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MOSES' MOUNTAIN |
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 One of the classic excursions in the St. Katherine's region is the ascent of
Gabel Musa, Moses' mountain, sometimes inappropriately called "Mount Sinai" as a
result of medioeval custom . To go up the holy mountain, you must talk the path
that goes from the monastery along the Wadi el- Deir for part of the way, before climbing the side of the mountain . for the ascent, its advisable to be equipped with mountain boots and an anorak, even in summer, as well as a torch . the ascent takes between two and three hours and is usually done at night so as to be able to admire the incomparable sight of dawn breaking from the summit . on the mountain peak, you can see a chapel (holy trinity chapel ) built in 1934 on the remains of a little church dating back to the fifth century. In addition, there is a small mosque and a grotto where, legend has it, Moses spent his 40 days. To go back down the mountain you take a different route, known as
Sikket Saydna Musa, or "the path of our lord moses" this is an ancient route used by the monks _ its shorter but steeper than the other one and includes 3,700 steps cut into the mountain . this path is of great interest as it crosses the beautiful seventy wise men of Israel amphitheatre . this is a clearing surrounded by by cypress
-trees, where, according to tradition , the old men of the tribes of Israel had to stop to wait for moses to come down the mountain . there is also a small hermitage here, dedicated to Saint Stephen .
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