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LMT Society
Message from the President
Dear Friend of the LMT,
On the occasion of its fifth anniversary, the Lebanon
Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) is honored to welcome
you to our first edition of LMT SOCIETY!
Since 2005, the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) has
grown from a seed, to a large project, to an independent
association, and now to a regional network of friends
and like-minded organizations. It is only fitting to call our
magazine the LMT SOCIETY as we strive to embody all
the hikers and non-hikers who take joy and pride in the
Lebanon Mountrail Trail.
In today’s digital world, the number of e-newsletters that
we all receive is astounding, as organizations compete
for audience attention and support. At LMTA, we cling to
the sensational feeling of holding a printed magazine and
taking a moment to journey through its pages.
Magazines do what the Internet does not. Neither
obsessed with immediacy nor trapped by the daily news
cycles, magazines promote deeper connections beyond
the rushed and superficial browsing of routine sites and
news outlets. Magazines also build relationships and
engage us in unique and creative ways. They are a
lasting reference and extend beyond the virtual space.
For these reasons, we have opted to publish a
biannual magazine dedicated to sharing all the great
things happening on the LMT, while also drawing
attention to such critical issues as the environmental
abuses taking place on the trail and its surroundings.
LMT SOCIETY speaks to and on behalf of the Lebanese
hiking community and all of those concerned with
safeguarding our country’s natural beauty and
heritage. The magazine also specifically engages citizens,
municipalities, tour operators and the ministries of
Environment, Tourism and Agriculture in upholding
the shared responsibility for managing and conserving
Lebanon’s mountains.
This magazine is your magazine, and the LMT is your
trail. On the LMT, you rediscover your roots and reconnect
with nature. You enjoy infinite opportunities for outdoor
recreation and cultural enrichment, all while promoting
sustainable development and responsible tourism. On
the LMT, you create special memories with family and
friends and celebrate the amazing beauty of our land.
We hope that you will enjoy this first edition of the LMT
Society magazine and welcome your ideas for future
issues.
،‫تحية بيئية لكل أصدقاء درب الجبل‬
‫ ترحب جمعيّة درب الجبل اللبناين بإطالق العدد‬،‫مبناسبة عيدها الخامس‬
!‫األول من مجلتها الخاصة‬
‫ منّى درب الجبل اللبناين من فكرة اىل مرشوع ثم اىل‬2005 ‫منذ العام‬
‫ وإىل شبكة اقليمية من االصدقاء واملنظامت املامثلة لها‬،‫جمعية مستقلّة‬
‫فمن املناسب استدعاء مجتمع درب الجبل اللبناين ملجلتنا التي نأمل أن‬
.‫تجسد جميع املشاة وغري املشاة عىل درب الجبل اللبناين بفخر وفرح‬
‫ مع إن النرشات االخبارية‬.‫اليوم من الصعب ان تنافس بدهاء العامل الرقمي‬
‫ الشئ يتفوق عىل مجلة تقليدية ميكن ان تكون‬،‫االلكرتونية امر مذهل‬
‫ مجلة تكون غري هاجس اإلنرتنت وال‬،‫بني يديك وتتشارك بها مع صديق‬
‫ مجلة تش ّجع التواصل العميق ألنها تخلق‬،‫تنحرس بدورات األخبار اليومية‬
.‫عالقات بني الناس وتحفزنا بطرق مختلفة من وسائل اإلعالم الرقمية‬
‫ولهذه االسباب اخرتنا إعداد مجلة تصدر كل ستة أشهر مخصصة لكل‬
‫االشياء الجيدة التي تحصل عىل درب الجبل وتسليط الضوء عىل اإلنتهاكات‬
‫ هذه املجلة تتحدث نيابة عن رواد امليش وكل من‬.‫البيئية املحاذية للدرب‬
ً‫ وتخاطب مجلتنا أيضا‬،‫يريد حامية الجبال والحفاظ عىل مناظره وتراثه‬
‫البلديات واملجتمع املحيل وكذلك منظمي الرحالت السياحية اللبنانية‬
‫ووزاريت السياحة والبيئة ووزارة الزراعة والذي ينبغي عليهم املشاركة يف‬
.‫املسؤولية عىل حامية درب الجبل اللبناين وإدارته عىل املدى الطويل‬
!‫هذه مجلتكم‬
‫ألن درب الجبل يوفر فرصاً ال حرص لها لإلستجامم بالهواء الطلق يف لبنان‬
‫ درب الجبل هو أيضاً وسيلة‬.‫فمن مسؤوليتنا ان نحتضنه ونورده ألطفالنا‬
‫لتعزيز التنمية املستدامة يف لبنان من خالل تفعيل السياحة املسؤولة‬
.‫والتثّبت بجذورنا وإعادة االتصال مع الطبيعة‬
!‫مع دعمكم ومساهمتكم ليبقى درب الجبل اللبناين‬
.‫قرائة سعيدة‬
‫رئيس الجمعية‬
‫املهندس كريم الجرس‬
Happy reading and happy trails!
Karim El-Jisr
President
First Issue
November 2012
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Contents
LMT Contacts
In Lebanon:
Lebanon Mountain Trail Association
Sacré-Coeur Hospital Street
Ghaleb Center, 1st Floor
Baabda, LEBANON
Phone: +961 5 955 302 or 3
Fax: +961 5 955 303
E-mail: [email protected]
www.lebanontrail.org
In the USA:
American Friends of the LMT
1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1220
Arlington, VA 22209 - USA
Phone: (703) 841 1883
Fax: (703) 841 1885
Email: [email protected]
www.aflmt.org
Message from the President p.03
The LMT Association in Brief p.05
Major Achievements p.06
-
Community Development
-Conservation
-
Youth and Education
LMT Overseas p.13
LMT Thru-Walk 2012 p.16
Book Reviews p.18
News from Our Partners p.20
-
American Friends of the LMT
-
Al Shouf Cedars Society
Trail Extensions – Work in Progress p.22
News and Events: p.23
-
Trail Clearing and Blazing
-
Biking on the LMT
-
Friendship Trails with Canada and Korea
How YOU Can Help: p.27
-
Adopt a Trail
-
Report Environmental Crimes
-
Become an Adrian Life Member
-
Make a Donation
-
Spread the Word
Contributors Report 2011 p.29
LMT e-Store p.30
For Your Info p.31
Editorial Team
Christian Akhrass
Hanan Sbaiti
Karim El-Jisr
Milad Boutros
Nadine Weber
Nathalie Rosa Bucher
Rima Khoury
Roula Attar
Sabina Llewellyn-Davies
Contributors
Charlotte Hamaoui
Rania Ghanem Azar
This issue was sponsored by Fattal Holding
Photo Courtesy:
AFLMT, Christian Akhrass, Iskandar Tohme,
Karim El-Jisr, Nadine Weber, PolyLiban,
Responsible Mobilities, Zeina Haddad
Layout and Design by Nadine Eid
Printed by Arab Printing Press
© Copyright LMT Association, 2012. All Rights Reserved
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LMT Society
The LMT Association in Brief
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) was established in October 31, 2007. The Lebanon Mountain
Trail (LMT) is the first long-distance hiking trail in Lebanon and the Arab region. Extending from Al-Qbaiyat in
the north of Lebanon to Marjaayoun in the south, the trail is a 440-km (275 miles) path that transects more than
75 towns and villages at altitudes ranging from 600 meters to 2,000 meters (about 1,800-6,000 feet) above
sea level. The LMT showcases the natural beauty and cultural wealth of Lebanon’s mountains and demonstrates
the determination of the people of Lebanon to conserve this unique heritage. The trail brings communities closer
together and expands economic opportunities in rural areas through environmentally- and socially-responsible
tourism.
