along with the mice that inhabit shelters. Plant life along the trail is varied. The trail passes through several different biomes from south to north, and
5593-622: The Appalachian Trail ends in Georgia, the Appalachian Mountains continue south to Flagg Mountain in Alabama. In 2008, the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail in Alabama and Georgia, which terminates at Flagg Mountain, was connected to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail via the Benton MacKaye Trail . Promoters of the Southern extension refer to MacKaye's statement at the 1925 conference that
5712-553: The Appalachian Trail would require an act of the United States Congress . The 8.8-mile (14.2 km) Appalachian Approach Trail in Georgia begins at Amicalola Falls State Park 's visitor center and ends at Springer Mountain. Because Springer Mountain is in a remote area, the Approach Trail is often the beginning of North bound thru-hike attempts. Much of the Approach Trail was originally built as part of
5831-424: The Appalachian Trail, before the southern terminus was relocated from Mount Oglethorpe to Springer Mountain. The Appalachian Trail is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, including 2,000 rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species. The American black bear ( Ursus americanus ), among the largest animals along the Appalachian Trail, rarely confronts people. The black bear
5950-574: The C&;O Canal and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Several short segments of the trail, in towns and scenic natural areas, were built to ADA accessibly standards for wheelchair use. Throughout its length, the AT is marked by white paint blazes that are 2 by 6 inches (5 by 15 cm). Side trails to shelters, viewpoints and parking areas use similarly shaped blue blazes. In past years, some sections of
6069-463: The Eastern timber rattlesnake and copperhead , which are common along the trail. Both snakes are generally found in drier, rockier sections of the trail; the copperhead's range extends north to around the New Jersey –New York state line, while rattlesnakes are commonly found along the trail in Connecticut and have been reported, although rarely, as far north as New Hampshire . Other large mammals commonly sighted include deer ; elk , reintroduced in
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#17327823825376188-466: The Georgia to New Hampshire trail should, in the future, extend to Katahdin, and "then to Birmingham, Alabama". As of March 2015 , The Pinhoti Trail terminates at the base of Flagg Mountain, near Weogufka in Coosa County , 50 miles (80 km) east of Birmingham. In 2010, the Alabama state legislature formed the Alabama Appalachian Mountain Trail Commission to provide state resources for trail improvements, although officially designating Pinhoti as part of
6307-416: The Hopper (a glacial cirque westward of the trail as it traverses Mt. Greylock in Massachusetts), and "The Hermitage", near Gulf Hagas in Maine. In the south, the forest is dominated by hardwoods, including oak and tulip trees , also known as yellow poplar. Farther north, tulip trees are gradually replaced by maples and birches . Oaks begin to disappear in Massachusetts. By Vermont, the lowland forest
6426-456: The Hula Valley was uninterrupted. During the Seleucid Empire , the town Seleucia Samulias was founded on the lake shore. Traditional crops were rice (as early as the Hellenistic period), cotton and sugar cane (brought by the Arabs following their conquest in 636), sorghum and maize (brought after the discovery of the Americas). Water buffalo were introduced in the eighth century supplying milk and serving as beasts of burden. In
6545-413: The Roman ruins of Hirbat Anava and Hirbat Ragav. Further south, the route goes by Latrun Monastery , an old Crusader castle, and the village of Neve Shalom . The route now begins to ascend, into the Judean Mountains National Park . Walking along Shayarot ridge, views are provided onto Highway 1 , the main road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem . The route follows Burma Road , a makeshift road used during
6664-470: The Zin Valley, to cross Nahal Zin. It reaches the peak of Mount Akev, the spring of Ein Akev, and the river of Nahal Akev. It then passes through Ein Shaviv Oasis . Further along, it passes by Metzad Mahmal , a fort used to protect spice trading routes. Then it enters the town of Mizpe Ramon . Mizpe Ramon is on the edge of Makhtesh Ramon , the largest Makhtesh in the world. The route takes around two days to cross it, and comes close to Ein Saharonim ,
