 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
St. Katherine
AWAY AWAY
Wadi Talah |
  |
|
There are 3 routes to reach wadi I'tlah from the village, a wadi running north-west, running parallel to wadi er Raha and separated from the village by one mountain ridge.:
For fit hikers the first one is recommended,( and described here) |
 Going up Abu Gifa you see a metal pipeline going down. This is a life-line for Sa'ad Mahmoud and his family living in the village below, bringing water from his well up in wadi Tuboug. Looking down on the other side of the pass you can see a rock with a reservoir built on top. This Sa'ad built as an in-between to be able to get the water over the pass. Now he made the metal pipeline, elevated above the ground at certain points to keep the right angle, he doesn't use the reservoir anymore. No pumps are used, the water goes down by gravitational force. |
 After going down from the pass, turn right into wadi Talah. The first part of wadi Talah is blocked in many places by large boulders. This wadi is the main drainage for rainwater for this part of the mountains. After heavy rainfall a big force of water rushes down taking large boulders in its course. The walk through this part requires some clambering over boulders, but it's certainly worthwhile. Just before you reach easier ground you pass a small waterfall, called David's waterfall because King David was supposed to have rested here in Biblical times. |
 Not far past the waterfall you reach the orchard of the Hussein family, a beautiful healthy orchard, who is also the caretaker of monastery Rahab's orchards. If the owner is there you can stop for a cup of tea and in the summer some of the delicious fruits from his orchard. It is also possible to camp there for the night. From here you have a nice view over monastery Rahab below. |
At this point the track coming down from Gebel er Rahab meets wadi Talah (route 2). The track follows the garden walls of the monastery Rahab. The monastery is also called the monastery of Cosmas and Damainos or the monastery of the poor doctors, after the doctors Cosmas and Damianos who administered free healthcare to local people in the 3rd century AD and who were martyred during the roman persecutions. The monastery stands in a large olive orchard. The olives used to be taken to the St. Katherine Monastery to be cured and pressed. Nowadays the olives that are harvested are taken to Al Arish to be pressed and bottled. |
 Following the track and the wall, you reach a spring hidden behind large boulders. If you clamber down and walk into the shelter under the boulders you'll find a tranquil spot with water dripping along the boulder into a sandy basin with mats of moss and maiden-hair fern. The spring is called Ein Tufaaha (apple spring) as it waters and sustains apple trees and other fruit bearing trees in lower laying orchards. |
Just past this spring the path leads up to the wadi I'tlah pass leading back to the village (route 3). You can also follow the wadi, now wadi I'tlah, further down until you reach Wadi el Bugiyya leading to Abu Sila or you can continue all the way down to Sheikh Awaad (a 4 -5 hour walk from the orchard of Hussein to Sheikh Awaad). |
|
For more information contact us at: katherine@awayaway-sinai.net or call 00 20 122270443 |