801: AL-HUMEIMA TO JABAL KHARAZAH​

From the Humeima ruins, you can either head straight for the day’s destination, Jabal Kharazeh, or route through Humeima village along the highway to restock on supplies. If heading to the villages, follow the road back to the town of New Humeima on the Desert Highway. From here, head southeast at a bearing of roughly 160 degrees, walking on the best surface you are able to find towards Jabal Kharazeh.

If heading straight to Jabal Kharazeh from Humeima ruins, head straight at roughly 145 degrees across open country, crossing the desert highway at 8.4km, then continuing straight on the same bearing.

Cross over the shallow sandy Wadi Jdayyel, and see the large Jabal Arga on your left. Head towards Jabal Kharazeh with a huge sandstone arch visible in the middle of the mountain, and cross Wadi Flajeh just before the mountain. A Nabatean cistern is on the backside of the second hill of Jabal Kharazeh, with water year round (off route 2-3km).

• Rum Area Geology
• Jabal Kharazeh
• Nabatean Well

Food:

• Humeima village has shops.

Water:

• Humeima village, not at ruins
• Old cistern off-route on the back side of second Kharazeh mountain

Tips:

• If your water plan relies on the Nabatean cistern on the backside of Jabal Kharazeh, be sure to confirm with locals that water is present and you are confident to get there.
• This day stage is an entirely new landscape where navigation requires different way of thinking, as there are few landmarks directly on the trail. Pay  attention to your compass or GPS’s degree bearing and your location relative to distinct mountain shapes on the topographic maps. It is best to follow straight lines to known bearing or landmark in distance after confirming it as your destination based on your compass or GPS bearing.
• Much of your effort will depend on the firmness of the sand and the weather. This route is very hot in the sun and in the summer. If it has been raining recently, the sand is harder and easier to walk in.

Safety Info:

• Loose footing – Walking in sand is tiring, but not dangerous.
• Dehydration/heat exhaustion – Almost all the way is in the sun, but shade near mountains exists throughout most of the day.
• Military base – Base present near Humeima ruins at start of day stage. Good to have ID ready in case curious soldiers come for a visit.