En Gedi, located by the shores of the Dead Sea, is a peculiar place. The ancient mountains of the Judean desert frame a seemingly lifeless vista, with only the occasional roar of a tourist bus to nearby Masada to interrupt the silence of the wilderness.

Scratch a little beneath the surface, though, and a full panoply of life reveals itself. En Gedi is an oasis, a water-blessed respite from the unremitting browness of the desert that surrounds it, though its cool, fresh rivers are well hidden and accessible only to the physically able and willing. En Gedi - home as well to Mount Yishai - is a place to hike, to explore, to commune with nature and the spectacular spirituality of the land of Israel. Look closely and you might see an ibex negotiating a trail or two, maybe with a young kid in tow. Or you might find yourself face to face an unconsumed desert bush peeking out between the rocks - a testament to the resilence of life, even in this most barren and brutal of climes.

The oasis at En Gedi is best enjoyed after a hot summer day's hike - though you will need to start early to beat the heat (which will become unbearable for even experienced hikers by about 12:30 / 1 pm). The upper oasis at En Gedi, while less accessible than the lower oasis, offers the twin blessings of more shade and less crowding.

But perhaps the best part - at least for this author - of En Gedi was hiking up the face of Mount Yishai. At a leisurely pace, the hike takes a couple of hours, and the inclined grade of the mountain as well as the roughness of the rocks can be challenging to even experienced hikers. Be sure to bring at least - AT LEAST - 3 liters of water before attempting to hike Mount Yishai...it's even better if you consume 3 additional liters of water before you start your climb.

While the climb can be a bit taxing at times, the reward is well worth it: an unparalleled view of Masada, nearly the whole length of the Dead Sea, as well as the land of Jordan across the Dead Sea. If you are lucky, maybe you will see IAF jets fly over you as they make their circuit from the sea to sea (the Dead to the Mediterranean...or Red...or Galilee).

Posted about 1 year ago