Hiking the Jordan Trail

Two hikers enter the hottest section of desert on the Jordan Trail, between Petra and Wadi Rum.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Hikers follow the Jordan Trail across the impressive canyon of Wadi Hasa, in central Jordan.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

A hiker makes friends with a camel near the historic Ottoman village of Dana.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Camels carry extra bags — and tired hikers — through the desert of Wadi Rum on the Jordan Trail.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Brilliant stars light the night sky on the Jordan Trail.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Hikers set up tents at sunset, outside Little Petra in central Jordan.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

A woman bakes “shrak” bread over the fire in her backyard, near the town of Ajloun, on the Jordan Trail.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Waiting for cooler afternoon temperatures, a group of hikers follows the Jordan Trail through the desert.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Shielded from the sun, a Jordan Trail hiker heads across the sparsely populated desert of central Jordan.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Rippled sand dunes define the vast empty wilderness of southern Jordan.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

A Jordanian host welcomes his hiker guests with a traditional cup of Arabic coffee, spiced with cardamom.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )

Sara, Muna and Furat greet hikers on the Jordan Trail, which passes through 52 communities. Meeting and making friends with locals is one of the true highlights of the trail.   (Andrew Evans/Chicago Tribune )