The objectives of the LMTA are to:
• Develop, maintain and protect the LMT
• Help establish side trails on the LMT
• Protect the natural, cultural and architectural heritage and landmarks near the trail
• Enhance economic opportunities by promoting responsible tourism
Board Members
On November 15, 2010, the General Assembly of the LMTA elected the following new board members to serve
a two-year term:
President: Karim El-Jisr
Vice-President: Paul Khawaja
Treasurer: Salam Khalifeh
Secretary: Nizar Hani
Accountant: Nadine Weber
Member: Gisèle Karam
Member: Ramez Dalli
Member: Zeina Haddad
Current LMTA Staff Members:
Christian Akhrass, Field Officer
Maya Srour, Education and Communication Officer
Milad Boutros, Administrative Assistant
www.lebanontrail.org
Former Board Presidents
Pascal Abdallah 2008-10
Michel Moufarrege 2007-08
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Major Achievements
On and Off the LMT
The LMTA has a four-pronged strategy for achieving its
goals: rural development, conservation, education, and
promotion. These four pillars are critical to advancing
our mission and often go hand-in-hand. In fact, while
many may think that the LMTA is only concerned with
hiking, the Association does much more to maintain
the trail, educate and sensitize youth to the importance
of the LMT heritage, and support families and
businesses along the trail. The LMTA board actively
works to plan the Association’s work and to solicit
funds to carry out its mandates. Here is a glimpse of
our work since November 2010.
Community Development
So you want to walk on the LMT?
The LMT is a public trail. You can walk on the LMT at
almost any time of the year, even during the winter
season when snow covers some portions of the trail.
To celebrate the LMT, we organize a thru-walk each
year that extends the full length of the trail, from north
to south or south to north. Each thru-walk typically lasts
a full month. To date, the LMTA has planned and organized
four thru-walks (April 2009, April 2010, April 2011 and
April 2012) and the walks keep getting better! These
thru-walks are important to anchor the trail and to
keep the mass media informed and interested. They
also inject much needed income in local villages (see
coverage of the 2012 Thru-Walk on pages 16-17).
The LMTA would like to congratulate each person
who has completed the full thru-walk and whose
name appears below! Spending a month on the trail
in rural Lebanon is a remarkable achievement and a
unique experience! Envious? Join us in 2013!
Year 2009
Year 2010
Year 2011
Chamoun Mouaness (LB)
Adrian Cazalet (UK)
Adrian Cazalet (UK) Christian Akhrass (LB)
Christian Akhrass (LB)
Christian Akhrass (LB)
Joseph Lteif (LB)
Hana Hibri (LB)
Joseph Lteif (LB)
Year 2012
Joseph Lteif (LB)
Maha Khatib (LB)
Liselotte Sulukdjian (DK)
Mustapha Kandil (UAE)
Norbert Schiller (Austria)
Patricia Hurd (US)
Wim Balvert (Holland)
Salam Khalifeh (LB)
So you want to sleep on the LMT?
After years of advocating for the formal recognition of local guesthouses, the Council of Ministers finally enacted
Decree 6298 in July 2011, called “tanzeem bouyout el dhiafee” or regulations for guesthouses. The decree was
prepared by the Ministry of Tourism with significant input and guidance from the DHIAFEE program (ANERA), the
LMTA, and ECODIT. It describes what constitutes a guesthouse, how a guesthouse is to be set up, the
necessary operating conditions, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the owner and the visitor, respectively
(see excerpt below in Arabic).This is great news for the rural tourism and ecotourism industry in Lebanon!
Interested people can now apply for a guesthouse permit at the Ministry of Tourism by submitting the required
documents and forms. For more information, please contact the LMTA or download the decree from our website.
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Guesthouses are an important source of income
for local families. Records from the Shouf Cedars
Biosphere Reserve show a very positive trend in the
number of visitors, up from 1,079 visitors in 2009, to
2,994 visitors in 2010 and 3,452 in 2011. Visitors to
the Shouf Biosphere Reserve area may choose
between six guesthouses (operated by families) and
o n e a u be rge (oper at ed by Leba nese N GO
Arcenciel), when hiking in the Shouf.
Visitor distribution in the Shouf Biosphere in 2011
Sleeping Visitor
Capacity Number
Revenues
L.L
Niha Guesthouse
12
65
Baadran Guesthouse
10
122
2,899,500
Khraibeh Guesthouse
18
541
17,640,000
Barouk Guesthouse1
8
20
1,462,500
Barouk Guesthouse2
8
64
4,027,500
Maasser Auberge
60
2342
122,955,000
Maasser Beit El Hana
10
286
15,015,000
Ain Zhalta Guesthouse
8
12
540,000
3,217,500
What are Guesthouses?
‫«هي بيوت لبنانية خاصة مؤهلة الستقبال وإيواء رواد الرياضة‬
‫التي متارس يف الطبيعة وهواة السياحة البيئية والثقافية عىل‬
‫ وذلك بهدف‬،‫ يتم انتقاؤها يف مناطق وقرى لبنانية‬،‫أنواعها‬
‫ عىل العادات‬،‫ عىل حد سواء‬،‫تعريف السياح األجانب واللبنانيني‬
».‫الشعبية والتقاليد والحياة العادية للمواطن واملطبخ اللبناين‬
‬‬2011/6298 :‫مرسوم رقم‬
Lodging type
Guesthouse
Rural Inns / Auberges
Monasteries/Convents
Family-Run Hotels
Price (BB + Dinner)
$35-45/person/day
$40-50/person/day
$30-35/person/day
$45-50/person/day
Source: Al Shouf Cedars Society, 2012
If you want to experience true mountain hospitality
on the LMT, we encourage you to stay in one of the
many guesthouses on the trail. Beware, guesthouses
offer different levels of comfort and amenity. In an
effort to standardize prices, the LMTA has compiled
the following indicative price list.
www.lebanontrail.org
On July 5, 2012, the LMTA organized a General
Assembly in Soha Village Resort, a distinguished
rest stop on the LMT. Located in Falougha, the resort
caters for hikers and non-hikers and offers excellent
sleeping facilities as well as breathtaking views over
the higher Metn. Try it out!
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Conservation
Like most trails around the world, the LMT is not static.
