Prairie Summer

YouthCaN Med had our first 2006 hike on Sunday, March 26 to the Ehden Nature Reserve in northern Lebanon. We had the most beautiful weather and three buses of students from all over the country (I think about 50-60 in total). I was excited because it is the first time I have been in that region and I got to see the famous Lebanese Cedars!

We left on the early side, especially since that day was the same day we turned the clocks forward and hour for Daylight Savings Time, so although we met at 8:30 it was really 7:30. Luckily everyone REMEMBERED to change their clocks and we left on time!

Two of the buses left from Beirut and drove about an hour and a half north, where we met with a third group of students and headed to the trails. We hiked up for about an hour, encountering one cute lizard, tons of beautiful flowers, trees and assorted mosses and greenery. Spring is well underway here and there are sprouting flower bulbs and buds everywhere.

Once we reached a high enough altitude, we also began to see the Cedars. And snow! Which of course resulted in several snowball fights. Along the trail there was also a natural spring where fresh water flows right out of the mountain and they say it is clean (I hope so, since we all drank from it!)