2019-11-17 Jabal Mousa: Nahr Dahab-St George Monastery-Yahsoush Cross-Qornet Mzar
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 8.32 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,150 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 3,150 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,167 ft
- TrailRank
- 59
- Min elevation
- 2,642 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 7 hours 32 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1878
- Uploaded
- November 17, 2019
- Recorded
- November 2019
near Nahr ed Dahab, Mont-Liban (Lebanon)
Viewed 1136 times, downloaded 19 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Jabal Moussa reserve is located in the Kesrouan area, 50 km from the capital Beirut. It is surrounded by two rivers: Nahr Ibrahim (Ibraheem River) from the north and Nahr el-Dahab (Gold River) from the south.
It covers an area of 65 square km with altitudes ranging between 350m and 1700m. The reserve has many entrances; this hike started from Nahr El Dahab and followed up a steep slope to reach the St. George Monastery; an old monastery that is in the process of renovation. After a brief stop at St. George, the trail took a steeper hill to reach the Yahshoush Cross. The trail moved on to Qornet Mzar (Mzar Peak) the highest point in Jabal (mount) Mousa where the 360 degree view is breathtaking; especially during the fall and the mosaic of colors the trees displaying. The trail, after the Mzar, went through a downhill slope to reach the mulberry tree fields and the old houses that were used to house workers in the silk industry (the houses are now being restored); we had our lunch breaks here. Finally, the trail continued downhill a good 5 km to reach our starting point.
This trail passed by Bir el Masbak (Masbak well) and a water cistern to serve the old houses.
This is a difficult hike and requires seasoned hikers. The weather was sunny and a bit windy on the stretch from St. George top the cross.
It covers an area of 65 square km with altitudes ranging between 350m and 1700m. The reserve has many entrances; this hike started from Nahr El Dahab and followed up a steep slope to reach the St. George Monastery; an old monastery that is in the process of renovation. After a brief stop at St. George, the trail took a steeper hill to reach the Yahshoush Cross. The trail moved on to Qornet Mzar (Mzar Peak) the highest point in Jabal (mount) Mousa where the 360 degree view is breathtaking; especially during the fall and the mosaic of colors the trees displaying. The trail, after the Mzar, went through a downhill slope to reach the mulberry tree fields and the old houses that were used to house workers in the silk industry (the houses are now being restored); we had our lunch breaks here. Finally, the trail continued downhill a good 5 km to reach our starting point.
This trail passed by Bir el Masbak (Masbak well) and a water cistern to serve the old houses.
This is a difficult hike and requires seasoned hikers. The weather was sunny and a bit windy on the stretch from St. George top the cross.
Waypoints
Waypoint
2,817 ft
Nahr El Dahab Entrance
Waypoint
3,089 ft
Shepherd Meeting Point
in the old days, grazing did not require laws and government land was thought of as common property, three shepherds agreed to divvy Jabal (mount) Mousa among them. This point is where the three lots meet.
Waypoint
3,020 ft
St. George Monastery
This Monastery was abandoned which led the shepherds to use it as a make shift barn for their livestock. Lately, the church stepped in to renovate it; however, the renovation seems to be moving at a snail speed.
Waypoint
4,481 ft
Yahsoush Cross
The Kesrwan villages take pride in displaying their religious affiliation by placing a cross on the highest hill of every village. This one is the Yahshoush village one.
Waypoint
4,316 ft
Go Right
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