2021-01-01 Zahle Furzul Niha Loop
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 8.66 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,978 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,978 ft
- Max elevation
- 4,847 ft
- TrailRank
- 46
- Min elevation
- 4,031 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 5 hours 31 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1195
- Uploaded
- January 2, 2021
- Recorded
- January 2021
near El Harqât, Béqaa (Lebanon)
Viewed 425 times, downloaded 9 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Nothing better to start a new year than a hike.
The gang decided Zahle Furzul would be a great area to do our 2021 trail. Rashad, a part of the gang and is from Zahle, was our guide for this trail.
The weather was an unusually warm for this time of the year. The temperatures was in the lower teens with a white cloudy skies and the sun fought the clouds all day for a viewing.
The trail started from an area in the Zahle city limit called Bahshousha and went up to the highlands. The trail passed by orchards of cherries and orchard of cherries; we made it to the Habees rocks (rock formation that has many catacombs that was a burial site in the old days) where we had a short break and took in the beautiful plain view of mid Bekaa. We, then moved to reach the newly being built deacon-ship building in the middle of nowhere at the outskirts of the town Niha and on to the Tallit Al Hosn (Fort Hill) where lies the ruins of a mini temple (mini compared to Baalbeck); this temple lies on the ancient road connecting the Zahle area to the Baalbeck town where there is the huge Baalbeck temple ruins. My guess ids this temple was used as a meditation stop for the faithful and pilgrims of old times before they reach Baalbeck. On our way to the fort, we came across two graves that were carved in the rocks where the individual catacombs are well preserved (see waypoints).
After the fort break, we moved uphill passing by another burial site with stone coffins are strewn and taking cow-paths and dirt roads to go back to our cars and end a great day.
The gang decided Zahle Furzul would be a great area to do our 2021 trail. Rashad, a part of the gang and is from Zahle, was our guide for this trail.
The weather was an unusually warm for this time of the year. The temperatures was in the lower teens with a white cloudy skies and the sun fought the clouds all day for a viewing.
The trail started from an area in the Zahle city limit called Bahshousha and went up to the highlands. The trail passed by orchards of cherries and orchard of cherries; we made it to the Habees rocks (rock formation that has many catacombs that was a burial site in the old days) where we had a short break and took in the beautiful plain view of mid Bekaa. We, then moved to reach the newly being built deacon-ship building in the middle of nowhere at the outskirts of the town Niha and on to the Tallit Al Hosn (Fort Hill) where lies the ruins of a mini temple (mini compared to Baalbeck); this temple lies on the ancient road connecting the Zahle area to the Baalbeck town where there is the huge Baalbeck temple ruins. My guess ids this temple was used as a meditation stop for the faithful and pilgrims of old times before they reach Baalbeck. On our way to the fort, we came across two graves that were carved in the rocks where the individual catacombs are well preserved (see waypoints).
After the fort break, we moved uphill passing by another burial site with stone coffins are strewn and taking cow-paths and dirt roads to go back to our cars and end a great day.
Waypoints
Waypoint
4,090 ft
Bahshousha Area
Part of Zahle city limit; it is rich with cherry orchards.
Waypoint
4,643 ft
Habees
Habees is an Arabic term for hermitage. This area has a huge rock formation where the older civilizations carved catacombs to burry their deaths.
Waypoint
4,824 ft
Deacon Seat Building
The Deacon Building is built in the middle of nowhere in the middle of cherry orchards.
Waypoint
4,463 ft
Stone Grave I
We came across two rock carved graves. The compartments are well preserved.
Waypoint
4,412 ft
Tallit Al Hosn (Hill Fort)
This mini temple lies on the road between Mid-Bekaa and Baalbeck where the largest Roman temple is located. My guess is that this served as a rest area and prayer area for pilgrims and the faithful visiting Baalbeck.
Waypoint
4,414 ft
Go Left
Waypoint
4,298 ft
Go Left
This area is called Birhasha
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