6783-460: The ancient town of Eleutheropolis/Beit Guvrin . The route passes nearby to Tel Maresha , ruins of an ancient city. Further on, the route passes through the archaeological site of Tel Lachish . The route follows the river of Nahal Adora'im it breaks away at the ruins of Tel Keshet, and then through Tel Nagila. It passes through Pura Nature Reserve , then following the river of Nahal Shikma. Shortly afterwards, it goes through Lahav Forest , to enter
6902-454: The appearance of flags; they are sometimes called "flag trees". This region resembles lowland terrain hundreds of miles north in Canada. It also contains many endangered and threatened species. The trail has been rerouted over New Hampshire's Presidential Range so the Appalachian Mountain Club can protect certain plant life. The alpine cutoff in the Whites is generally between 4,200 and 4,800 feet (1,300 and 1,500 m). Mountains traversed by
7021-467: The area came under the control of the Israelites , until it was captured by the Neo-Assyrian Empire 's armies under Tiglath-Pileser III (reigned 745–727 BC) and its inhabitants were driven away. The Bible records the Waters of Merom , a lake in the valley, as the site of a victory of Joshua over the Canaanites . Throughout the Hellenistic , Roman , Byzantine and early Arab periods (fourth century BCE to eighth centuries CE) rural settlement in
7140-427: The cause. In 1929, Perkins, who was also a member of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and its Blue Blazed Trails committee, found Ned Anderson , a farmer in Sherman, Connecticut , who took on the task of mapping and blazing the Connecticut leg of the trail (1929–1933). It ran from Dog Tail Corners in Webatuck, New York , which borders Kent, Connecticut , at Ashley Falls, 50 miles (80 km) through
7259-403: The city of Arad itself. Leaving the city, the route passes into The Negev Desert . It goes over Mount Qina, and then along the river of Nahal Kanfan. Much later, it passes through the Roman archaeological site of Mezad Tamar . Heading south, it reaches an observation point on the rim of HaMakhtesh HaKatan , the first of the three Makhtesh the trail sees; it passes through and comes close to
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#17327823825377378-399: The city of Safed . Now at a lower elevation, the route reaches close to the Sea of Galilee , at the town of Migdal . It then ascends briefly onto Mount Arbel , with views of the cliffs and natural caves below. From here, the route comes nearby to the Horns of Hattin , where the Battle of Hattin took place. Shortly afterwards, the route goes through Tiberias , the city directly next to
7497-406: The climate changes significantly, particularly dependent upon elevation. In the south, lowland forests consist mainly of second-growth; nearly the entire trail has been logged at one time or another. There are, however, a few old growth locations along the trail, such as Sages Ravine straddling the Massachusetts-Connecticut border and atop higher peaks along the trail on either side of the same border,
7616-475: The coast. The route turns at the mouth of the Yarkon River , which it follows for a while through Yarkon Park . Passing a British army Pillbox by a railway, it then passes into Yarkon Springs National Park. It then departs the river near the city of Rosh HaAyin . The route goes by the Roman mausoleum of Hirbat Mazor. After a short while, it passes through the archaeological site of Tel Hadid . Next, it passes through Ben Shemen Forest , then passing nearby to
7735-401: The cold climate. Maine also has several alpine regions. In addition to several areas of the Mahoosuc Range, the Baldpates, and Old Blue in southern Maine have alpine characteristics despite elevations below 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Saddleback Mountain and Mount Bigelow , further north, extend only a bit above 4,000 feet (1,200 m), but each has long alpine areas, with no tree growth on
7854-449: The deepest point of the Makhtesh. After leaving the Makhtesh, it passes by the ancient caravanserai of Moa, and goes through both Barak and Vardit Canyons. It passes Kasui Sand Dunes, then into Timna Valley Park , with Mount Timna and Solomons Pillars , all within Timna Valley . Lastly, the route crosses Eilat mountain range and reaches Eilat , on the Red Sea , the final destination of the trail and its southern-most point. The trail
7973-430: The end of August) are considered too hot. Winter is less popular due to rain, low temperatures and, in the southern sections of the trail, potential flash floods. The Israel National Trail (INT) is the brainchild of Avraham Tamir, a journalist and hiker who hiked the Appalachian Trail in the late 70's and Ori Dvir, hiker, educator and one of the founders of The Society for Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). The INT