As time goes by and as population increases,
the visual impacts of urban growth and development
become more and more visible along the trail. Urban
pressure in Lebanon is particularly severe as evidenced
by new road construction projects, dumpsites,
haphazard construction and housing projects, etc. The
construction frenzy intensified even more after 2006,
due to reconstruction efforts, and in 2008 when the
global financial crisis encouraged many investors in
the region to divert their savings to Lebanon’s real
estate markets. In many regions of Lebanon, the
growth of real estate markets has spiraled out of
control and property has become unaffordable to
many. The LMTA s t r ong l y b e l i e ve s t h a t th e
G o v e r n m e n t o f Le b a n o n h a s t o t a k e a c t i v e
measures to slow down real estate speculation and to
protect mountain landscapes and resources, namely
water, soil and trees.
Land Tenure Planning and Management workshop,
Beirut ( June 27-28, 2012)
The LMTA participated in a regional workshop in Beirut
on Land Tenure Planning, Management and Establishment
of SNOCAT Network, organized by the FAO
on June 27-28. LMTA President Karim E-Jisr gave
a presentation on the planning work on the LMT to an
audience of participants from a dozen countries.
This workshop follows an earlier workshop held in Amman,
Jordan (November 2011) that produced the “Amman
Recommendations on Land Tenure Planning and
Management in the SNO Countries.”
FAO Awards $48,000 to Promote Sustainable Land Management on the LMT
To address the issues of land management, the LMTA has secured a grant from the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) to assess and promote sustainable land management practices near the LMT.
By practicing sustainable land management, we can begin to plan the LMT corridor so that it extends for
generations to come. As part of this grant agreement, the LMTA has selected eight sections of the LMT to serve
as case studies and met with all concerned municipalities to discuss land tenure and zoning regulations in and
around the LMT. As expected, many lands surrounding the LMT have not yet been surveyed by the Lebanese
state and/or lack urban planning regulations. This means that people build their homes without adequate
infrastructure, sometimes polluting the groundwater (septic tanks) and spoiling pristine landscapes (homes
made of concrete built on hill tops and near forests). At the end of this activity, the LMTA hopes to have
catalogued good SLM practices on the LMT and influenced urban planning activities so that they feature the
LMT as a national tourism destination. We also plan to organize a national conference to celebrate
International Mountain Day (December 11, 2012), so stay tuned!
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LMT Society
USAID Lebanon Grants $179,600 to
Support Water Awareness on the LMT
The LMT is a corridor of green and blue. To promote
water awareness on the LMT, the LMTA recently secured
a generous grant from USAID Lebanon to survey all
the springs on the trail, test water quality, and promote
water awareness through social media and water day
events. The LMT boasts more than 60 water springs,
some of which spill at over 1900m of altitude.
Unfortunately, these springs are vulnerable to the effects
of climate change. For example, Nabaa Jouit in Ehden
Nature Reserve dried up completely during the summer
of 2011, the first time ever according to locals. Springs
are also changing because people tamper with spring
heads to divert the water to their lands through
excavation works, concrete structures and protruding
water pipes. Other water springs have been disfigured
such as Nabaa el Baida in Sir el Dannieh. It is time to
harness and protect these springs before it is too late.
Each spring has a story to tell and we want to hear it!
You want to help?
BLC Bank Adopts Section 6 of the LMT at $5,000
As part of its Adopt A Trail program, the LMTA is seeking expressions of interest from private entities to adopt
a section on the trail. When an individual or a company adopts a trail, the LMTA receives a sponsorship in the
amount of $500/km to clear, blaze and maintain the trail. BLC was the first bank to adopt a trail and chose
Section 6 from Ehden to Wadi Qannoubine (10 km). This section is scenic but also steep as it meanders from
Ehden down to Wadi Qannoubine passing through the village of Aintourine. The water cascades had amassed
debris and waste and the trail was slippery in certain parts. Working in coordination with the Municipality of
Ehden and local volunteers, the LMTA was able to remove all the waste, install ropes to improve passage on the
slippery sections, and restore the descent near Mart Moura Church near the trailhead in Ehden.
Thank you BLC!
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Youth & Education
Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human
Development Partners with the LMT
In the words of Gebran Khalil Gebran, a little knowledge
that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge
that is idle. Because we believe that education is the
best long-term investment on the LMT, we have started
to design a fun-filled educational program for schools
and youth (ages 8-15) that revolves around the LMT.
The “Trail To Every Classroom” program aims to
sensitize students to the wonders of the LMT and, in the
process, help them to learn a great deal about Lebanon’s
geography, agriculture, lands, protected areas, cultural
heritage, landscapes, civic responsibilities, and much
more.
In 2011, the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable
Human Development (RHHS) contacted the LMT to
explore the possibility of designing and implementing an
LMT program at the Rafic Hariri High School in Saida.
We subsequently signed an agreement and launched
the program in November 2011.Working in coordination
with two school coordinators, Maya Helou and Rabih
El Amin, we organized an orientation session in the
school auditorium for 600 students, held two training
workshops for 10 educators, and started to prepare
the Teachers’ Guide to the LMT. Working with Lebanese
tour operators (Responsible Mobilities and Lebanese
Adventure), we then coordinated educational walks on
the LMT for 550 students in April and May 2012. What
a feat! Our collaboration with the RHHS will continue
into the new school year with a focus on setting up a
youth club and a teachers’ training program.
The LMTA welcomes expressions of interest from all
schools in Lebanon, public and private, urban and
rural, to introduce the LMT into their programs. If you
are interested in the LMT and want to pilot our
program in your school, please contact the Association
to organize an introductory visit to your school.
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In 2010, the Antonnine School in Ghazir organized
an educational thru-walk on the LMT for all its students
and staffs. The trips and the educational messages were
carefully designed by Responsible Mobilities, a leading
and responsible Lebanese tour operator. That experience
provided the impetus to design and implement a broader
educational program on the LMT.
LMT Society
Ministry of Education Includes the LMT in the Brevet Exam for 2011
In the spring of 2011, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education released a brevet exam entirely dedicated
to the LMT! The brevet exam, which is prepared by the Educational Centre for Research and Development
(a semi-autonomous agency under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education) is administered to 9th grade students.
We retrieved a copy of the 2011 exam that included a description of the LMT and related critical thinking questions on
ecotourism and rural development. Approximately 35,000 students took this exam in schools across Lebanon so
we consider this to be a monumental achievement in terms of reach! The inclusion of the LMT in a 2-hour exam
also highlights the increasing importance that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education is attributing to the
LMT.
We have
inserted
the full
exam text*
in case
you want
to take it
as well.
Good luck!
*See separate flyer
attached
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Qu’y –a-t-il de plus beau que de se plonger, enfants et
adultes dans la nature paisible et envoûtante du Liban
? Mais comment le faire avec les plus petits?
Comment leur apprendre à apprécier la nature et à
devenir de meilleurs eco-citoyens ? LMT ? LMT, oui !!
Nous avons eu l’idée à la garderie et école maternelle
Doudou Bonheur de monter une pièce de théâtre à
Baskinta, intitulée « Ensemble sur les Sentiers de la
Montagne Libanaise (LMT) » dont les enfants seront
les acteurs qui, sous les yeux ébahis de leurs parents,
feront découvrir à leur public une rando pas comme
les autres sur Darb el Jabal… Des acteurs convertis
en de vrais villageois ont côtoyé les motifs traditionnels
que le LMT a ravivés chez beaucoup de citoyens.
