2020-02-26 Bmahrai - Ain Dara - Ain Zhalta
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,166 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 3,166 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,445 ft
- TrailRank
- 55
- Min elevation
- 3,873 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 7 hours
- Coordinates
- 2047
- Uploaded
- February 26, 2020
- Recorded
- February 2020
near Bmahraï, Mont-Liban (Lebanon)
Viewed 669 times, downloaded 8 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This was supposed to be a snowshoeing hike; however, it turned out to be a mixed hike/snowshoeing without the snowshoes. A quick look at the mountains of the area, we did not see much snow and decided to leave the snowshoes in the cars; big mistake and lesson learned.
The trail started from Bmahrai's pine forest and went uphill until we reached the quarries of Ain Dara; we get to see the big crate that the quarry left behind at the top of the mountain. After Ain Dara, the trail turned towards the cedar reserve forest of Ain Zhalta. The trail was foggy with low visibility and the snow was high where we had a hard time navigating without snowshoes. The trail went through the cedar reserve; it is there that we made the decision to take a short cut down the valley to escape the snow. The trail from the Ain Zhalta reserve back to the cars was a dirt road sans the snow.
The hike was a difficult hike but a 20 km of joy.
N.B. please keep in mind that a snowshoeing expedition does not mean it can be used as a hiking trail during summer months.
The weather was pleasant except for the high cold winds at high altitude.
The trail started from Bmahrai's pine forest and went uphill until we reached the quarries of Ain Dara; we get to see the big crate that the quarry left behind at the top of the mountain. After Ain Dara, the trail turned towards the cedar reserve forest of Ain Zhalta. The trail was foggy with low visibility and the snow was high where we had a hard time navigating without snowshoes. The trail went through the cedar reserve; it is there that we made the decision to take a short cut down the valley to escape the snow. The trail from the Ain Zhalta reserve back to the cars was a dirt road sans the snow.
The hike was a difficult hike but a 20 km of joy.
N.B. please keep in mind that a snowshoeing expedition does not mean it can be used as a hiking trail during summer months.
The weather was pleasant except for the high cold winds at high altitude.
Waypoints
Waypoint
4,200 ft
Go Left
Waypoint
4,516 ft
Go Right
Waypoint
4,530 ft
Go Left
Waypoint
4,542 ft
Go Right
Waypoint
4,727 ft
Go Right
Waypoint
5,666 ft
Ain Dara Quarry
A quarry that ate the top of the mountain and left a crater that would fit a small village. Despite its devastation, there is beauty in it; I think.
Waypoint
6,378 ft
Mountain Top
A geographical surveying point of reference placed by the Lebanese government. You find many of these at mountain tops. It is used by surveyors as reference point.
Waypoint
4,550 ft
Go Right
Comments (5)
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Il n'y a pas de danger de mines dans la montee dans la foret? j'ai descendu cette partie il y a quelques annees et suis tombe sur des panneaux de danger...
OliZ,
I am sorry, I don't speak French.
Ah sorry Zahi!
I meant that I went down through this part of the forest that you have taken up and I came across landmines panels along the dusty road down. I wonder if it is safe? I asked the guards they told me they don't really know if there are mines or not...
I guess this is something hikers have to watch out for. Again, the trail I took had no "landmines" signs.
Thanks Zahi good to know I will try it next time!