Yam l’Yam
Day 1 - River Walk
After leaving Michael’s house after a great succot weekend, we journeyed off to the Kineret sea for a water hike. There we settled down for lunch and met our new madrichim, Dotan and Sivan. We played an icebreaker, got changed and then headed out. We started hiking in the water then stopped for an additional icebreaker that involved counting and splashing. I didn’t enjoy that game very much, but we moved on and I got accustomed to the cold water. After a few minutes I dipped my head under the water and began to swim. The water was so refreshing since it was a hot and long day. We had a doggie paddle race and then reached the end. After, we met back up with the sick people and we got on the bus. A 45 minute drive and we reached the campsite in the foothills of Mt. Meron. We had dinner and packed up for the night.
Day 2 - Nachal Amoud
We woke up early to go on a hike to Nachal Amoud. On our way we encountered a strange building in the middle of nowhere damaged with scattered bulletholes.
British Police Station damaged by years of violence.
This was a British police outpost that was damaged by gunfire during the War of Independence and through multiple IDF training exercises. From there we traveled down a snake path and followed alongside an ancient watersource that sustained an ancient civilization.
Noya next to the ancient watersource supplied by Nachal Amoud.
A beautiful picture with Cara and Dani next to the watersource.
After more hiking and a trash-picking-up competition led by Lihi, we arrived at the end of Nachal Amoud. I was awestruck by the beautiful trees and nature around me.
Two beautiful pictures from the Nachal Amoud.
We had a short game of 20 questions with Sivan and she taught us about the local animals. We learned about wild boars, falcons, and fallow deer. Afterwards we returned to the campsite and had some freetime because it was shabat. Later we had t'filah and havdalah services, then we had dinner and a firebuilding competition which was staged as a mini rope burn. Later we had more free time then went to sleep in our tents.
Day 3 - Mountain Hike
We woke up SUUUUPER early for Day 3 because we had a whole day's worth of hiking ahead of us. it was a slightly chilly day, but sunny. We packed our things up for breakfast and lunch then set off on our long hike. After about an hour we set down for breakfast where we split into our three huliot and prepared breakfast. For breakfast we made tea with porridge and applesauce. I was in charge of the tea and it turned out pretty good. From there we hiked on and started our ascent. We scaled vertical walls of rock and after an hour I was exhausted. This exhaustion was mainly from carrying the jerrycan. Another two hours of hiking and we made it to lunch. There we cooked rice sausage and sauteed mixed vegetables. The rice did not turn out well, but the sausage and the vegetables were really good. We had a brief lesson on topography afterwards then continued on our hike. We passed for a Druze agricultural village then it began to rain. We danced around in the rain and then kept hiking. A few more hours of hiking and we reached the East summit of Mt. Meron.
East summit of Mt. Meron the little patch of no trees is where we started.
From there we hiked to the North side where we could see Lebanon
Behind Noya and Lihi you can see Lebanon off in the distance.
After, Sivan decided that the high altitude campsite would not be a good place to sleep because of the impending rain. We hiked down a bit to a parking lot and played games while we waited for the bus to bring us back to our original campsite, we packed away our bags in our tents and took cover in our tent with our bags. It started to pour, but quickly subsided. Then we put our bags elsewhere and had dinner while the rain began to start again. We took shelter in our tents again then fell asleep.
Day 4 - Cancelled Plans
The next morning it was raining and NO ONE wanted to get motivated. We all took shelter under a tree and drank tea that the chef prepared for us. Yonotan broke out his speaker and began blasting dance music and started dancing. Some of us joined him in dancing in the rain.
Everyone dancing with Yonotan in the rain.
We then got on a warm bus and journeyed to our next hiking spot. There we cooked breakfast when it began to rain.
Hulia 3 preparing breakfast at the hiking spot.
Sivan decided not to hike since it was raining so we played a games to keep warm then the bus came and took us to a spot where we could hike. We had a cooking competition and yet again hulia 1 won. We then went on an individual hike. This was to notice the hike around us while collecting our thoughts. I noticed the beautiful view while hiking.
The beautiful view with the rain clouds passing.
Later on, we met as a group and continued hiking into the valley.
A view and the valley behind her..... haha
We arrived at an ampitheater and we had our final competition---fort building. After an hour of building, the leader of the competition was again hulia 1. Then we walked to our campsite and settled down for the night.
Day 5 - Bikes! And the Med Sea.
When we woke up we were greeted with the smell of apple tea. It was so good. We had a brief bike orientation and we were off on our bike ride. It was a perfect day for a bike ride. There was a slight breeze and it was not a sweltering hot day. We biked through a banana plantation and met the Mediterraniean Sea. It was so beautiful. From there we biked to a park under the authority of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The anticipation of the ocean was KILLING me. We sat down for a quick review of our great adventure and I could not sit still. From there hulia 1, being the winner of all three competitions, poured water from the Kineret into the Mediterranean. We got into our swim suits and ran into the sea.
FINALLY; the Mediterranean!
Question: If you were to do Yam l'Yam again what would you do differently? Would you want the whole experience of walking or would you take the bus for some of the walk?
