Israel National Trail / Shvil Yisrael
IMPORTANT NOTE: The itinerary you see here will surely change. Even the
dates may change by a day or 2. In the interest of expediting information to you, we are
releasing this preliminary information to give you an idea of what to expect. We fully expect
details to be firm by around Labor Day 2010.
There are many ways to see the beautiful, ancient, historic land of Israel.
Fitpacking will take you on an unforgettable walking tour of the country.
From Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem, to the Negev Desert to the Red Sea resort village of Eilat,
you will see Israel as few do as you hike the
Israel National Trail. Get away from your frigid climate, walk through history,
explore the seldom traveled desert backcountry of Israel, and lose weight (or more
accurately, improve body composition).
Itinerary
The Israel Fitpacking Trip will be from December 5-20, 2010.
See the
proposed itinerary
Fitpacking's Israel trip will have two distinct parts. The first few days will be comprised of day
hikes, seeing the traditional sites of Israel of social and archaelogical importance,
and staying in guest houses, lodges and
hotels. The second week will consist of carrying all your equipment and food on your back in a
full-blown backpacking excursion in the Negev desert. The weeks will be separated
by two days completely on your own in Jerusalem.
Weather
Weather is always an important concern when backpacking.
December temperatures
are pretty cool by Israeli standards -- the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit. This is perfect backpacking weather,
however as weather is unpredictable, be prepared for blazing heat or chilly nights from radiational cooling.
Trip Leaders
Steve Silberberg, who lives in Hull, MA
has many years of backpacking experience over a variety of terrains and guides
most Fitpacking trips. He is a SOLO certified Wilderness First Responder, Leave No
Trace Trainer, and Certified Food Handler.
Amanda Morrison, is from Sparta, NJ
and has backpacked the entire 2650 mile Pacific Crest Trail. She is Aerie certified
in Wilderness First Aid, Basic Life Support, and CPR. She guided the 2010 Fitpacking Yosemite Trip
Equipment List
Here is a
list of equipment
we suggest you bring.
The list is extensive and can seem daunting, but please don't let this deter you
from the trip. You can rent top notch quality gear for reasonable prices from
Lower Gear.
It may also be possible for us to provide some gear for you at a nominal fee if you let us
know far ahead of the trip. Unfortunately, we're not in the gear business so the selection of
our available inventory is unpredictable. Please feel free to
discuss any gear with us before the trip.
Menus
We don't believe in austere eating regimens. Backpacking is a rigorous, rewarding
activity. You must feed your body in order for it perform. Your body will
dictate that you eat often, so it's important to have fuel to feed it. Please
check out the
sample menus.
This list is not
comprehensive and may be altered or augmented. If you want to bring personal
food, say a 5 pound chocolate cake, go for it. After carrying it over 50 miles through
the desert, your body will reject the empty calories and prefer nutritious food.
Cost
$2750 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will
share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible
for transportation to and from Tel Aviv as well as personal
equipment and any restaurant meals.
Covered expenses include 7 nights in a hotel, 7 days of trail meals, ground
transportation, permits, fees and awesome guides.
Important Note
Fitpacking is on an ongoing quest to expand its selection of trip destinations. As such, this
is the very first time we are offering a trip
to .
Even though they are seasoned backpackers, the guides for this trip may NOT have previously
backpacked these particular trails.
Many intrepid participants are excited by pioneering new routes, but others don't feel
as comfortable with this and may prefer a more established, predictable trip. Experience
guiding a certain destination can make things run smoother, but
do not underestimate the decades of backpacking experience that our guides possess which
permeate every other aspect of the trip in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.