8092-414: The entire trail in a single season. The number of thru-hikes per year has increased steadily since 2010, with 715 northbound and 133 southbound thru-hikes reported in 2017. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates there are over 3,000 attempts to traverse the entire trail each year, about 25% of which succeed. Many books, documentaries, and websites are dedicated to the pursuit. Some hike from one end to
8211-472: The entire trail. Recognizing this, the planners divided it into smaller sections that can be hiked separately. Some sections can be completed in day trips or over the weekend. Because the southern section of the trail passes through many isolated areas, hikers cache supplies of food and water at designated points on the trail before beginning the hike or pay for supplies to be delivered. Hikers can seek help from "trail angels". For example, at Kibbutz Yagur ,
8330-441: The first section of the trail, from Bear Mountain west through Harriman State Park to Arden, New York , was opened. MacKaye then called for a two-day Appalachian Trail conference to be held in March 1925 in Washington, D.C. This meeting inspired the formation of the Appalachian Trail Conference (now called the Appalachian Trail Conservancy ) (ATC). Arthur Perkins , a retired judge, and his younger associate Myron Avery took up
8449-431: The form spiral-bound notebooks that are kept in containers in shelters all along the trail, and signing in them is not required. These logs give hikers a way to leave day-to-day messages while they are on the trail to document where they have been, where they are going, and who/what they have seen. The logs provide a space for informal writing and can also be used to keep track of people on the trail. Most of all, they provide
8568-646: The gap (centre). Later, the route passes through Mezad Tzafir, an ancient Roman stronghold that was a part of the Limes (frontier). It follows Nahal Hatira for a short while, along which is the Hatira Waterfall , the highest dry waterfall in Israel, then passing another Roman stronghold, Meizad Yorkeam. Next, the route climbs Mount Karbolet , the collapsed southern rim of HaMakhtesh HaGadol , ( lit. The Big Crater) and then follows Nahal Afran. It then enters
8687-882: The highest point in the North ( Mount Washington in New Hampshire) to the highest in the South ( Mount Mitchell in North Carolina). Hiking was an incidental focus of his plan. In 1922, at the suggestion of Major William A. Welch , director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission , his idea was publicized by Raymond H. Torrey with a story in the New York Evening Post under a full-page banner headline reading "A Great Trail from Maine to Georgia!" On October 7, 1923,
8806-507: The honor system, and recognizes blue-blazed trails or officially required roadwalks as substitutes for the official, white-blazed route during an emergency such as a flood, forest fire, or impending storm on an exposed, high-elevation stretch. As of 2018, more than 19,000 people had reported completing the entire trail. The northbound completion rate of hiking the trail in twelve months or fewer varied from 19% to 27% from 2011 to 2018. The southbound completion rate varied between 27% and 30% during
8925-415: The influx of users escaping home isolation. In 2021, the conservancy suspended issuing hang tags for through-hikers for a period during the continuing pandemic. Trail hikers who attempt to complete the entire trail in a single season are called " thru-hikers "; those who traverse the trail during a series of separate trips are known as "section-hikers". Rugged terrain, weather extremes, illness, injury, and
9044-609: The kibbutz of Lahav ; within is the Joe Alon Centre and Museum of Bedouin Culture. Just leaving the kibbutz is Hirbat Rimon. Later the route goes through Yatir Forest , the largest forest in Israel. It passes through Amasa , and then up to Mount Amasa, the second-highest point on the trail, at 859 m. Heading east onto the Arad Plateau, the route passes through the archaeological site of Tel Arad , to then pass enter
9163-463: The lungs. The affected hiker recovered and hiked the trail the following year. The section of the trail that runs through the Mid-Atlantic and New England states has a very high population of deer ticks carrying Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, and corresponds to the highest density of reported Lyme disease in the country. The weather is a major consideration for hikers. Hiking season of