Day 2 - Nachal Amoud
We woke up early to go on a hike to Nachal Amoud. On our way we encountered a strange building in the middle of nowhere damaged with scattered bulletholes.
British Police Station damaged by years of violence.
This was a British police outpost that was damaged by gunfire during the War of Independence and through multiple IDF training exercises. From there we traveled down a snake path and followed alongside an ancient watersource that sustained an ancient civilization.
Noya next to the ancient watersource supplied by Nachal Amoud.
A beautiful picture with Cara and Dani next to the watersource.
After more hiking and a trash-picking-up competition led by Lihi, we arrived at the end of Nachal Amoud. I was awestruck by the beautiful trees and nature around me.
Two beautiful pictures from the Nachal Amoud.
We had a short game of 20 questions with Sivan and she taught us about the local animals. We learned about wild boars, falcons, and fallow deer. Afterwards we returned to the campsite and had some freetime because it was shabat. Later we had t'filah and havdalah services, then we had dinner and a firebuilding competition which was staged as a mini rope burn. Later we had more free time then went to sleep in our tents.
Day 3 - Mountain Hike
We woke up SUUUUPER early for Day 3 because we had a whole day's worth of hiking ahead of us. it was a slightly chilly day, but sunny. We packed our things up for breakfast and lunch then set off on our long hike. After about an hour we set down for breakfast where we split into our three huliot and prepared breakfast. For breakfast we made tea with porridge and applesauce. I was in charge of the tea and it turned out pretty good. From there we hiked on and started our ascent. We scaled vertical walls of rock and after an hour I was exhausted. This exhaustion was mainly from carrying the jerrycan. Another two hours of hiking and we made it to lunch. There we cooked rice sausage and sauteed mixed vegetables. The rice did not turn out well, but the sausage and the vegetables were really good. We had a brief lesson on topography afterwards then continued on our hike. We passed for a Druze agricultural village then it began to rain. We danced around in the rain and then kept hiking. A few more hours of hiking and we reached the East summit of Mt. Meron.
East summit of Mt. Meron the little patch of no trees is where we started.
From there we hiked to the North side where we could see Lebanon
Behind Noya and Lihi you can see Lebanon off in the distance.
After, Sivan decided that the high altitude campsite would not be a good place to sleep because of the impending rain. We hiked down a bit to a parking lot and played games while we waited for the bus to bring us back to our original campsite, we packed away our bags in our tents and took cover in our tent with our bags. It started to pour, but quickly subsided. Then we put our bags elsewhere and had dinner while the rain began to start again. We took shelter in our tents again then fell asleep.
Day 4 - Cancelled Plans
The next morning it was raining and NO ONE wanted to get motivated. We all took shelter under a tree and drank tea that the chef prepared for us. Yonotan broke out his speaker and began blasting dance music and started dancing. Some of us joined him in dancing in the rain.
Everyone dancing with Yonotan in the rain.
We then got on a warm bus and journeyed to our next hiking spot. There we cooked breakfast when it began to rain.
Hulia 3 preparing breakfast at the hiking spot.
Sivan decided not to hike since it was raining so we played a games to keep warm then the bus came and took us to a spot where we could hike. We had a cooking competition and yet again hulia 1 won. We then went on an individual hike. This was to notice the hike around us while collecting our thoughts. I noticed the beautiful view while hiking.
The beautiful view with the rain clouds passing.
Later on, we met as a group and continued hiking into the valley.
A view and the valley behind her..... haha
We arrived at an ampitheater and we had our final competition---fort building. After an hour of building, the leader of the competition was again hulia 1. Then we walked to our campsite and settled down for the night.
Day 5 - Bikes! And the Med Sea.
When we woke up we were greeted with the smell of apple tea. It was so good. We had a brief bike orientation and we were off on our bike ride. It was a perfect day for a bike ride. There was a slight breeze and it was not a sweltering hot day. We biked through a banana plantation and met the Mediterraniean Sea. It was so beautiful. From there we biked to a park under the authority of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The anticipation of the ocean was KILLING me. We sat down for a quick review of our great adventure and I could not sit still. From there hulia 1, being the winner of all three competitions, poured water from the Kineret into the Mediterranean. We got into our swim suits and ran into the sea.
FINALLY; the Mediterranean!
Question: If you were to do Yam l'Yam again what would you do differently? Would you want the whole experience of walking or would you take the bus for some of the walk?
