Today I invite you to explore the Yagur stream, a shaded trail that will take you 300 m uphill from Kibbutz Yagur. To get there, you'll have to climb a bit on rocks and boulders, some with man-made handrails and steps and some without - nothing too dangerous (my 7. y.o kid ran through it) but probably not suitable for smaller children and dogs. Don't be alarmed by the terrain rating. The terrain rating of the hike is about 3, the hiding place requires an additional climb that adds another point.
The full itinerary:
Immediately after entering the kibbutz, turn to the right and park at the PK waypoint. There is a big and comfortable parking lot with information about this section of the Israeli National Trail (INT).
Take the INT (which is also a red trail, waypoint T1) at this point and climb uphill, going parallel to the Kibbutz's fence (more or less). From time to time, it's a good idea to turn around and enjoy the view. Continue along the red trail until you reach the stream (waypoint T2). Here, the red trail turns to the right and the fun part starts.
Walk, rest, climb, rest, walk.
Towards the end of the trail, you'll see some abandoned cars. I have no idea how they got there... Finally, you'll finish the trail and reach the green trail (waypoint RG). There are many ways to continue from here. Following another cache in the area, I recommend turning to the right and walking on the green trail a bit. This part is not shaded but the trail is comfortable to walk and, compared to the climb on the red one, you'll feel as if you're running.
Continue until you reach the black trail (waypoint T3) and turn to the right. After a short descent, it will turn into a blue one which coincides with the INT. Follow it all the way downhill. Eventually, you'll reach the intersection with the red one (waypoint RB) where you've already been a few hours ago. Take the red to the left and go back to the car. You made it. You survived!
Some practical information:
- Bring water, sunscreen, and hats. And snacks. And good mood.
- Except for the green trail part, everything else is shaded and cool. We did it on a day of 40C and the weather wasn't a big deal at all. Maybe try to avoid this trail when it's raining or wet.
- Some people do the trail backward (top to bottom). I think it is more difficult to climb down than up.
- Some people do it as a one-way trip, leaving a car uphill in Usafiya. Up to you.
TL;DR, take me to the cache:
The cache is hidden at the GZ, but you already know that. Since you are in a canyon and there is a war and GPS jamming, coordinates (including mine) might not be very accurate. Here is a short description of how to get to the cache: from the parking lot, take the red trail uphill, then upstream. In the upstream part, you will encounter some metal ladders that help you climb uphill. After two such ladders, you will reach a "wall". Once you climb it, you will be tempted to turn left with the marking and climb up the third ladder.
Don't.
The cache is actually on the right and requires a small vertical climb. It's a small plastic bottle hidden under a rock, the cap should be visible when you are up there. Use the spoiler images.
After finding the cache, you can simply turn around and go back to the car. The round trip should take you about 2.5 km, but there are other caches on these hills, so take your time.
And above all - enjoy.