I can't feel my legs, one toenail is gone and tomorrow is sure to bring an even bigger wave of full-body pain. Climbing Egypt's Mt. Sinai is not exactly a fun experience, but the reward is reaching the summit in time for what is surely one of the world's most spectacular sunrises.
Mt. Sinai, according to the Old Testament, is where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments; there is some dispute over its exact location. At the foot of an adjacent mountain is the Monastery of St. Catherine, one of the oldest working monasteries on the planet and the purported home of the legendary burning bush. I'll let the theologians debate the religious significance of this ancient ground; what's not in question is the breathtaking natural beauty of the area.
I'm beyond exhausted and still need to write a travel piece on Mt. Sinai sometime soon, so I won't spend a lot of time on it here today. These are the basics: 4,000 steps carved into the mountain by monks, camel caravans silhouetted in the moonlight, sun-kissed Bedouin guides, an altitude of about 7,400 feet, pilgrims from all over the world gathering at the peak to pray in at least a half-dozen tongues when the sun rises from a craggy moonscape.
Tomorrow it's back to smoggy, lovable Cairo (and political developments in Beirut), but first I'd like to share a couple of shots from the overnight experience on Mt. Sinai. Please check back for that travel story -- and if you've scaled Mt. Sinai and have tips or anecdotes that could be included, please send them my way!
Congratulations on this peak experience!
Posted by: Laura | May 22, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Great pics-I've never climbed Mt. Sinai, but it's on my list. What's the elevation gain? Did you really lose a toenail? I hope you're wearing good hiking boots.
Posted by: Cairogal | May 22, 2008 at 05:55 PM
That had to be one of my favorite places in Egypt and by far one of the most fulfilling things I did within Egypt itself. Congrats on making it! Its definitely not an easy climb!
Posted by: Julia | May 22, 2008 at 07:29 PM
The thing I remember most about climbing Mt. Sinai (apart from the obvious drama of landscape and how much more spectacular a sunrise looks when you've earned it) was the sight of streams of spry pilgrims in their 60s and 70s happily hopping up while I struggled through the last hour!
Posted by: NN | May 25, 2008 at 03:50 AM
you need a centurian with water and some oatmeal I was there in1952 we had no problems Bernard Stevens 4th
royal tank regiment
Posted by: bernard Stevens | May 25, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Greetings! Took some muscle relaxers, painted over the missing toenail and have begun to truly appreciate the serenity and silence of the Sinai now that I'm back in noisy Cairo. Thanks so much for the anecdotes and good cheer. NN, you are absolutely right! I was floored at how many older (and even elderly) tourists/pilgrims were scrambling up the mountain. The Europeans and Indians seemed especially hardy. Some even made the trek in no more than sport-style sandals! I also saw a young woman ascend in flimsy ballet slippers that were pretty much in tatters by the time she was at the top. Ouch. And what an interesting story commenter Bernard Stevens must have to tell! Thanks for sharing, all.
Posted by: Hannah Allam | May 26, 2008 at 01:54 PM