If I were to redo Yam lYam I would do it with a better attitude then before. I came into the trip not feeling well so I wasn’t very excited at first. Once I got into the swing of camping, I had a shift in perspective. My attitude changed when I realized how much fun I was having. So if I were to do it again, I’d start with a good attitude. I would also want to do the walking again. I wouldn’t want to take the bus because it gives less of a sense of accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteI would for sure walk yam l'yam again. I think the walking was the greatest challenge and it is what made yam l'yam so special. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. If I were to do it again, I would have taken more photos. I also would be more confident in myself and my ability to complete yam l'yam. I knew it was going to be a challenge for me, and I often had a negative attitude when it came to the hikes because they are so challenging, I almost didn't climb Mt. Meron because I was nervous for my asthma. I am glad that I did it, but if I believed in myself more it would have been a completely different experience.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to do this trip again, I would come more prepared for the weather, the walks, pack smarter, and come with a good, positive attitude. On this trip in particular, attitude was everything. A persons attitude determined what would happen in the day. I wish that there were more breaks on the long days of hiking. I agree with Lily, the bus would have a sense of failure, but also it would be nice having a break from all of the walking. I am not the camping, hiking, outdoorsy type of person, so it was a bit harder for me to mentally push myself. In the end, we all did it. We all finished yam l'yam together, and that itself has a sense of accomplishment and I wouldn't have changed anything in the trip itself.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to redo Yam L'Yam, I would be more prepared with the weather, because I forgot my rain jacket back at Tzuba and even though my sweater was warm, it wasn't warm enough for the cold weather we had. In general I would have changed that rainy day because it was pretty stressful for me- I am not a rain person and especially being outside in the rain makes me feel very anxious. But the end of the day was really fun- we made caramelized tuna (we still think we should have won the cooking competition :)), and then we had the individual hike which I think was an amazing idea.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I wish I wasn’t sick during days 2-3. But, if I were to do this again, first, I would plan to do it during the summer when it would probably not rain. Second of all I think I would have actually hiked from Sea to Sea, no busses involved and sleeping at diffeeent camp sites every night. To do this I would need many better supplies as well as a better attitude and immune system. Overall for the days I participated in I enjoyed them, especially the bike ride
ReplyDeleteIf I were to do yamlyam, I would want to do the entire hike. I think I would also want to do the entirety of the hike, without buses. I would need a much better attitude and also not to be sick at all. I honestly think that the places we were at were so beautiful and I definitely didn't appreciate it as much as I should have.
ReplyDeleteIf I was going to do Yam l Yam again what I would do differently is not be sick. I was really looking forward to doing it (especially the hike up the mountain) and I couldn't which sucked. I would want the experience of hiking or biking it all. when I first heard about yam l yam I thought that we would actually be hiking sea to sea. but we actually took a bus for most of it which mad me sad. Although I missed most of it I really enjoyed the biking.
ReplyDeleteWhile we were on yam l' yam I wasn't feeling it, I just wanted to go back to Tzuba. I felt gross and the rain added to that feeling. By the end, my white sneakers were so muddy you couldn't even see the white in them. I also hate the feeling I get when I don't shower. I was also upset because I a lot of my friends got sick and that affected them because it was hard sleeping outside as it was, but I also didn't get to hike with them either :( And I know a lot of them wanted to hike as well. Looking back on Yam l' Yam I'm happy I went because it teaches you that your not always going to be doing what you want and your not always going to be comfortable but you just have to keep pushing. Despite all the negatives, the views were amazing.I like hiking but not uphill and I like hiking in fall when its cold out. BUT I felt very good after the third day, when we climbed up the mountain. Just looking down and seeing what you accomplished is a great feeling. Also I wasn't on my phone for 5 days which is nice, just to detox from talking to the outside world. If I could do yam l' yam differently I also would have packed better because I was pretty unprepared. And I don't think I would have taken the bus, especially not on the last day because the biking was for sure my favorite part.
ReplyDeleteIf I was on Yam l'yam again, I would try to be more helpful to the people around me. I actually enjoyed the majority of yam l'yam but I was very focused on the experience for myself, and not as a collective. Although I ended up feeling closer to my classmates, i did not know what was going on with everyone else while we were hiking because I always wanted to be in the front. If we were to do this trip again, I would hike in the back of the group and take my time. I also would have taken more photos.
ReplyDeleteI hope to not be sick for Yam l'Yam next time, but if I were to do it again I would ensure that I had all supplies I needed and more on top of the items I did bring. (Unfortunately, my headphones will never be recovered.) I was definitely excited for Yam l'Yam and I had a positive attitude to all the activities I did and all the ones I originally planned on doing. I hope to do Yam l'Yam again, but backpacking and walking the whole way instead of our more "glamping" experience. However, despite all of this I never missed out on the beautiful views and bonding experiences with the group.
ReplyDeleteNext time on Yam l'Yam I I would bring a rain jacket and not have been sick. I think not having a rain jacket contributed to my sickness. I also would have brought a sweater.
ReplyDeleteDuring the hike I would have wanted to take the bus all the time. It was only during Meron were I decided that the experience was not worthwhile. At that moment I would have taken a bus but at every other time I was happy to walk.
If I were to do Yam L'Yam again, I would want to do it by myself or with just one or two friends. While I enjoyed hiking with the large group immensely, there were some points on the trip where I wanted a quiet peaceful walk where I could look off the edge of the mountain and think uninterrupted. Having my own quiet and introspective time would be much easier to attain in a smaller group. Also, I would want to do the whole hike, not just a few small portions. Most of all, however, I would want to do as much of the hike as possible by bike.
ReplyDelete