Masada

I hate waking up early. But if I'm to wake up at 2a.m., I can't imagine a better reason than to hike up Masada, a desert mesa, in order to watch the sun rise over the Dead Sea. The hike was daunting - a 45 minute trek up the "snack path" that was over 400 vertical meters and included over 700 steps. However, upon reaching the plateau and gazing out over the Dead Sea, the fatigue was quickly forgotten. We had reached the summit with only minutes to spare before the sun emerged from the horizon. The sight inspired awe. Maybe waking up early isn't so bad after all. . .