ISRAEL SPEAKS
For Finns, snow is usual in winter,
but for Israelis it is a feast.
Today we will visit Israel's highest mountain Hermon,
the only place with permanent snow all year round.
We will visit the ski resort on top of Mount Hermon
and hear about the snow experiences of its Israeli visitors.
Mount Hermon is Israel's northernmost spot.
It's highest peak near the Syrian border reaches almost 2700 meters.
The Bible mentions Hermon with a few different names
and it has also inspired many poets and songwriters.
It snows almost every year on Hermon,
attracting thousands from all over Israel.
They come to ski or just to admire the white miracle.
Ski resort is run by the residents of the Neve Ativ settlement,
located on the slopes of Hermon.
Menachem Baruch managed the resort for 20 years
and is still involved with it.
I have lived in Neve Ativ on Golan for 30 years.
In winter we have a ski resort here, and orchards in summer.
We have our families and home here and the place is precious for us.
Ski resort was opened 40 years ago.
Two different groups of people come here.
Many come to see the snow they cannot see anywhere else.
Secondly, we have skiers, who also have no other place.
The resort is quite small - around 45 km of ski tracks.
In the conditions of limited winter we try to offer both groups
a pleasant hiking and winter sports experience.
We are standing at the lowest level of the resort, at 1600 m.
The highest point of the resort is at 2040 m.
From here we cannot see the slopes with the ski lifts
on the other side of the range.
Yariv Atias, resident of Neve Ativ, works as a ski instructor on Hermon.
Our ski season is very short.
This time, it seems we are going to have a better year.
We have a small ski school with around 30 instructors.
When the ski resort is open, everybody rushes here
and there's a great demand for instruction.
It is not your only job, right? - Of course not.
It does not last the whole year even in other places.
In summer we farm the land and offer hiking accommodation.
Most important, however, is winter,
and Alpine skiing is the best activity.
- Do Israelis like skiing and snow?
- Very much.
Weather is not the best today, but in sunshine it is packed here.
- What does snow give to Israelis?
- It is a powerful experience, just like for Europeans.
It is a rare occasion for us, so it is even more exciting.
- Where do you come from? - Jerusalem.
We headed out at 3 a.m. Once a year you have to come here.
- How was it? - Awesome!
Are you a good skier? - No, but it is getting better.
- Have you been here often? - This might be my third visit.
- Have you progressed? - Yes, notably.
- What time did you arrive? - 5:00 in the morning.
- Really?
- Yes, although there was no line.
- I got up at 3 a.m. and arrived at 8 a.m.
I began the day feeling good. Now I leave, and it was worth it.
- I took a day off.
There's always work. One must take advantage of this.
- Where do you come from? - Haifa.
- When did you set out?
- We woke up at 5 a.m. and headed out at 6 a.m.
We got stuck in traffic and wandered around,
but finally GPS helped us here.
An awesome sight opens up already from the road -
suddenly there's a white mountain amidst the green slopes.
It was worth the trip.
- Does snow excite Israelis? - Whom it wouldn't?
Most of the year our climate is hot, in the best case, we have rain.
Snow is cool.
- What brought you here?
- First of all, romance. You just interviewed my girlfriend.
There is nothing sweeter than a snowy girlfriend.
Israelis are attracted to snow as well as to fun.
- It seems, they like snow?
- We have it so rarely here and only in certain places.
Water is important for us and also snow will end up in Kinneret.
That's another reason we welcome snow.
In a good season we can have over 300 000 visitors,
but sometimes 0 - 150 000.
This year we might cross the 300 000 limit in 3 months.
We have 3000 - 4000 visitors daily;
sometimes even 12 000,
and the same amount is left outside the gates.
When it snows in Jerusalem,
the main highway is flooded with visitors from Tel Aviv.
However, it is a much wider road than the one leading to Mount Hermon.
Usually we can service all visitors.
Sometimes we must announce, that the road has reached its limits.
It happens also in summer on the beaches and elsewhere.
We have limited space.
The resort is on one of the peaks of the Hermon ridge.
The whole ridge is 60 km long and only 7 % of it is in Israel.
The highest peak is near the border with Syria and Lebanon.
We are on the border of three states.
Here we are in Israel.
In the north is Lebanon.
In the east, behind the ski lifts, is Syria,
and behind that ridge is Lebanon's border.
Usually it is very calm here.
The place is special,
because the resort is basically in the military zone,
because of the vicinity of the borders.
We cooperate with the army.
Thankfully, it does not bother us, or we are used to it.
We manage in spite of it.
The peak of Hermon that is in Israel was conquered in 1967,
in the Six Day War.
In 1967 Israel did not want to engage in a war with Syria.
But Syrians attacked Israel's northern villages.
The battle began on the third day and Golan was conquered in 3-4 days.
It was not Israel's intention,
but happened because the Syrians
fired at Israeli villages.
1 - 2 years later settlements began to appear on Golan.
Neve Ativ was founded in 1971.
Tourism was selected as one of the means of livelihood
from the get-go.
With the help of the Settlement Authority
and Ministry of Tourism
a tiny ski resort with one ski lift began operations.
In 40 years we have grown and now we have 5 chairlifts
and multiple T-bar lifts.
We began small and now we are here.
There are more ways to expand
but it is considerably larger than in the beginning.