Les éléments de la décoration s’expriment dans la
langue du village: les fruits, légumes et œufs frais,
le coin typique de la Mouneh, la Kebbé ou même
le coulis de tomate vous mettent facilement l’eau à
la bouche ! Quant à l’attente des marcheurs sur le
sentier, c’est un vrai régal pour les yeux: la fontaine
d’eau, les cruches typiques, le fameux Tannour
libanais attendant les manakishs au kéchék, au thym,
à la awarma sur un fond de musique tantôt
romantique tantôt folklorique… Et que dire de la
danse orientale suivie de la Dabké ou encore de ce
Tarbouch en voie de disparition !!!
Une leçon d’histoire vivante, de patrimoine libanais et
d’amour surtout se sont croisés chez nos petits grâce
à LMT : on les a vu, non sans étonnement, nommer
les villages sur le sentier, expliquer au public ce qu’on
peut manger, où loger, comment apprécier le bruit
mélodieux de la nature, loin de celui assourdissant de
la ville et de sa pollution oh combien insupportable!,
prendre son temps pour sentir une fleur, se reposer à
l’ombre d’un arbre et surtout laisser les oiseaux voler
en liberté !
Fascinés par tout ce qui nous restait de la beauté
des villages, nos enfants, « citadins endurcis », ont
beaucoup contribué à faire connaître le LMT à leurs
parents ainsi qu’à leurs proches. Ils ont reçu chez eux
à l’école maternelle des représentants dévoués et
pédagogues du LMT qui sont persuadés que ce type
d’évènement aide nos enfants (et par leur biais, nos
adultes) à connaître, aimer leur pays et bien sûr à
mûrir: ils perçoivent plus clairement leurs
responsabilités envers leur pays commençant par
ce SENTIER qu’ils doivent protéger, coûte que coûte,
contre l’emprise odieuse et moche de l’asphalte et du
béton….
Des enfants aux caractères bien trempés dans tout ce
que fait le LMT devraient servir de modèles aux autres
enfants de tout âge, dans toutes les écoles, mais aussi
dans les universités afin de les sensibiliser et, plus
encore de les pousser à contribuer dans la croissance
économique surtout, des villages du Liban !
« La patrie », écrivait Jules Renard, « c’est toutes les
promenades qu’on peut faire à pied autour de son
village ». Et pourquoi pas « s’enfuir dans un village
pour en faire le centre du monde » ? N’attendons pas
l’âge de la retraite !!!
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Rania Ghanem Azar,
une admiratrice.
Doudou Bonheur,
une Garderie à Hazmieh
fait découvrir
le LMT à ses enfants
et leurs parents
LMT Society
Promoting the Lebanon Mountain Trail
In a world filled with social events and social media,
the LMTA employs a variety of means to spread the
word about the LMT and bolster its fans base. These
include regular fundraising dinners, informal outdoor
gatherings, newspaper articles, magazine reports, TV
interviews, advertisements, Facebook activity, distribution
of pamphlets, and word of mouth.
The LMT and its activities have been featured
in such periodicals as Sublime, Geographical
Magazine, A.T. Journeys, the Huffington Post,
the Wall Street Journal, and Al Quds, as
Reporters have regularly approached the
LMTA for insights into the LMT
development process and the Association’s
various projects and initiatives. Such coverage
has enabled us to reach wider audiences both
at the local and international levels.
The LMTA takes special advantage of the annual
thru-walk event to promote the trail. Prior to the
thru-walk, advertisements are placed in such
publications as Lebanon Traveler. LMTA members also
reach out to various television stations and hold short
on-air interviews on what it is to hike the LMT.
Moreover, the LMTA holds an annual fundraising
dinner which precedes the thru-walk. The dinner is a
social event that raises funds for the maintenance of
the LMT, while also providing an opportunity to
introduce the LMT to those who are not familiar with it.
www.lebanontrail.org
The Association also holds informal social events like
the barbecue gathering that is held after the
thru-walk, during which various thru-walk hikers
present some of their breathtaking photos taken
during the thru-walk. The LMTA produces informative
pamphlets for interested hikers that are distributed to
the municipalities of the various villages and to the
guesthouses that the LMT passes through.
They are also distributed in
local communities by local guides and
LMTA volunteers. The LMT is
promoted through “Minicards” which
can be found in many restaurants and
hotels across town.The LMTA
maintains a Facebook page through
which it advertises its various events
and promotes the different guesthouses
that can be found along the trail.
Finally, perhaps the most effective form of promotion
that the LMT gets is the one that comes straight from
the hearts and minds of the hikers who are eager to
speak of their positive experiences on the trail.
Nothing beats that passionate story that is so
personal and so worthy of sharing!
www.facebook.com/pages/Lebanon-Mountain-Trail-Association/
LMT Society
13
LMT Overseas
World Trail Conference in Jeju, South Korea
Each year, the Jeju Olle Foundation organizes the
International Trail Conference to celebrate the culture
of walking and to help establish a global network of
trail organizations.Thanks to a referral from the
Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Jeju Olle Foundation
extended an invitation to the LMTA to participate in
the second International Trail Conference in Jeju from
November 1-3, 2011.
The LMTA was the only participating organization
from the Arab region and was very well-received by
the organizers and the participants alike.
The conference brought together more than a dozen
trail organizations from around the world including
the Appalachian Trail in the US, the Canada Bruce
Trail, the Romantic Road in Germany, the Camino de
Santiago in Spain, the Great Ocean Walk in Australia,
the Shikoku temples trail in Japan, the Milford Track in
New Zealand, and the Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast
Path in the UK.
Collectively, these trails draw millions of visitors each
year and therefore represent a sizeable tourism
sector worldwide. At the conference, the President
of the LMTA gave a 30minute presentation on the
LMT and its attributes and invited fellow hikers and trail
organizations to visit the trail. By the end of the
conference and in the months that followed, the
LMTA had forged two friendship trails with The
Canada Bruce Trail and the Jeju Olle Foundation
respectively to encourage cultural exchange and
dialogue. The LMTA will participate in the third
International Trail Conference, also in Jeju, this fall
(October 2012).
14
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
Sustainable Tourism Development in the Middle East,
24 October – 19 November
At the invitation of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), LMTA board member
Zeina Haddad participated in a 1-month course in Osaka, Japan on “Sustainable Tourism Development in
the Middle East Region.” Zeina participated with fellow representative from the Ministry of Tourism and other
tourism representatives from Arab countries. As part of her country presentation and action plan, Zeina
presented and discussed the LMT and its contribution to national tourism in Lebanon. Participants were pleased
to watch the 13-minute documentary video on the LMT. During a one-day trip to experience rural tourism in
Hanno city, Zeina visited a local guest house where she enjoyed cooking delicious local food, an experience that
is also characteristic of the LMT!!!
