2020-12-12 Ehmej - Aalmat Hiking and Caving

Not an easy hike, but one of the most beautiful hikes I participated in. The falling and changing colors of the leaves made this trail a live impressionist painting. The cold crisp fresh air made the lungs spring into action and deliver doses after doses of burning fresh oxygen to a body that was polluted with city air and habits.
The objective of the hike was to reach the Tallaje (freezer - collection of high vertical rock formation that keeps snow preserved within their confines during summer times). The Trail started from the outskirt of Ehmej town and took a winding uphill cow path to reach the apple orchards of the town. The trail took a left turn and downhill to the Wardiyyat valley where we passed by the Abou Hmar (McJackass) well where we ran into Aalmat villagers that were busy renovating the well and planting cedar trees ahead of the winter season. After a short break with the villagers, the trail continued to the amazin (mini grand canyon like) rock formation that Aalmat highlands is full of. The trail covered the Bear's Den cave (mgharit L Dib) and many other caves all the way to Tallaje.
This was the first time I visit the Tallaje and find no snow; this gave us an opportunity to explore all the cracks of the rocky cliff-freezer (natural maze) and to climb up to the highest point where the view was a spiritually healing experience. After a short coffee break for my companions, we set foot towards the Wind Cave (Mgahrit L Hawa - more like a wind tunnel where the cold air was blowing nonstaop); the view high above the Wardiyyat valley and apple orchards of Aalmat convinced us to have our lunch and enjoy the view.
This great day had to come to an end and we made our way to the cars passing and picking little red apples that were left by the farmers (picking little apples is not worth the cost of labor but are more delicious that the large ones).
The great thing about this trail is its richness with a variety of trees that changes its colors during the fall season making it a treat to the eye.
Great hike, great weather, great company.
This is not an easy hike, but the scenery makes it worthwhile.

P.S. The erratic behavior of the trail is at the wind cave where the GPS signal was lost. But trekking this trail is still possible following it.