Walk the Masar: adventurer and filmmaker Leon McCarron has completed a 1500km walk around the heart of the Middle East, concluding his journey on the summit of Mt Sinai, Egypt
McCarron, 29, from Northern Ireland, set off on foot from Jerusalem in early December 2015, now after more than five months of desert trekking he has completed his adventure.
Unsurprisingly, the walk wasn’t without mishap. Within three weeks of trekking north through the West Bank and Jordan Valley, McCarron’s expedition was briefly put on hold after his walking partner, writer Dave Cornthwaite, suffered two stress fractures in his left foot. Later on in the trip, the adventurer was forced to escape flash foods and to walk for days on end in the heat of the desert sun without encountering any form of civilisation.
His route saw him walk the Masar (‘path’) Ibrahim in Palestine, the Jordan Trail and the Sinai Trail.
Despite the tough conditions he encountered the experience was still a positive one for McCarron. “I feel extremely privileged to have seen this part of the world in such an immersive way,” he said. “I came here with a working theory that most people are good. This trip has reinforced that no end. This is one of the most maligned parts of our world, yet in reality I’ve found it to be perhaps the friendliest, kindest and – yes – peaceful place to spend time.”
The intention, according to McCarron, was to look beyond the natural struggles and tensions of the region; to fill a current void in the global media by focusing on the other side – the people, the stories, the communities, and compassion that comes with travelling on foot.
This he did along the way, largely through the images he shared on social media, some of which you can see from the images below.
McCarron is now working on three films and a book to tell the full story of his findings.
Find out more on www.walkthemasar.com and www.facebook.com/leonmccarron
