Walking with Mark

One of the most enjoyable activities that I recommend any visitor to the Cedars Country to do is to walk in the mountains... Yes walking, but not with anybody.

With his military fatigues, svelte posture, radiating presence and undying smile, Mark Aoun is the quintessential guide. Of course it is not about appearance; here I am speaking about "attitude". Mark knows how to manufacture happiness, he produces fun, he creates atmosphere, and all this show on the faces of "his" hikers and "followers". From Gezzine, to Arz-al-rab, to Tannourine, to Cornet-el-sawda (which I also like to call by its English translation, "the black peak"), whether off the beaten track or on tourist foot paths, Mark transforms challenge into excitement.

Driven by a strong love for nature and wanting to discover every inch of Lebanon, Mark started going hiking as a teenager, and hasn’t stopped ever since. He founded "Vamos Todos"  ("Let’s go together"), in 2006. "I believed in Lebanon then, Mark explains, while many others were leaving the country. Many of my friends at that time had nothing to do because of the war and so they asked me to take them on hikes. And that’s how the idea developed into a group for hiking.”  There are places like Nahr Brahim, Jabal Moussa, Baskenta… that Mark cannot resist revisiting over and over again. For Mark Lebanon is altogether beautiful, and though there are many impressive places like Wadi Annoubine, Bsetine el Ossi, Ammoua, it is quite difficult for him to tell which place is his favorite...

In terms of security, you can walk with Mark your eyes closed. He always visits places in the company of locals, walks and checks paths and tracks before he offers to take anyone on hiking there :)))) Mark also explains that he never ventures on risky territory. “We obtain the consent of the army if we have to walk in critical places. We always inform the local authorities of the exact area we want to explore so that they know of our presence.”

As a lover of nature and a promoter of a clean environment, Mark believes that what he is offering is a "style of life".  "We want the Lebanese people to love nature and love their country.  The more they get involved with nature, the calmer and less stressful they become.” Mark did not mention it, but I saw how many locals benefited from the hikers’ visits, offering hospitality, food, guidance, etc… here there is an interesting exchange that can be developed further in the framework of sustainable development.

We should not forget that walking in the Lebanese mountains is also a way to get back in touch with the country’s culture and tradition...To watch the karke, to move to the slow rhythm of a 3ateba and to savor typical local dishes...

If you want to learn more about Vamos Todos’s coming events, visit the website at http://www.vamos-todos.com. Mark is also on Facebook. Visit his profile and join his Vamos Todos group. Mark will not only be your guide, he will certainly become a friend.