Mount Ophel Walls of Jerusalem

22-24 November 2023

The weather forecast was good, and we took the opportunity to go to the northern part of the Walls of Jerusalem. I was hoping that the Alpine Hovea would be in flower, but unfortunately there was very little out; it was either a case of getting there too early, or it was a bad year for the plant. There was no close water at the campsite I had hoped to use, so we backtracked to a suitable spot beside the Fish River.

For the middle day of our stay we climbed to Mount Ophel, passing an impressive old stand of Pencil Pines. It seems unlikely that many people would have been past this spot, and even less likely that a party would have an average age greater than us. On top was a large plateau with numerous attractive tarns. Descent was via the Pool of Siloam and Ephraims Gate.

Tiger Lake and Solitary (Mans) Hut were visited on the walk out, again in very favourable weather conditions.

The three days were delightfully sunny with very little cloud, and at times it was hotter than we have been used to over the last six months or more. At lunch time on Mount Ophel we sought out what little shade that could be found on the summit plateau. One of the party lost their phone, but luckily by retracing steps through the bush, it was found. So, we had good fortune on all fronts, except for the Hovea.