Hermon's snow is a precious addition to Israel's water resources.
All of Hermon's snow will finally melt into water
and runs into Kinneret or reaches groundwater.
It is important, as Israel is on the border of the desert.
Rain- and snowfall is always a blessing.
Hermon's ski resort is at equal level with world's leading ski resorts.
We aspire towards excellency in equipment, tracks and lifts.
On rare occasions
the ski resort services also other folk than Alpine skiers.
They come here more because of snow
than because of skiing.
- Mommy!!!
This year's snow is of top quality.
It snowed more even today, but later it turned into rain.
Quality snow has been falling and there's been no sunshine.
I don't remember the last time when it snowed the whole month.
We await sunny weather
that will crown the snow experience.
- First experiences with snow are sometimes crazy, aren't they?
- Definitely from the instructor's viewpoint.
Some are convinced in their skills after 1,5 hours, go to the top,
go for suicide races and also get hurt.
Our rescue teams will take care of them.
I have skied a lot abroad but I've never seen so many injuries
and such speedy rescue service than here.
- Quality level is very good. I just moved here from France.
It is not quite the same, but I am happy over the possibility.
- How does it seem compared to European ski resorts?
- It works great. Alpine skiing conditions, equipment,
and lifts are very good, and stand the comparison with Europe.
- How is the level of Israelis?
- I fell several times, but it's OK.
It seems so simple on TV. I have a lot to learn.
- I haven't done downhill before. I've been on Hermon only once.
My snow experience then involved a snow fight and a snowman.
It appears I am bad in downhill, but each fall fired me up even more.
And it doesn't even hurt.
Atmosphere is great.
I met quite a few people and we came here with friends.
Awesome experience.
- So you are below average? What about your friends?
- They were quick learners. I am the only one falling right now.
Their achievments only inspire me.
- Do you plan to come back soon?
- Yes, I want to try all tracks, as long as the center is open.
During the short snow season
the resort stays open as much as possible.
Randomness of snowfall keeps the personnel on their tows.
They wait for enough snow to accumulate.
Such uncertain traffic like on Hermon can be found nowhere else.
In summer,
we have 15-20 workers for the few visitors.
During snow season we need 250.
We hire them from Neve Ativ and from the surrounding Druze villages
and also from other villages, in case of need.
The number of workers jumps to 250 in one day.
We have a 40-year experience in this operation.
It is always surprising how we find 250 workers overnight
each of whom knows their place and tasks.
Sometimes heatwaves melt the snow and we must close the doors.
A month later there might be more snow and we start again.
One winter we opened and closed the resort five times.
Also several residents from the neighboring Druze town
of Majdal Shams work in the resort.
Madah Gala works here already for 10 years.
We are here two months a year.
- How can you work like this?
- When there's snow on Golan, nothing else can be done.
We have work for a month or two.
It is a source of livelihood for around 220 residents of Golan.
It is also important
that the restaurants and shops of our village
would benefit from Hermon's visitors who come to Majdal Shams
to eat the worldfamous Druze pita.
Before the opening of the ski resort our village was a popular place.
Service is friendly and there are no security problems.
- Are you happy over the snowfall? - Of course. Cool.
A hot annual topic is the high price of the snow experience.
Most criticism is directed at Neve Ativ
that allegedly excessively exploits
natural resources that belong to the whole nation.
- Of course it is a bit expensive but they have the monopoly.
Once or twice a year it pays off.
- What about family? - Good question. We will see.
- A week-long ski holiday package in Europe costs as much, even less.
But a few days in your homeland in cool accommodations
with skiing possibility is a great holiday.
- Do you think it is too expensive?
- I don't know. Parents are paying.
- It only operates 2 months a year, it is understandable.
When weighing whether it is expensive or not, we should remember
it is unique for us and therefore worth the price.
- I cannot compare, but they say Hermon is expensive.
Trips to Europe cost as much and that is abroad.
I feel my money was spent well and I have not wasted anything.
It seems they've put a lot of investments here.
I don't think it is too expensive.
Entry costs as much in state subsidised nature parks.
Nobody supports Mount Hermon Ski Resort.
Our operating season is short and costs of maintenance high.
Cleaning of the entry roads, snow clearing and equipment,
security measures, first aid and ambulance - all call for funds,
that has to come from somewhere.
It would be great, of course, if someone would pay for it.
No state organ is willing to support this.
Everybody wants water, gas and electricity for free as well.
Everything has a price, that somebody must pay.
Even though there's enough snow for skiing,
sometimes the resort is closed even during its short operating season.
We also have to consider the risky nature of the area.
In case of heavy snowfall, we would close the resort.
Israelis cannot drive in the snow and have no winter tyres.
Then people are often upset with us.
But we only close for safety reasons.
We are interested in making money but safety is more important.
We will not risk for nothing.
We have mobile equipment, sledges, skis and else here
and high chance for accidents.
Thus safety is of utmost importance.
- Does snow still impress you?
- Yes. Winter sports is always close to my heart.
It would be difficult to give it up.
- Snow puts a smile on your face.
It is a special experience.
We don't take snow for granted.
I am always amazed how a brown mountain turns white overnight
and you can come down on skis.
It is more of a miracle than a natural phenomenon.
Translation: Monika Jaaguri