9282-532: The magazine, "the joy of the trail is meeting the Israelis hiking it, and spending some time in small kibbutzim where local people take hikers into their homes." The trail is a continuous footpath across the entire country of Israel . It mostly consists of dirt tracks, however, occasionally it includes quiet roads or pavements. The path is frequently marked by its unique striped markers. These are often painted on rocks and trees, or with signs and plates. The trail
9401-478: The marsh. G. Schumacher , visiting the region in 1883, described the Hula valley in the following terms: Ard el Huleh . The whole country of the marshes of the Huleh Lake, a swampy territory thickly overgrown with papyrus. It abounds in snipe , wild ducks, francolins and many other kinds of birds, and is consequently much resorted to by the hunter, but as carefully avoided by the inhabitants on account of
9520-653: The marshland surrounding it were a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying malaria and thus were drained in the 1950s. A small section of the valley was later reflooded in an attempt to revive a nearly extinct ecosystem . An estimated 500 million migrating birds now pass through the Hula Valley every year. Lake Hula was historically referred to by different names. In the 1st century CE, the Jewish-Roman historian Flavius Josephus termed it Semechonitis ( Greek : Σημεχωνίτις , romanized : Sēmekhonítis ), John Lightfoot writing it as Samochonitis , while in
9639-435: The modern environmental movement, it became evident that the transformation of the swamp into agricultural land involved significant trade-offs and had effects on the ecosystem that had not been perceived in the first half of the twentieth century, when the major concerns had been the reduction of malaria-bearing mosquitoes and improving economic productivity. In 1963, a small (3.50 km ) area of recreated papyrus swampland in
9758-584: The new trail cleared and blazed, by six Boy Scouts from New York City and their guides. The thru-hike was much later recorded and accepted by the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association . In 1938, the trail sustained major damage from a hurricane that went through the New England area. This was soon before the start of World War II, and many of the people working on the trail were called to active duty. In 1948, Earl Shaffer of York, Pennsylvania , brought
9877-570: The north of the valley. More than 1,500 millimeters of precipitation falls on the Anti-Lebanon mountains only a few kilometers north of the valley, mostly in the form of snow, feeding underground springs and the sources of the Jordan River including the Hasbani River , Banias River , Dan River and the el-Malaha Brook, all eventually flowing through the valley, and which, before its drainage, could not easily be distinguished because of
9996-405: The north of the valley. The drying out caused the extinction of the unique endemic fauna of the lake, including the cyprinid fish Mirogrex hulensis or Hula bream, Oxynoemacheilus galilaeus or Galilean Stone Loach, and the cichlid fish Tristramella intermedia or Hulan shortjaw tristramella. Though perceived at the time as a great national achievement for Israel, with the advent of
10115-519: The northwest corner of the state, up to Bear Mountain at the Massachusetts state line. A portion of the Connecticut trail has since been rerouted (1979–1983) to be more scenic, adhering less to highways and more to wilderness, and includes the Ned K. Anderson Memorial Bridge. Anderson's efforts helped spark renewed interest in the trail, and Avery, who led the project after Perkins's death in 1932,
10234-588: The noxious fever. The draining operations, carried out by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), began in 1951 and were completed by 1958. In 1955 the Israeli government invited John Zuckerman to visit Israel as advisor on a project. It was achieved by two main engineering operations: the deepening and widening of the Jordan River downstream; and two newly-dug peripheral canals diverting the Jordan at
10353-467: The organization's "A.T. Community" program, having become recognized for providing food, supplies and accommodations for passers-through. In the areas of the trail closer to trail towns, many hikers have experienced what is sometimes called "trail magic", or assistance from strangers through kind actions, gifts, and other forms of encouragement. Trail magic is sometimes done anonymously. In other instances, persons have provided food and cooked for hikers at
