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Track 126: Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve - The Big Loop

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Trail photos

Photo ofTrack 126: Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve - The Big Loop Photo ofTrack 126: Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve - The Big Loop Photo ofTrack 126: Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve - The Big Loop

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Trail stats

Distance
11.27 mi
Elevation gain
5,223 ft
Technical difficulty
Difficult
Elevation loss
5,223 ft
Max elevation
4,984 ft
TrailRank 
51
Min elevation
2,687 ft
Trail type
Loop
Moving time
6 hours 4 minutes
Time
8 hours 21 minutes
Coordinates
3313
Uploaded
November 5, 2022
Recorded
November 2022
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near El Mchété, Mont-Liban (Libanon)

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Trail photos

Photo ofTrack 126: Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve - The Big Loop Photo ofTrack 126: Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve - The Big Loop Photo ofTrack 126: Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve - The Big Loop

Itinerary description

I always wanted to do the big loop in Jabal Moussa.
I was a bit late. They have changed to the winter timing. So sunset is earlier, days are shorter and we didn't start the hike till 9h15.
We were sure it will be dark before reaching back to our cars.
You can do the loop from several places but we decided to start from Mchati village.
You will meet the forest ranger there, pay the entrance fees (it is 80 000 LBP for now) and he showed us the way and trails to follow:
We will have to follow Track 04, a part of Track 02, then take Track 01, Track 15, a part of Track 14, Track 10, Track 08, track 07 and a part of Track 06 to reach back the starting point.
You start the hike directly uphill on Track 04 "The Roman Stairs" (El Daraj El Roumani).
After 1.9 km from starting point we reached Baydar El Chawk Entrance. From there you follow Track 02 "Qornet El Mzar Trail" (Masar Qornet El Mzar) for around 500 m, also going uphill and after that you take your right to join Track 01 "Peony Trail" (Masar Kaf El Debb). At that level you will reach the highest point of your hike (1519 m from sea level). It wasn't an easy ascent with an altitude difference of approximately 500 m.
Once on Track 01, the hike is a bit easier and you will start descending slowly.
The forest is amazing. Lot of signs and information about the Fauna and Flora in the area. The oak leaves are turning yellow giving the place a particular charm.
After 5.4 km you will take your left and follow Track 14 "Adonis Gorge" (Sa7oub Adonis) also going downhill with amazing scenery over The Valley of Naher Ibrahim.
You stay on Track 14 for 1.3 km and just above Abra Village you take your left and follow Track 10 "El Jalseh Trail" (Masar El Jalseh) (You can stay on Track 14 till Track 13 and than Chouwen Lake).
At 11 km from starting point we passed by Mar Jeryes Church and from there you have 2 choices:
1- Take Track 09 and then Track 06 and close the loop earlier
2- Take Track 08, Track 07 and then 06 and do the big loop
It was around sunset and it will be dark very soon but we decided to stick to the original plan.
Track 08 known as "Shepherds Encounter" (Malka El Re3yen) is around 2.5 km till Naher El Dahab, our lowest point in the hike (819 m above sea level)
Then we took Track 07 "Cerris Trail" (Masar El 3ezer) in the middle of mostly Oak trees (Chajar El 3ezer). It is a 500 m uphill in around 3 km.
Then we went a steep downhill on Track 06 "Hadrian's Incline" (Mon7adar Hadrianos) reaching back Mchati Village, passing by Mar Elias Church till we arrived to the car.
I did longer hikes but the difficulty in this one is that you rarely walk straight. It is always going uphill or downhill. Better to have some good walking shoes and couple of walking sticks. The pressure on your ankles and knees is enormous especially on the descent.
Mostly easy to follow trails and I would say it is a difficult hike.

Keep it clean and stay on the track.
Enjoy !!!

Waypoints

PictographWaypoint Altitude 3,591 ft
Photo ofWaypoint

Waypoint

PictographWaypoint Altitude 3,664 ft
Photo ofWaypoint

Waypoint

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,129 ft
Photo ofRoman stairs from Mshete village

Roman stairs from Mshete village

PictographInformation point Altitude 4,200 ft
Photo ofInformation point

Information point

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,590 ft
Photo ofFollow the Ehmej Entrance

Follow the Ehmej Entrance

PictographTree Altitude 4,616 ft
Photo ofResting spot

Resting spot

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,689 ft
Photo ofBaydar El Chawk Entrance

Baydar El Chawk Entrance

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,926 ft
Photo ofFollow trail 1 to the right

Follow trail 1 to the right

PictographTree Altitude 4,944 ft
Photo ofTree

Tree

PictographInformation point Altitude 4,939 ft
Photo ofInformation point

Information point

PictographInformation point Altitude 4,937 ft
Photo ofInformation point

Information point

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,902 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,685 ft
Photo ofTrack 15 to the left

Track 15 to the left

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,666 ft
Photo ofFollow Al Iibre entrance track 15

Follow Al Iibre entrance track 15

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,465 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,349 ft
Photo ofFollow 14 to the left

Follow 14 to the left

PictographPanorama Altitude 4,392 ft
Photo ofPanorama

Panorama

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,353 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographInformation point Altitude 3,856 ft
Photo ofInformation point

Information point

PictographPhoto Altitude 3,813 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographWaypoint Altitude 3,424 ft
Photo ofFollow trail 10

Follow trail 10

PictographPanorama Altitude 3,430 ft
Photo ofAbra village and Naher Ibrahim valley

Abra village and Naher Ibrahim valley

PictographPanorama Altitude 3,516 ft
Photo ofPanorama

Panorama

PictographReligious site Altitude 3,475 ft
Photo ofReligious site

Religious site

PictographPanorama Altitude 3,456 ft
Photo ofPanorama

Panorama

PictographFountain Altitude 3,362 ft
Photo ofStraight from the heart of the mountain

Straight from the heart of the mountain

PictographPanorama Altitude 3,417 ft
Photo ofValley of Naher Ibrahim

Valley of Naher Ibrahim

PictographPhoto Altitude 3,542 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographPhoto Altitude 3,596 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographPhoto Altitude 3,617 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographPanorama Altitude 3,592 ft
Photo ofPanorama

Panorama

PictographRuins Altitude 3,563 ft
Photo ofRuins

Ruins

PictographPhoto Altitude 2,950 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographTree Altitude 2,969 ft
Photo ofLunch break spot

Lunch break spot

PictographReligious site Altitude 3,109 ft
Photo ofMar Jeryes Church

Mar Jeryes Church

PictographWaypoint Altitude 3,119 ft
Photo ofFollow 8 for the long loop

Follow 8 for the long loop

PictographInformation point Altitude 3,223 ft
Photo ofInformation point

Information point

PictographRiver Altitude 2,703 ft
Photo ofNaher El Dahab

Naher El Dahab

PictographBridge Altitude 2,731 ft
Photo ofWooden bridge

Wooden bridge

PictographWaypoint Altitude 2,734 ft
Photo ofFollow trail 7

Follow trail 7

PictographPanorama Altitude 3,569 ft
Photo ofSunset

Sunset

PictographPhoto Altitude 3,948 ft
Photo ofPhoto

Photo

PictographTree Altitude 4,184 ft
Photo ofTree

Tree

PictographWaypoint Altitude 4,365 ft
Photo ofFollow Mchati

Follow Mchati

PictographReligious site Altitude 3,491 ft
Photo ofMar Elias Church

Mar Elias Church

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