Length: A strolling 1.5 km, 45 min (brutto) to 1.5 hour (netto)
Mode of Transport: Walking - not stroller or wheelchair friendly
Why Go? It's a lil' diddy of a trek, short and sweet and CIRCULAR!!
Toilets: Au naturel
What to Bring: Finjan, water, Girl Scout Cookies (an olah can dream)
Entrance Fee: 0 shekels and 0 agurot
You know those days when you didn't plan to do anything, had a lazy morning, ate some pancakes, but then circa 9:45am cabin fever creeps in? Looking for something not too far, but still has views and green scenery. Plus you gotta be back for lunch and a nap. I got the cure. More cowbell. I mean, Har Eitanim in the Jerusalem Hills.
I don't know about you guys, but I love a circular hike. No need to be a jedi master with your cars, and you don't have to backtrack to do the downhill, uphill. Mmm mmm - a short and sweet self-explanatory nature trail . I'll take a second helping.
Now an important point to know is this trail has no real parking lot, just a dirt area on the shoulder of the road for about four cars max, so don't invite the whole Ketah Bet class. Enter שביל המטוס סובב איתנים into Waze or Googlemaps and it will take you to the starting point. If you go into the Eitanim Mental Health Hospital gates, you have gone too far. Do a U-turn in their parking lot and look for the trail head about 100 meters down the road (pictured above).
The trek is a simple, easy to navigate green trail, and the 1.5 km loop can be done in 45 minutes. Or take your time, make a tea and admire the scenery to get the most bang for your buck. The area is brimming with strawberry trees aka arbutus aka קטלב (katlav) that boast a small red, (apparently) edible berry. Your call. Let me know how it tastes. The tree is short with a red twisty bark. Why red, you ask? Clearly because a pigeon fell in love with the tree, and the only way the bird's parents would allow the two to marry is if the wedding was at the pigeon's home. So the tree tries to remove his roots and climb up the valley, causing his muscles to become sore and red. Spoiler alert: the tree doesn't make it, and the two never procreate to make the first tree with wings. Crushing.
For a tad of history, this was the site of a airplane crash in May of 1948 where six soldiers died, hence the name of the hike. Close by is Har Hatayasim - an IDF Air Force Memorial with the names of all fallen soldiers in the Israeli Air Force. The area itself can be paired with a few other statues and memorials, such as Yad Kennady or Scrolls on Fire.
With lots to do in the area, this can add a breath of fresh air to your day. And if you find me some Thin Mints, I'll drive.
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