10472-407: The original trail often climbed straight up and down mountains, creating rough hiking conditions and a treadway prone to severe erosion. The ATC's trail crews and volunteer trail-maintaining clubs have relocated or rehabilitated miles of trail since then. In 1936, a 121-day Maine to Georgia veteran's group funded and supported thru-hike was reported to have been completed, with all but three miles of
10591-793: The other, then turn around and thru-hike the other way, a "yo-yo". Affiliated trail sections extend from either end from the north as the International Appalachian Trail into Canada and beyond, and from the south as the Eastern Continental Trail into the Southeastern states of Alabama and Florida . The Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail , and the Pacific Crest Trail informally constitute
10710-527: The route again ascends, over Mount Devora , at the top of which is a monument to mark the silver wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip . Shortly after, it passes by the Nazareth Iris Nature Reserve. Here the route comes close to, but avoids the city of Nazareth , instead, it goes through Nof HaGalil (Nazareth Illit) . After leaving, it passes by the archaeological site of Sepphoris (Zippori) . Next passing by
10829-488: The ruins of a water mill, Tahanat Hanezirim. The route passes through Kibbutz Yagur , to then enter, with a very steep ascent, Mount Carmel National Park . After crossing Mount Carmel itself, it passes by Isfiya , and then numerous other mountains. It then descends at the prehistoric Etzba Cave, and passes by the artist's colony of Ein Hod . The route now turns south, and after passing many more prehistoric caves, it goes by
10948-465: The same name. Near here the route passes Hirbat Samara, the ruins of a building used by Ottoman customs officers. Next, the route passes the city of Netanya , on the coast, then crosses Nahal Poleg River. Further along the coast, the route passes by the ruins of the ancient city of Apollonia–Arsuf . Shortly afterwards, it passes by Sidna Ali Mosque , to then go by the city of Herzliya . The route then enters Tel Aviv , where it turns east, away from
11067-449: The same period. Hula Valley The Hula Valley ( Hebrew : עֶמֶק הַחוּלָה , romanized : ʿEmeq haḤūlā ; Arabic : وادي الحولة , romanized : wadi al-Ḥūla ) is an agricultural region in northern Israel with abundant fresh water that used to be Lake Hula before it was drained. It is a major stopover for birds migrating along the Great Rift Valley between Africa , Europe , and Asia . Lake Hula and
11186-458: The south would be far from the subalpine cutoff. This is especially low because Greylock is exposed to prevailing westerly winds, as the summits along its ridgeline rise about 200 to 650 feet (61 to 198 m) higher than any other peak in Massachusetts. Farther north, several peaks in Vermont reach into the subalpine zone, the bottom of which steadily descends as one proceeds northward, so that by
11305-535: The southwest of the valley was set aside as the country's first nature reserve . Concern over the draining of the Hula was the impetus for the creation of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel . Draining the Hula turned out to be a mixed blessing. Water polluted with chemical fertilizers began flowing into the Sea of Galilee , lowering the quality of its water. The soil, stripped of natural foliage,
11424-547: The state ranges from around 2,500 feet (760 m) in the Mahoosuc Range to below 1,000 feet (300 m) in parts of the Hundred-Mile Wilderness , where nearly every area higher than 1,000 feet (300 m) is evergreen forest. These forests include more species of evergreen, as well. In addition to the white pine , spruce , and hemlock prevalent further south, Maine has many cedar trees along
11543-585: The summer months. The Fontana Dam Shelter in North Carolina is more commonly referred to as the Fontana Hilton because of amenities (e.g. flushable toilets) and its proximity to an all-you-can-eat buffet and post office. Several AMC huts have an extended self-service season during the fall, with two extending self-service seasons through the winter and spring. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains trail cabins, shelters, and huts throughout
11662-462: The summit and unobstructed views on clear days. From Mount Bigelow, the trail extends for 150 miles (240 km) with only a small area of alpine growth around 3,500 feet (1,100 m) on the summit of White Cap Mountain . Mount Katahdin, the second-largest alpine environment in the eastern United States, has several square miles of alpine area on the flat "table land" summit as well as the cliffs and aretes leading up to it. Treeline on Mount Katahdin