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
15
LMT
Thru-Walk
2012
Last April, the LMTA united nature lovers
from Lebanon and abroad once again
to hike the length of the entire LMT, from
Marjayoun in the deep South to Qobaiyat
in the far North. We walked for water
conservation! This year’s registration
for the annual Thru-Walk was up from
last year and hikers from all over the
world descended on Lebanon to discover
the glorious biodiversity of the country’s
.mountain trails
16
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
In an effort to better acquaint the
Lebanese Army with the LMT, the
LMTA extended an invitation to
the Lebanese Army Special Forces
to participate in this year’s
Thru-Walk, which they readily
accepted! Each day, Thru-Walk
hikers were joined by a rotating
group of 6-8 officers who showed
exemplary spirit and genuinely
enjoyed the LMT and its beauty.
In the end, the value of the LMT
as an important national treasure
was re -affirmed and the
Lebanese Army developed a
greater appreciation for the trail’s
role in bringing communities
together and preserving
Lebanon’s heritage. We thank
each and every Special Forces
officer who joined us on the LMT
in 2012 and count them among
our growing corps of LMT
Ambassadors!
The core team of six hikers who spent a total of 29 days on the trail included
Patricia Hurd, who came all the way from the United States, and Mustapha Kandil
from Dubai, UAE. They were joined by locals Salam Khalife, Christian Akhrass,
Joseph Lteif and Maha El Khatib. Seventy-eight additional hikers joined for individual
sections along the way. At the end of each day’s trek, participants benefited from an
overnight stay at one of the many cozy family-owned beds and breakfasts along
the trail. A warm welcome and a home-cooked meal, plus an encounter with that
all too renowned Lebanese hospitality topped each day. The 620 overnight stays and
meals with local families and small lodgings along the trail provided an income of
$30,000 to the mountain community, consequently boosting the rural economy and
promoting responsible eco-tourism in Lebanon.
Water conservation is a pressing issue facing Lebanon these days and the LMTA
hoped to raise awareness for this matter during the walk by relaying the
message to rural municipalities and communities. “We are working on a
management plan for the protection of all the springs along the trail,” said
Christian Akhrass, field coordinator for LMTA.The evening before commencing
the Thru-Walk, all participating hikers were invited by Commander Brigadier
General Julio Herrero to visit the Spanish United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) base in Marjayoun. The UNIFIL team presented on the civil military
cooperation (CIMIC) between the two countries and hosted the hikers for dinner.
The next day, the hikers embarked on their trek through Lebanon’s hills and
fields, in full bloom against a backdrop of snowcapped mountain peaks. For a
whole month the hikers experienced Lebanon’s stunning nature and incredible sites.
It was not just exploration that the LMTA hoped to encourage, however. On April 4,
the hikers joined the Lake Qaroun cleanup campaign with the USAID-funded Litani
River Basin Management Project. Two days later, they were joined on section 21
of the trail from Jezzine to Niha by a Korean delegation to celebrate the KoreanLebanon Friendship Trail, the twinning of an LMT section with a trail in South Korea.
The LMTA hopes that the twinning of the LMT with trails in other countries will further
encourage international exchange between hikers.
Testimonials
What I find incredible about this LMT hike is that it really makes
me feel like I have traveled far far away! The people you meet,
whether those faces scattered in random villages and beautiful hills,
or the hikers from everywhere, are truly unique :-) Every time there
is a new surprise.
Maya Karkour
Our journey on the trail crossing the Lebanese country side was one
of the ultimate experiences of my life, I will never forget the lovely
group of people that made it all possible. I highly recommend the
LMT Thru-Walk experience to anyone that loves hiking and wishes to
discover the true value of Lebanese nature.
Nadim Saad
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
17
Book
Reviews
By Charlotte
Hamaoui
A Millions Steps Discovering
the Lebanon Mountain Trail
Every journey starts with a single step, but for Hana El-Hibri
and her intrepid team, who walked the Lebanon
Mountain Trail, from North to South, in thirty days, during
the changeable April weather in 2009, it was an expedition
into the heart and soul of a traditional rural
lifestyle, and days of physical exertion spent in
spectacular countryside. A keen hiker, Hana began her
hiking career in Wyoming thirty years ago, and records
her daily adventures on the LMT in diary form, taking note of
the changing landscape and endured discomforts.The text is
peppered with witty and poignant observations on her fellow
travelers and hosts at the guest houses, where the travelers
spend the nights along the route. This humane and personal
account is accompanied by photos of spectacular mountain
scenery from the talented and observant lens of Norbert
Schiller, an American born-Austrian news photographer.
Hana donates a percentage of the sale of her book to the
Lebanon Mountain Trail Association, so even more reason to
buy a copy of the book.
Available in all major book stores in Lebanon as well as the
LMTA office in Baabda. Price (in Lebanon): $60, part of the
proceeds goes to the LMTA.
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www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
Asi-l-Hadath:
History of a Grotto
Available in all major bookstores in Lebanon.
Price (in Lebanon): $100
Shouf Biosphere Reserve:
Cedars and Faces
Fadi Baroudy’s childhood dream to explore the
hidden caves and grottoes of the Qadisha
Valley became a reality when he teamed up with
the Group d’Études et de Recherches Souterrainne
du Liban (GERSL) in 1987. With their rudimentary
climbing equipment, this intrepid band, unhindered
by the Civil War raging around them, explored the
Asi-l-Hadath cave perched 500 meters above the
Qadisha River. Once inside the cave, they made an
astonishing discovery: eight naturally mummified
bodies, enveloped in shrouds, as well as a
plethora of artifacts dating from the thirteenth
century. In 1283 AD the Mamelukes launched an
attack against the Qadisha region and the residents
sought refuge in these hidden caves and grottoes.
Asi-l-Hadath: History of a Grotto, a glossy
photographic book, is a visual and historical treat,
testament to this band’s dedication to transporting,
preserving and cataloguing their significant
archeological finds, in challenging circumstances.
Flipping through the pages transports the reader
back to the Middle Ages, revealing photographs of
startling preserved remnants of clothing, primitive
toys, beads, arrow heads, pottery and glass shards
and oil lamps.
At the outset, I have to confess a personal preference
for the Shouf region, which is my favorite area of
Lebanon to visit, so it is with double delight that
I can review Shouf Biosphere Reserve: Cedars and
Faces. This handy tome, small and light enough to
pack in your suitcases to take as a present for family
and friends abroad, is also printed on recycled
paper, which strengthens its environmental credentials.
The atmospheric photos of the Ammiq wetlands
and the jewel-like butterflies found in the biosphere
are particularly delightful. And it’s a nice touch that
the photographer has portrayed the reserve in different
seasons. But the strength of the book lies in its
message that the reserve is a living, breathing
community, home to traditional artisans, bee-keepers,
farmers and guest house owners.
Available in all major bookstores in Lebanon as well
as the LMTA office in Baabda.
Price (in Lebanon): $30
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
19
AFLMT activities are made possible thanks to
volunteer work and to cash contributions and grants
from individuals, corporations, foundations, and
governmental agencies. Support comes primarily from
the Lebanese-American community in the greater
Washington, D.C. area but inroads have also been
made in the San Francisco Bay area, Detroit, and New
York City. The AFLMT is also thankful for the support
of H.E. Antoine Chedid, Lebanon’s Ambassador to the
U.S., and his wife Nicole, who hosted or sponsored
two fundraising events organized by the AFLMT in the
DC area.
