I pictured the Negev desert like the scene in Star Wars. 100 unhappy campers marching through heat and miles of sand like R2D2 and C3PO. It turns out I was pleasantly surprised. The first day of our three day trek was filled with ropes, ladders, and boulder climbing. Although the heat was a killer, you take the good with the bad. Everyone, myself included, had an amazing time. I really enjoyed myself and am glad I decided to push myself.
Saren Felder

June 23, 1999 - The Crater - 5:20 AM. I am shivering in my thin sleeping bag and someone is telling me that "putzi" (Chelli's word for the sun) is coming to get us and that we must get started early for the day. As I slowly uncurl my cramped legs and look down at my dirty, dirty hands I begin to wonder if I am really looking forward to the day ahead of me. I groggily pack my bag, hike back into the rocks to relieve myself, and eat cereal. Then we are off. We are going to the crater. The hill we began to climb up was, in reality, not very steep - but try telling that to someone who has only gotten 4 excruciating hours of sleep with 1 million rocks digging into their vertebrae. Finally we made it to the top. My heart skips a beat. We are looking down on the most beautiful expanse of sandy dunes, cliffs, and rocks I have ever seen. Colors that fill your senses with awe.
Anonymous

The desert was extremely hot. I did not enjoy hiking through it as first. I was sweating profusely and I had to drink every fifteen minutes. It was rocky and my feet hurt. About 5 people got sent to the hospital. About 50 others were hurt with some kind of problem. The first night sucked because sand was blowing around and it hurt everybody's' eyes. The mosquitoes at night were bad too. The hiking itself was hard and difficult for probably everybody. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Even though the hike was hard and tiring it was great to look back on and remember. It was a great accomplishment.
Lindsay Rabinowitz

The Negev - June 21-23, 1999 - It took a mere five minutes after I stepped off the bus to appreciate the almighty air conditioning. Going from the comfort of a bus with re-circulated air to a sweltering desert was something that I could never have been prepared for. I have been in hot places before, but the desert was intense. We hiked for three long days in temperatures ranging from 100 to 113.9 degrees. The hiking was tough, my feet hurt, and I was so hot and felt so filthy. It was not infrequent that the question "What are we doing here?" crossed my mind and the minds of others. I enjoy hiking, but on day three with little sleep, dirty clothes, and hot salty water, I was not having the best time. During the actual hiking, I was miserable at times, but looking back on my "desert experience," I can see that it was one of the best and most important experiences of the trip. For me, it showed me that I really can do anything if I put my mind to it, that I can get tremendous satisfaction out of participating in the success of others, and that I should never complain about being hot again. For my friends, the Negev hikes and hanging out around the fire drumming and singing brought us all together. We are now a group of 110 people ready to help each other do anything. The Negev rocked!
Jon Sar

June 24, 1999 - With the desert experience over I've challenged myself physically more than I ever have before, even with my swimming. I have yet to find God as I believe my brother did on this "journey," but I'm continuing to learn more about both myself and the people around me, good and bad…mostly bad…just kidding.
Mara Sobesky

Spending 3 days of my teenage life in a hot desert is something I'd never imagine doing again but something I'm glad I did. Despite the fact I did not participate in Hikes 2 and 3, Hike 1 is and will become one of the most memorable experiences in my entire life. It was hot and uncomfortable but the feeling afterwards and the stiffness and pain of muscles I have never worked before made it all worth the effort. The most incredible thing about the hike was, however, that everyone bonded together and helped each other. It was on that first hike, I believe, on the first day of the desert that our now-amazing bus group became cohesive. Sleeping (if you could sleep) in the desert was very uncomfortable and full of bugs, you could see every star and the moon was so bright. It was the most beautiful sky. I didn't even take a picture - as I usually do when I see something beautiful - because I want that sight to remain as vivid in my mind. I have 5 more weeks to go - filled with more fun, new friends and beautiful sights and experiences. Seeing the Kotel and the old city and sleeping in the desert were all so wonderful and I'm sure the rest will be equally as wonderful. IST is already the most fun I have ever had. This is a fun, educational experience.
Michelle Marcove

I used to think that first impressions gave on a pretty good idea of what they were going to experience, and sine I had been to Israel before I didn't think that things would be so much different especially the desert. I mean how different could it be, its hot and dry and that doesn't change. What I have learned so far is that first impressions don't always reveal the truth and that while the scenery that I was viewing hadn't changed drastically the attitude was different and that changes everything. I have learned that people and attitude play an important part in how I personally experience something and I am trying to take every possible chance to look at everything with a positive attitude because this is an incredible chance to make, maybe not first, but lasting impressions.
Amber Daina

After three days in the desert, I emerge with a new perspective. I have learned the importance and beauty of shade, the art of drinking wind, and the pointlessness of watches.
Shana Dinner

Everyone is writing about the desert but I think I should write about our group. I came to Israel knowing 3 people. I thought I was going to be in for a long summer. Yet everyone is so friendly. It starts with the counselors, who are laid back and entertaining. Most of the people in this trip are getting along, and are friends. The desert brought out the best and worst of everyone. I feel like it was a good experience because the rest of the trip is going to be a breeze.
Anonymous