OUTPOST 21 VIA THE HISTORIC BURMA ROAD

 THE HIKE:

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• Before starting on the hike, take a few minutes to look at the Machal Memorial . 

 

Three thousand and five hundred non-Israeli volunteers came to Israel to fight in the War of Independence and this memorial commemorates those who lost their lives. "Mickey" Marcus, the commander who built the Burma Road, is included in the list on the far left of the plaque.

 

•  Take the red-marked “Jeep Trail,” which is a continuation of the road you drove in on and is the part of the Burma Trail that ascends into the Judean Mountains. It passes along the edge of Martyr’s Forest, which was planted in memory of those killed during the Holocaust. A forested deep ravine is to your left and a forested incline is on your right.

 

• After about twenty minutes of hiking, take the blue-marked footpath into the wadi on your left. The beginning of the path is about three hundred meters after the first intersection on your right. It is easy to find as there are blue markings on both sides of the road and there are wooden steps at the beginning of the trail.

 

•  After reaching the bottom of the wadi, the path ascends and about half-way up the hill meets the green-marked trail, which is also a Schvil Yisrael trail with blue, white and orange markings. Take the right fork and keep on ascending towards Outpost 21 . 

 

• You will know you have reached Outpost 21 and the top of the mountain when you see two metal signs, one of which is a map of the Burma Road, and the other describes in Hebrew the events that occurred here during the War of Independence. There are wonderful views from here. You can also turn to the left along a short, unmarked trail for a different view, with Route 1 now being directly below you.

 

The Palmach defended this height from waves of Arab attackers on May 10, 1948 during the War of Independence. Six defenders died and many were wounded. The views from the top of this mountain of the Shefela and Coastal Plain are quite outstanding. You can also appreciate why the Palmach were so anxious to control it.

 

•  Turn back the way you came on the green-marked/Schvil Yisrael trail down the mountan. This is a popular trail and you may well meet other hikers, many of them going towards Jerusalem. (You will pass the blue-marked trail, but it is a thin footpath and you are unlikely to turn onto it in error). The trail continues through a forest and leads eventually to the monument and your car. If you need a cold drink or snack, it is a very short distance to the gas station along Route 38 in the direction of Beit Shemesh.