Masada 

 

The ancient fortress at Masada holds a special place in the history of Israel and the Jewish people. As one of the final Jewish held strongholds during the Jewish-Roman War, Masada is a representation of Israel’s last stand. Despite being surrounded and besieged by Roman legions, the defenders of Masada continued fighting for months on end. Nonetheless, cunning Roman technology eventually led to the fall of Masada. Over the months of the siege, the Romans slowly piled earth and created a land bridge to enter Masada. But on the day of the raid, no defenders were to be seen. The entire Jewish defending force committed suicide, prefering to die than be captured by the Roman forces. Today Masada is preserved as a World Heritage Site and is one of the most famous attractions in Israel. Summiting the mountain fortress at sunrise is a once in a lifetime experience, and that's where my story begins.

 

The night before my journey was ‘Laila Lavan’ or White Night in the nearby city of Tel Aviv. The night, which commemorates Tel Aviv's inscription on the World Heritage List, is celebrated by all night music and partying along the city’s Mediterranean coastline. I spent my night grouped up with friends on Jerusalem Beach, watching an outdoor concert with hundreds of people. But as my alarm hit 1am, I knew it was time to head back to my apartment and get ready for the all-night adventure ahead. In order to make the 2 hour drive and hike up Masada before sunrise, my tour left around 2am in the morning. Riding the tour van was an experience, battling the tiredness and overstimulation of the White Night while keeping my excitement in hand for the morning. Barely able to rest, we pulled into Masada National Park around 4:30 for a 5:30 sunrise.

 

I may have underestimated the difficulty of the climb, considering I had 2 lenses and a full tripod with me. Getting to a borderline trail-run pace, the hike up Masada was nothing short of exhausting. In the span of the mile hike, almost 1300 feet is gained in elevation via large snake-like switchbacks. Midway through the hike, I was greeted by the beginning colors of sunrise, continuing to motivate my trek to the top. I reached the top of Masada just in time to find a spot for the sunrise. After setting my tripod up, I waited for the sun to peak over the Dead Sea, leaving gorgeous colors as a backdrop to Masada’s ancient walls. A much easier hike back concluded my Masada sunrise adventure. Continuing my Dead Sea journey brought me to the town of Ein Gedi. Just a few weeks later, I would return to this area for another spectacular morning.