It has been two weeks, since I hike Mt. Katherine and Mt. Sinai at the
protectorate. This was a preparatory hike for the Kilimanjaro trek that
is coming up in June. My team mates were all doing weekly long distance
treks in Malaysia and the US. I felt a bit left out and hiking loops at
the Wadi Degla, didn't seem like I was doing enough.
Day 1 ā Hike to Mt. Katherine
Since I was doing this alone and I had to be back at home for Easter,
this was a quick in and out of trip to the Sinai region. We started very
early in the morning and saw the beautiful sunrise on the way.
On the long road to Sinai
Once we crossed the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel, the landscape was so very
different from the other side
The landscape of Sinai
After reaching Fox Camp, where a guide was arranged for me to take me up the mountains and bring me back. The hike was supposed to start at 10am, but guide had some transportation issues and we eventually started out at 11.45am. Not the ideal time to start a hike, but if I had to return the next day, this was the only option. Coincidentally my guide was named Musa (Moses) as well.
Grounds of Fox Camp
Trail head
Me all set to start off the hike
Me and my guide Musa
The terrain was very different and I huffed and puffed for a while until I found my rhythm. I had to remind myself that I need not race or do this fast. The aim was to do it and come back without an injury. And I think this would be the mantra for Kilimanjaro as well ā Pole, pole (Swahili for slowly slowly)
The valley we reached after the initial climb of an hour
Panorama of the valley we walked through
Couple of hours later, we reached the valley where would be resting later in the night. The Wadi (valley) was a little green pasture were a few families were doing farming. The fertile piece of land was a welcome sight for the dry features around it.
The little green sanctuary in the valley
We unloaded a lot of our stuff, took only water and snacks and started up Mt. Katherine after a very short break. TheĀ way up was daunting to say the least, but I had to do this to see how I would be able to hold up in Kilimanjaro.
The rocky path up Mt. Katherine
The way up was a rocky path, which made the hike a pretty slow and precarious one. The aim was to reach the summit by sunset and get back to the valley to rest of the night. After a couple of hours we were at the same height as Mt. Sinai.
Mt. Sinai from the way up to the summit of Mt. Katherine
Panoramic view of Mt. Sinai
The evening light and the mountains
By this time my shoulders were aching, which I later realized was because of me not swinging my arms. And walking 4h straight was causing cramps all over ā quads, adductors, hamstrings. Musa, my guide, was very supportive and kept the spirits up. He even helped me stretch my hamstrings, when it was cramping real bad.
We finally reached the summit just after sunset. But the twilight was such a wonderful sight.
Hut at the summit of Mt. Katherine
The sense of achievement is clear with the smile š
After a short 20 minute rest, we started walking back down again. Not sure whether it was the adrenaline from summiting or just gravity, the walk down felt refreshing and easy on effort. The knees and the ankles begged to differ though!
At the summit of Mt. Katherine
We reached our stay for the night at about 9.30p. Our hosts were waiting for us to eat dinner. So after a quick change of clothes and wash up, I had a simple of meal of rice cooked with lentils and a basic salad. It was a simple and nutritious meal. We decided that instead of starting again at 3.30am to summit Mt. Sinai and view the sunrise, I will take rest and start hiking a little later.
They had provided me a room with just a mattress on the floor and some blankets. I was more than happy to have it in this wilderness. I just crashed after a few quick stretches.
Day 2 ā Hike to Mt. Sinai
The next morning, I was well rested and felt that I have a new pair of legs.Ā
We started the hike at 5.20am and reached the summit in about 2h without a stop. I think the body was getting used to the rhythm by now and I realized that walking slow in Zone 2 heart rate, helped me walked longer without gassing myself at the end of the hike.
Summit of Mt. Sinai
The panoramic view from the summit of Mt. Sinai
By the time I summited, the tourists who had done the night trek to view the sunrise had left and I had the summit all to myself. We had some nice breakfast at the top. I was able to do a video call with the folks back home.Ā
Chilli Cheese toast that I got from home
The church of Mt. Sinai
After resting for about an hour, we started walking back down to Fox Camp.
My guide said he had a different path planned for me, instead of the usual ones that tourists took. We stopped by Elijah's garden and crossed a mountain from there to join the path we took the previous night.
Elijah's garden
Mt. Katherine from afar!
Two intertwined almond trees!
Finally after 3.5h, we reached Fox garden at about the same time we started from there the previous day. Mission accomplished!
After a day at the same spot!
Thanks to Musa, who guided me all through!
After a quick shower and a quick lunch, I started back to Cairo.
