Description: A thrilling, yet intimate, view of the 440 km trail that runs through the remote and majestic Lebanese mountains. Hana El-Hibri and her fellow hikers were the first to walk the length of Lebanon from north to south, and her up-close account of the month-long journey is accompanied by Norbert Schillers superb photos, capturing the regions diverse wildlife, its stunning scenery and the colorful characters that live there. A Million Steps gives us snapshots of a Lebanon that is rarely seen and of an adventure of discovery, beauty and companionship to be treasured by all who value Lebanons rich rural heritage. A fabulous gift book!
Brief description: Hana El-Hibri began her mountaineering career with a 30-day expedition in Wyoming, and her writing career on a 30-day trek in Lebanon. In the 30 years in between, she had three children, lived in four countries, and hiked in numerous mountain ranges. Norbert Schiller has been one of the most sought after news photographers in the Middle East for the last three decades. His main work has been with AP, AFP, UPI, Getty Images, Der Spiegel and The New York Times. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Review Quotes: The Lebanon Mountain Trail, a 275-mile hiking path running the length of Lebanon, was developed in 2006 08 from a variety of existing roads, trails, and paths along with constructed connectors. To raise awareness of the trail and promote conservation in Lebanon, El-Hibri, an experienced mountaineer, here relates her month-long ecotour as she hiked with a core team (frequently supplemented with day and section hikers) and was exposed to traditional foods, Lebanon's iconic cedar forests, the snow-capped mountains that inspired Khalil Gibran, gorgeous waterfalls, and stunning fields of wildflowers. Her trek from guesthouse to guesthouse through rural and mountainous country is beautifully photographed by prolific Middle Eastern photojournalist Schiller. The text is a diary-style collection of vignettes from the hike and lacks the detail or intrigue of a crafted narrative.
Verdict This coffee-table book is primarily a showcase for the numerous landscape photos that will turn your preconceived notions of Lebanon on their head. It beautifully presents the diversity of the rural Lebanese landscape, showing the potential for the Lebanon Mountain Trail and the country's nascent ecotourism industry.