11781-450: The time and effort required make thru-hiking difficult to accomplish. As of 2017, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimated that 3,839 hikers set out from Springer Mountain, northbound, 497 from Mount Katahdin, southbound, and reported 1,186 completions of hiking the entire trail, which includes those by both section and through hikers. Most thru-hikers walk northward from Georgia to Maine, and generally start out in early spring and follow
11900-485: The town of Zikhron Ya'akov . Shortly after, the route reaches an ancient Roman aqueduct, to then reach the Mediterranean Sea , at Jisr az-Zarqa . Along the coast a very short way, the route goes by Caesarea Maritima , the vast ruins of an ancient Roman city. Going further south, the route goes through the city of Hadera . Afterwards, it crosses the river Nahal Alexander , going through the national park of
12019-489: The trail also used metal diamond markers with the AT logo, few of which survive. Most hikers carry a lightweight tent, tent hammock or tarp. The trail has more than 250 shelters and campsites available for hikers. The shelters, sometimes called lean-tos (in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut), huts (in Shenandoah National Park), or Adirondack shelters, are generally open, three-walled structures with
12138-424: The trail from development, thanks to efforts of politicians and officials. Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson offered legislation to protect the route. The National Trails System Act of 1968 designated the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail as the first national scenic trails and paved the way for a series of such trails within the national park and national forest systems. Trail volunteers worked with
12257-478: The trail generally starts in mid-to-late spring, when conditions are much more favorable in the South. However, this time may also be characterized by extreme heat, sometimes in excess of 100 °F (38 °C). Farther north and at higher elevations, the weather can be characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, hail or snow storms and reduced visibility. Prolonged rain, though not typically life-threatening, can undermine stamina and ruin supplies. In March 2015,
12376-539: The trail have been added progressively during this development. In 2003 a portion of the trail was diverted from the Sharon and now runs along the coast. The reasons for the change were the development of Highway 6 , avoiding the security risk of walking along the Green Line and the desire to add to the trail sections with city and sea views. According to statistics compiled in 2010, only 4 out of 10 hikers complete
12495-694: The trail in 1937: Roan Mountain , North Carolina and Tennessee; the Mount Rogers high country, including Grayson Highlands , Virginia; the Pochuck Creek swamp, New Jersey; Nuclear Lake, New York; Thundering Falls, Vermont; and Saddleback Mountain , Maine. Except for places where the Civilian Conservation Corps was brought in (mostly in Shenandoah National Park , the Great Smoky Mountains , and Maine),
12614-506: The trail in Shenandoah National Park. The primary suspect was later discovered harassing a female cyclist in the vicinity, but charges against him were dropped and the case remained unsolved until 2024. In May 2019, Oklahoman Ronald S. Sanchez Jr., 43 years old, was murdered at a campsite near Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in western Virginia Jefferson National Forest. A female hiker who has not been identified
12733-417: The trail through Pennsylvania are so rocky that hikers call the region "Rocksylvania". These small rocks, which are the result of erosion that has worn away the dirt along the trails, can be tough to walk on for extended periods of time without proper hard-soled shoes. In Maine , the trail extends into even harsher environments, and subalpine and alpine growth descends to lower elevations. Alpine growth in
12852-467: The trail, making him the oldest person to claim a completed thru-hike. The first woman to walk the trail in a single season was Peace Pilgrim in 1952, while the first solo woman to complete the hike was 67-year-old Emma Gatewood , who did it northbound in 1955, taking 146 days. She repeated the achievement two years later, and again in 1963, at age 75. In the 1960s, the ATC made progress toward protecting
