Stories from the Jordan Trail
Thoughts, photos, and videos from Andrew Evan’s adventure along the Jordan Trail
Thoughts, photos, and videos from Andrew Evan’s adventure along the Jordan Trail
From Desert to Sea: The End of the Jordan Trail
June 03, 2017
“That mountain, over there,” says Mahmoud, pointing to a jagged chunk of faraway granite, “That’s Saudi Arabia.” I slog a dozen more steps through sand before
Here Comes The Sand
June 02, 2017
In all my life, I have never felt this small—by day, I am nothing more than a sweaty speck on the land, and at night, a single star shining from a million miles away seems bigger than me, down here on Earth, alone in my tent.
Hiking each morning, I look back at the footprints I have left behind—imprecise and clumsy ovals that...
Beating the Heat on the Jordan Trail
May 12, 2017
We have a donkey now. His name is William Shakespeare and he has long whiskers sprouting from his soft upper lip and pouty chin. His tall ears move like a pair of independent limbs, pointing straight up like double exclamation points, or else whisking back coyly against his head, or suddenly...
Walking Through Time on the Jordan Trail
May 10, 2017
Just outside the village of Ma’tan we came upon some forgotten Roman city, the long and flowing stone walls following the contour of the land, each rock carefully put in place by human hands once upon a time. I have begun to recognize them now, the different ruins on the trail (Ottoman, Greek, Bronze Age,...
The Small Things are the Big Things
May 09, 2017
When you drive, you watch the road—but when you hike, you stare at the ground for hours. Perhaps there are moments when you stop and acknowledge the sapphire sky, punctuated by a single swirl of wispy cloud—or you take a quick look back at the natural architecture of the earth, with walls and slopes and...
Haircuts in Kerak & Bedouin Tea
May 04, 2017
If we accepted every offer for tea, we would never finish hiking the Jordan Trail. Instead, we would still be somewhere back in Section One, halting our way across the stony landscape and never moving more than a half-kilometer without some shepherd of sheikh demanding we sit down and drink tea with them.
Blood, Sweat and Tears on the Jordan Trail
May 01, 2017
The Mohammads have taken to calling me “Sheikh Nawaf”—even introducing me as such to strangers we meet—and yet it took me almost a week to get a proper translation of my nickname. In our hours spent hiking, the linguistic question sparked a small debate among the Arabic-speakers in our group.
Official Halftime Report of Andrew Walks Jordan
April 29, 2017
Officially past the halfway point on the Jordan Trail Thru-Hike, Andrew has shared with us many breathtaking photos and exciting and heartwarming tales of adventure. He has been documenting many of these through his blog, but Jordan Tourism Board North America would like to share with you some highlights of his trip so far.
Finding Nebo: A Surprise Encounter Along the Jordan Trail
April 26, 2017
We heard him before we saw him—the puppy was yelping in the road, running in circles and hopping around, struggling and clearly suffering.
“A puppy!” we cried, quickly scanning the area for any sign of a mama dog, but she was not there, and there were no other puppies around. The constant sound of a lost...
How to Milk a Sheep
April 21, 2017
It’s getting harder and harder to stick my tent pegs into the ground.
Up north, the bright copper hooks sunk into the soil like fingers in sand. A week later I had to work the pegs into the earth, pulling them out all crooked in morning. Another week passed before we hit solid rock—by then I had given up completely and followed...
Andrew Evans, an award winning author, travel writer, TV host and lover of Jordan has chosen to embark on the Jordan Trail Thru Hike. He departs Um Qais on March 31 and will reach his final destination, Aqaba, on May 13. Follow his travels and experiences here on Stories From The Jordan Trail and on the Andrew Walks Jordan homepage. If you’re interested in learning more about the adventures Andrew has been on, check out andrewevans.org.
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On March 31st Andrew Evans will depart from Um Qais on a 600-km walk through the Jordan Trail, reaching his final destination of Aqaba and the Red Sea. This 40-day hike, comprised of 8 sections, is referred to as the Thru-Hike. While crossing Jordan by foot is one of the oldest adventures in the world, the Jordan Trail is brand new. Andrew will be one of the first few to complete the Thru-Hike. Without the dedication of Andrew, Jordan Tourism Board North America, VisitJordan.com, The Jordan Trail Association, and Intrepid Travel, this trip would not have been possible. Learn more about Andrew’s 600-km trek here.