News from
Our Partners
American Friends of the LMT
Established in 2009, the American Friends of the
Lebanon Mountain Trail (AFLMT) is 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization that works to promote greater
public awareness of and support for the LMT in the
Unites States, while also providing financial and
technical support for the protection, maintenance and
promotion of the trail.
The AFLMT provides funds to non-profit organizations
in Lebanon, including the LMTA, to help implement
programs and events that further the AFLMT’s
mission. Since its inception, the AFLMT has issued two
grants to the LMTA for the production of a 13-minute
LMT video documentary and the revamping of the
LMT website to make it more user-friendly.
The LMTA also benefits from the diverse and honed
expertise of the AFLMT Board of Directors.Knowledge
transfer and the exchange of ideas are becoming an
increased focus of technical support as both organizations
develop and grow. The AFLMT also offers for sale a
number of publications about the LMT, such as the LMT
guidebook and maps as well as DVDs of the 2011
LMT video documentary and copies of
A Million Steps: Discovering the Lebanon Mountain
Trail by Hana El-Hibri and Norbert Schiller, a
coffee-table book with amazing photographs and
stories from the LMT. To broaden the support base for
the LMT, volunteers, referred to as “ambassadors,” are
also recruited to introduce AFLMT to new
community-based groups across the U.S. One way
to raise awareness has also been to cooperate in the
development of stories about the trail in print and
electronic media.
20
www.lebanontrail.org
In the coming year, the AFLMT’s priorities are to (1)
provide support to LMTA’s “Adopt a Trail” program,
beginning with improved marking, signage and local
ownership of the Baskinta Literary Trail, a prominent
side trail of the LMT; (2) sponsor full or partial
scholarships for college-aged U.S.-based students
to engage in community service work on the LMT or
participate in the annual Thru-Walk event of April
2013; and (3) assist the LMTA in expanding its
start-up program to develop classroom curricula in
public and private schools in Lebanon. Also, AFLMT
will develop a more formalized membership
program and will further engage supporters
through such online media platforms as Facebook
and YouTube. It also will continue to develop its
recently launched website and electronic newsletter.
Formal launching of AFLMT at the Lebanese Ambassador’s
residence in Washington, DC (May 11, 2010). From right to
left: David Startzell, AFLMT Secretary; H.E. Anthony
Chedid, Lebanon’s Ambassador to the US; and Joseph
Karam, AFLMT President
Proud Partner of the LMTA
www.aflmt.org
LMT Society
Al Shouf Cedars Society
Since 2008, the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve has seen an impressive increase in annual visitation. The improved
infrastructure, an effective marketing campaign, and capacity building activities. To raise awareness about the
trail, LMT pamphlets are distributed regularly on the reserve entrance and park house and the Reserve team is
well-informed of the LMT’s importance for the Reserve and the eco-tourism activities in the region. Furthermore,
the LMT established many eco-tourism facilities in addition to the trail’s three main guesthouses (Baadaran,
Niha, and Barouk), a picnic area (Jbaa), and the rest area at the Reserve Barouk entrance, amongst others.
The LMTA has also promoted the trail and the Shouf area in various publications, online tools, and
local festivals. Additionally, the Association undertook capacity building activities for local guides on planning
and maintaining trails. About 100 km of the LMT (almost a quarter of the whole trail) pass through the Reserve
and surrounding areas. Specifically, Sections 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the LMT go through the Reserve and the
Reserve committee cares for these sections, including maintenance and blazing. Generally speaking, the LMT
is the backbone of the long-distance hiking trail inside the Reserve which boasts about 250 km of trails. The
number of ACS visitors has increased over the years, starting in 2006, the same year that the LMT was launched
(see figure below).
For 2012, Nizar hopes to include further side trails
into the LMT network, mainly the Barouk River Valley
trail. He also plans to collect more data to calculate
the economic impact of the LMT on rural development
as well as regularly maintain the LMT sections outside
the Reserve. Nizar underlines that he and his team
are committed to keeping the momentum of the LMT
going on all levels in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve
and the surrounding area.
In our next edition:
Jouzour Loubnan
Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa
www.lebanontrail.org
Number of Visitors to the Reserve (2003-2011)
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
LMT Society
21
Trail Extensions
Work in Progress
As many people now know, work on the original
440km of the LMT began in 2006 and ended in
2008. The project was the result of the concerted
efforts of many people with vision and resources
both locally and abroad. It is thanks to them that
this project came into being. Indeed, this project
would not have taken off if it were not for the
financial support of USAID Lebanon, which
awarded ECODIT the sum of $3.3 million to
execute the project.
The LMT is a living, growing entity that is in constant
need of development and expansion. As a result,
the LMTA is pleased to announce that it has been
approached by the mayors for several
municipalities with plans for trail extensions. The
planned extensions are for Bkassine (Jezzine),
Andqet (Akkar), Qlaiaat (Kesrouan), Jabal Moussa
(Kesrouan), and Ehmej (Batroun).
These plans are the first step towards the creation of
new trail extensions. The next steps necessitate the
identification of the land that the proposed new
trails will run through. Then, members of the LMTA
team, local guides, and representatives from the
municipalities will begin taking the steps necessary
for preparing the trails such as clearing, mapping,
and blazing. Finally, an assessment of the financial
aspects of this project will have to be drawn out.
Once these aspects are finalized and an agreement
between the respective municipalities and the LMTA
has been reached, work on the proposed trails can
begin. These new trails will, of course, connect
directly with the original 440 km trail.
Guesthouses that provide appropriate and
pleasant accommodations for the weekend hiker
and the yearly LMT thru-walk participants are an
integral part of the 440km LMT. Therefore, the
proposed extension trails need to enjoy close
proximity to guesthouses so as to facilitate the hikers’
movement from accommodation to trail.
Group of 20 Test-Walk a
new trail in Bkassine,
February 11-12, 2012
A group of LMT hikers and volunteers
visited Jezzine in February 2012. After a
tour through the village, the group had
dinner at Harfoush Winery and spent
the night at the newly-refurbished IRIS
Hotel, an excellent facility. On
Sunday, the group test-walked a
proposed side trail linking the Bkassine
pine forest to the LMT. This will be one
of many new side trails on the LMT.
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www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
News and Events Coming Your Way
I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike
Enthusiastic, eager and raring to go …a new generation of mountain bikers are keen to ride the Lebanon
Mountain Trail.
Crowded roads, open potholes, assertive car drivers…cyclists are in a perilous position on Lebanon’s city
streets. But, out of the city, in the picturesque countryside, it’s another story. The LMT provides a rewarding
cycling experience with several bike-friendly routes passing through stunning scenery and picturesque mountain
villages where riders can fortify themselves with local delicacies and rest after a long day on the saddle.