12971-445: The trail. Many animals live around the trail, with bears, snakes, and wild boars posing the greatest threat to human safety. Several rodent- and bug-borne illnesses are also a potential hazard. In scattered instances, foxes, raccoons , and other small animals may bite hikers, posing risk of rabies and other diseases. There has been one reported case (in 1993) of hantavirus (HPS), a rare but dangerous rodent-borne disease affecting
13090-409: The trail. Near the northern terminus, there are even some tamarack (larch), a coniferous, pine-needled deciduous tree, which provides displays of yellow in the late fall after the birches and maples have gone bare. The hemlocks in Maine are also notable, as the woolly adelgid , which has ravaged populations further south, has not come into the state yet, and may be unable to make it so far north due to
13209-646: The valley are steep slopes: the Golan Heights to the east and the Upper Galilee 's Naftali Mountains to the west rise to 400 to 900 meters above sea level . Basalt hills of about 200 meters above sea level along the southern side of the valley intercept the Jordan River , and are commonly referred to as the basalt "plug", the Korazim block, or Korazim Plateau (actually a temporary geologic base level ), as they restrict water drainage downstream into
13328-426: The wake of heavy rains. It was decided to develop the surrounding area and leave the flooded area intact. The new site has become the second home for thousands of migrating birds in the autumn and spring. The lake covers an area of one square kilometer, interspersed with islands that serve as protected bird nesting sites. It has become a major stopover for migrating birds flying from Europe to Africa and back, and also
13447-424: The warm weather as it moves north. These "north-bounders" are also called NOBO (NOrthBOund) or GAME (Georgia(GA)-to-Maine(ME)), while those heading in the opposite direction are termed "south-bounders" (also SOBO or MEGA). A thru-hike generally requires five to seven months, although some have done it in three months, and several trail runners have completed the trail in less time. Trail runners typically tackle
13566-483: The western side of the valley. Prior to its drainage in the early 1950s, Lake Hula was 5.3 km (3.3 mi) long and 4.4 km (2.7 mi) wide, extending over 12-14 square kilometers. It was about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) deep in summer and 3 m (9.8 ft) deep in winter. The marsh-like lake was fed by several perennial springs. The lake attracted human settlement from early prehistoric times. Paleolithic archaeological remains were found near
13685-405: Was able to bring other states on board. Upon taking over the ATC, Avery adopted the goal to build a simple hiking trail. He and MacKaye clashed over the ATC's response to the construction of a road that overlapped part within Shenandoah National Park; MacKaye left the organization, while Avery was willing to reroute the trail. Avery served as Chair of the ATC from 1932 to 1952, the year he died. He
13804-469: Was also injured by an assailant there. James L. Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts was found not guilty of the crimes by reason of insanity. Human error can lead to casualties as well. In July 2013, 66-year-old lone hiker Geraldine Largay disappeared on the trail in Maine. Largay became lost and survived 26 days before dying. Her remains were found two years later in October 2015. In October 2015,
13923-478: Was blown away by strong winds in the valley, and the peat of the drained swamp ignited spontaneously, causing underground fires that were difficult to extinguish. Eventually part of the valley was transformed back into a wetland habitat. The work of a number of scientists and nature lovers made it possible for at least a small part of Hula's wetlands to be preserved. In 1964 the Hula Nature Reserve
14042-468: Was officially inaugurated. The Hula Nature Reserve is listed by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, as a Wetland of International Importance. Hula Lake Park ( אגמון החולה ) is located in the southern part of the Hula Valley, north of the nature reserve and distinct from it. It was established as part of a JNF rehabilitation project. In the early 1990s part of the valley was flooded again in
14161-547: Was the first to walk the trail end-to-end, though not as a thru-hike, in 1936. In August 1937, the trail was completed to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, and the ATC shifted its focus toward protecting the trail lands and mapping the trail for hikers. In 1977, the Appalachian Trail Conference honored Paul M. Fink as "the guiding influence" in establishing the Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina in
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