Today we rented a car and travelled from Jerusalem to Masada and the Dead Sea, a drive that descends almost 4000 feet (from about 2600 feet above sea level to 1384 below sea level) in half an hour. As we drove, we also watched the thermometer in the car rise from 18 to 26 degrees.
Visitors to Masada (a mountaintop fortress built by King Herod) have two options to get to the top: cablecar or the Snake Trail. When Ursula and I visited Masada a few years ago, I was in marathon shape, and wanted to run up the Snake Trail. Unfortunately, it was very hot that day (almost 40 degrees) and our host strenuously recommended that I not try the climb. I took his advice, but ever since I've know that if I ever returned, I wanted to climb the trail.
So, today was the day. I'm not in marathon shape any more, but the temperature was a mild 28 degrees when we arrived. Ursula and the kids bought their cablecar tickets and told me they'd meet me at the top. I couldn't run the 2 km, but I did make the 350 metre climb nonstop, and discovered that while it's difficult, it wasn't the monster I had created in my mind. By the time I mounted the last step, my heart was pounding and my legs were wobbly, but I was also satisfied I'd checked another item off my bucket list. Yes!
Visitors to Masada (a mountaintop fortress built by King Herod) have two options to get to the top: cablecar or the Snake Trail. When Ursula and I visited Masada a few years ago, I was in marathon shape, and wanted to run up the Snake Trail. Unfortunately, it was very hot that day (almost 40 degrees) and our host strenuously recommended that I not try the climb. I took his advice, but ever since I've know that if I ever returned, I wanted to climb the trail.
So, today was the day. I'm not in marathon shape any more, but the temperature was a mild 28 degrees when we arrived. Ursula and the kids bought their cablecar tickets and told me they'd meet me at the top. I couldn't run the 2 km, but I did make the 350 metre climb nonstop, and discovered that while it's difficult, it wasn't the monster I had created in my mind. By the time I mounted the last step, my heart was pounding and my legs were wobbly, but I was also satisfied I'd checked another item off my bucket list. Yes!
You can see the Snake Trail winding its way up Masada. Ursula took this as the cable car was leaving the base.
Instead of playing "Where's Waldo?", George and Molly scan the ground below looking for Dad.
Ursula says I'm in the photo. I guess I'll have to take her word
Molly sat with me while I caught my breath and got my heart rate back down.
After our tour of this amazing fortress, we decided to walk back to the bottom together. While it was easier than the climb, it was still more taxing than you might expect due to all the loose gravel and irregular steps.
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