Some sections are more challenging than others, so for those who are just starting out, certain bike-friendly
trails are recommended. Section 17 in the Shouf region, for example, takes riders from Falougha to Ain Zhalta,
a 20km section, and Section 18 from Aain Zhalta to Barouk, a 22 km section. Ride both sections in a day and
rest overnight at the Myrna Boustani guesthouse in the village of Barouk, a welcome respite after a long day on
the saddle.
According to the team at Beirut’s latest specialty bike shop, Bike Generation (BG),
mountain biking is gaining real momentum in Lebanon and several dedicated bikers
are planning to bike the whole length of the LMT in just under a week. For the latest
mountain biking equipment, visit BG on Elias Hrawi Street, Beirut,+961 1 612 216
www.bikegeneration-me.com
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
23
Trail Clearing and Blazing is Fun…
and Gets You in Shape!
Clearing and blazing the 440km that make up the LMT is no easy task. So far, around half of the trail has been
cleared and now the LMTA is reaching out to the youth living along the trail for essential support. The LMTA’s
long-term vision is for high school and college students in particular to participate in regular trail clearing and
blazing as a community service activity. Expert supervision on the field plus essential tools are usually provided.
The following sections have been blazed and/or cleared this summer
(June – September 2012):
Section
5
6
6
10
10
11
11
11
17
17
Description (Start & End)
Nabaa el Sekkar water canal
Deir mar Antonios - Aintourine
Ehden - Sin Ehden - Horsh Ehden entrance
Chatine - Baatara pothole
Chatine-Tannourine
Aqoura (Ouadi mar Semaan) - Ain Haroun
Ain Haroun - Jabal Sehta
Afqa (La Reserve) - Nabaa el Hosn
Ain Zhalta - Dahr el Baidar
Dahr el Baidar - Soha Village Resort - Falougha
Length (Km)
3
2
4
2
2
5
4
2
11
8
Type of Work
Cleared
Cleared
Blazed
Cleared
Cleared
Blazed
Blazed
Blazed
Blazed
Blazed
As there are currently
no standards for trail
blazing and signage
in Lebanon, the LMTA
has developed its own
guidelines, which it now
hopes to formalize with
the Ministry of
Tourism.
Adopt a Trail
The LMTA signed a $5,000 sponsorship deal with BLC
bank who has “adopted” the LMT Section 6, from
Ehden to Wadi Qannoubine (about 10km). BLC will
finance the cost of trail cleanup, trail construction and
blazing. Thanks to BLC bank, the LMTA has removed
and cleared heaps of waste and debris in Section 6,
especially near the slippery Aintourine water cascade.
The LMT hopes that other corporate sponsors will
adopt other sections in the coming year. Companies
and organizations interested in sponsoring a section of
the LMT can contact the Association. Hurry, claim your
favorite trail section before others do!
24
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
Exhibitions and Community Service Events
By invitation from the Environment Fund for Lebanon, the LMTA exhibited its work at the Lebanese German
Environmental Forum on Oct 22, 2011. Hosted at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut, the LMTA presented on LMT
and how the trail complements national tourism strategies. The Association also participated at the annual
Garden Show event in the Hippodrome of Beirut (2010, 2011 and 2012) and the Outdoors Lebanon event
(BIEL Convention Center 2011).
Community Service Event in Chatine with the US Embassy,
July 7, 2012
On the occasion of the U.S. Independence Day, the US Embassy in Lebanon and the LMTA organized a Community Service Event on section 10 of the LMT, near the village of Chatine. The event was attended by the U.S.
Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly, 20 U.S. embassy staff, as well as 40 Lebanese high school students
from Qalamoun, Dedde and Btorram (in north Lebanon). These students are from the English Access Micro
scholarship Program and the LMTA mobilized five volunteers for the activity including Ramiz Lotfi, Joseph Lteif
and Iskandar Tohme. This fun-filled event consisted of clearing brush and shrubs along a 2-km path as well as
removing trash and litter on both sides of the trail. After brief welcome remarks by U.S. embassy staff and LMTA,
the volunteers were split into three groups and handed over the tools and gloves for the work ahead. After
several hours of hard work, the group then proceeded to a picturesque restaurant in Tannourine al Tahta for a
delicious meal, courtesy of Mr. Mounir Tarabay, the mayor of Tannourine. There, Ambassador Connelly
received a complimentary copy of the book A Million Steps: Discovering the Lebanon Mountrail Trail and
students received Volunteer Certificates as well as an Arabic-English glossary of trail terms. Happy learning and
stay tuned for more trail clearing days on the LMT!
Mike Sport / The North Face
You want to look cool and hip?! Well, we may have
the right sport outfit for you. The LMTA and Mike
Sport signed a sponsorship agreement to promote the
LMT and The North Face products. As a member of
the LMTA , you can now receive 15% discount
vouchers from the LMT to be used year-round, except
for sale items, and you can also buy your The North
Face fleece with the LMT patch from our office. All
sizes are available, in purple for women and deep
blue for men. Be the first to grab your LMT fleece and
look good!
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
25
LMT Explores Twin Trails
with Canada and Korea
Friendship Trails
Last year, during his trip to Korea for the second
World Trail Conference, Karim El Jisr, President of the
L M TA , disc ov e red a who le new wo r ld o f t r ai l
programs. What caught his interest the most though
was the possibility of developing a so called
Friendship Trail, a twinning arrangement between the
LMT and another trail organization. Two organizations
will name one of the sections of their trail after their
twinning trail, as a mark of friendship and international
cooperation between the two countries and the two
trails. After months of preparation, the LMTA and
The Bruce Trail Conservancy have decided to
establish a Friendship Trail to promote cultural
exchange and also to reach out to the
Lebanese community in Canada and the
Canadian community in Lebanon.
On September 22, the Sydenham Club of the
Bruce Trail Conservancy inaugurated the LMT
Friendship Trail. This Trail, located in the Bayview
Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve, extends over
two routes: one is 7km and the other is 13.5km. In
Lebanon, Section 5 of the LMT will be twinned with the
Bruce Trail. This section is reminiscent of some of the
Canadian landscapes and offers a few remaining
specimens of the maple tree. Stay tuned for the
inaugural walk this fall with the Canadian embassy!
The LMTA is also exploring the possibility of twinning the LMT with the Jeju Olle trail in Korea to encourage
exchange and promote awareness of the two trail systems and countries to hikers. HE Byoung-gi Kim, Korean
Ambassador to Lebanon, has shown interest and has already tested the proposed trail on the LMT, from Jezzine
to Niha (Section 21)
http://brucetrail.org/events/75-lebanon
-mountain-trail-friendship-trail-opening
-september-22-2012
26
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
How YOU Can Help
Adopt a Trail
The LMTA is currently seeking sponsors to help maintain individual sections of the 440km trail including trail
clearing and blazing. In total, we need 26 individuals, enterprises or organizations to adopt 26 sections.
The work has just begun! At $500/km per year, the sponsors will adopt a trail section of their choosing.
Trail adoption helps us maintain the LMT by re-blazing the trail, pruning shrubs, removing rocks, building
switch-backs, and removing litter.
Report Environmental Crimes
Man is a very essential part of the environment. He is also her enemy. For years, mankind has been living of
nature’s resource and bounties. However, in our quest for comfort and more lavish lifestyles, we have ignored
the damages that we are inflicting to the environment. Some of those damages are irreversible. When relic
trees are felled, when soil is washed away by rain and wind, when birds are shot in masses, and when we stop
caring, then mother Earth will stop caring for mankind. The loss of biodiversity means that we may be losing
potential future cures to current diseases. Last but not least, we will be destroying a very important gift from
God, NATURAL BEAUTY. Here are some photos on the LMT showing environmental abuses. Help us reverse
the trend by practicing greener lifestyles and by supporting the less fortunate people and marginalized families
who live on or near the trail.
Whatever we do to nature,
we do to ourselves
Kurt Heidinger
Trailside waste and debris on the LMT
in Section 12 in Kfardebiane
www.lebanontrail.org
Highway project near Section 9 in
Tannourine degrades mountain landscape
Tree felling of century-old cedars in
Section 2 near Qemmamine
LMT Society
27
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Become an Adrian
Life Member
It pays to have some sturdy walking boots, as one
hiker discovered trekking the length of the LMT. Last
year, Adrian Cazalet, a 75-year-old British veteran
trekker, came to Lebanon for the second time to
complete the Thru-Walk in 29 days …and wore out
his favorite hiking boots.“It was a wonderful
experience. The scenic beauty, the hospitality of the
locals. The diversity is incredible,” says Cazalet. His
son Piers and nephew Roger joined him along the way
to hike sections of the trail – and to provide him with
some new boots!
In honor of Adrian’s incredible good will and spirit,
the LMTA has created and named the LMT life
membership in his name. At $500, you can become
an Adrian Life Member. All proceeds from Life
Memberships are stored in a dedicated account that
will be used to acquire land on the LMT. These
lands will be earmarked for conservation. So far,
we have 10 life members and our aim is to recruit
100 new life members in 2013.
How YOU Can Help
Make a Donation
LMTA is an organization that works to safeguard and
support nature. Do you ever wonder where the money
to help conserve nature comes from? It doesn’t come
from the government or from city funds. It comes
from you. See our Contributors Report for 2011
(excluding project grants). We will continue to publish
the names of all contributors in our magazine (unless
the contributor chooses to remain anonymous) and
we look forward to adding your name to the list! No
amount is too small. Funding for the LMT should first
and foremost come from the Lebanese people, living
in Lebanon and around the world. Contributions from
other citizens are of course also welcome and greatly
appreciated. You can write a check to Lebanon
Mountain Trail Association or make a direct transfer
to the following account at Bank Audi
(Baabda Branch).
Account No: 901267 461 002 071 02
IBAN LB31 0056 0009 0126 7461 0020 7102
SWIFT Code AUDBLBBX
You want to help? Become a life member.
Better yet, you can visit our office and we would be pleased to show you our work, our products, and our services.
Other ways to support the LMT:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
28
Buy local produce and mouneh near the trail
Participate in walks organized by responsible tour operators and NGOs
Walk and discover the LMT with a local guide
Buy our products, including the book A Million Steps
Organize a staff retreat, or charity walk, or community service event on the LMT
Join us on our Facebook page
Spread the word about the LMT in your circle of friends!
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
Contributors Report 2011
$1-$100
Nicole Abdallah
Salim Adib
Elissar Baalbaki
Karim El-Jisr
Zeina Haddad
$101-$250
Roula Darwich
Abboud Fakhry
Nathalie Jeha
Nasser Khalil
Hilda Omais
$251-$500
Ayad Family
Choukrallah Fattouh
Antoine Ghanem
Alfred Farwaji
Zeinab Saad Khalifeh
MERSACO
Nabil Nahhas
$501-$1,000
Adrian Cazalet
Charlotte Hamaoui
Nadim Karam
Mustapha Khalil
SUKLEEN
$1,001-$5,000 $5,001-$10,000
Gisèle Karam
Joseph Karam
Roula Attar
Ali Al Amin
AMANA Group
BLC Bank
Hana Hibri
Salam Khalife
$10,001 - $25,000
AFLMT
ECODIT
These were contributions made to the LMT Association in 2011. You can still make a contribution in 2012 which
will appear in our next issue of LMT Society.”. Your contributions can be earmarked for specific activities on the
LMT such as community development, conservation, education, and promotion. We thank all the contributors
individually and collectively and look forward to seeing you on the trail.
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
29
LMT e-Store & Order Form
Book available for
purchase from the LMTA
A Million Steps: Discovering the Lebanon Mountain
Trail, a best-seller! This book is also distributed by
Turning Point and can be purchased online. Proceeds
from the sale of this book go to the LMTA.
Price: LL90,000 or $60
Other items available for
purchase from the LMTA
• A Guide to the LMT –to help you decide which sections
you want to walk and where to stay
Price: LL12,000 or $8
• LMT Passport –to help you record your walks on the LMT
Price: LL5,000 or $3
• LMT Special Edition –to store your sectional leaflets and
the guide in a nice box Price: LL30,000 or $20
• LMT Pin –to place on your fleece, windbreak, or backpack
Price: LL3,000 or $2
• LMT T-shirt –to keep you fit and looking good (navy blue)
Price: LL15,000 or $10
• TNF Fleece with the LMT patch –to keep you warm and
dry (purple for women and deep blue for men)
Price: LL112,500 or $75
How to Place an Order?
If you want to place an order, please call our office
on: +961 5 955302 or send us an e-mail to:
[email protected]. All prices are excluding
shipping and handling. If you live in the US or
Canada, please order the above LMT items from the
American Friends of the LMT (www.aflmt.org).
Mabrouk Salaf!
30
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
For Your Info
440Km Trail Length
10-24Km
per Section
600-2,000m
26
Elevation Profile
Tripoli
Number of Trail Sections
The Trail Crosses:
1
World Heritage Site
2
Biosphere Reserves
3
Protected Areas
Jbeil
75 Towns & Villages
Beirut
Saida
Sour
How To Contact Us
Hôpital Sacré-Cœur St, Ghaleb Center, 1st Floor - Baabda, Lebanon| Tel +961 5 955 302/3
[email protected] | www.lebanontrail.org
www.lebanontrail.org
LMT Society
31
On the occasion of
International
Mountain Day
The LMT Association is organizing
a National Summit on
Sustainable Land Management
December 9-11, 2012
Program will cover a dozen topics and present several case studies in
the following three themes:
Nature
Mountain springs
Caves and potholes
Reforestation
Mountain landscapes
Mountain architecture
Wildlife
Climate Change
Power
Land tenure
Foreign ownership
Urban planning
Highways
Conservation legislation
Enforcement
Empowering municipalities
Wealth
Mountain livelihoods
Responsible tourism
Protected areas
Agricultural infrastructure
Quarrying
Mega-developments
Sustainable farming
Help us build a conservation network to support people and nature.
For more information and registration, please visit:
www.lebanontrail.org
In association with
Food and Agriculture Organization
ECODIT,
Founding Sponsor of the LMT since 2006
www.lebanontrail.org
32
LMT Society