Mount Hermon!

I hadn’t been to Mount Hermon in 5–6 years, so when a good friend invited me to climb it after fresh snowfall—who was I to say no?

An early wake-up at 4 AM (my alarm was titled “Reserve Duty” because, honestly, who wakes up at this hour by choice?). Thankfully, I had prepped everything the night before—down to the coffee—buying me a few extra minutes in bed before hitting the road north.

Even the drive up was breathtaking. The moon glowed in the west like a giant orb, slowly fading as the sun rose from the east to take its place. My favorite 60s music played on the radio, and morning mist (yes, that’s the official term—I checked) rose from the ground, making me feel like I was in a beautifully directed movie.

We arrived at Neve Ativ. After my friends enjoyed their morning jachnun (I just watched—gluten intolerance is a cruel fate), we set off.

The hike started green and slowly turned white, which felt surreal in Israel. Our first stop—snacks, photos, and then onto the steep climb toward the summit.

It was challenging but, honestly, easier than I expected. Turns out all that training actually helps—what a pleasant surprise!

About three-quarters of the way up, we spotted a ski lift carrying snowboarders and skiers. The idea is to place a bar between your legs and let the lift pull you up the snowy slope. Naturally, I had to test if this worked without skis. Spoiler alert—it does! A quick belly slide on my back and a whole lot of optimism proved it possible… but I also ended up with a pile of snow in my pants and an unplanned slip, so… we continued on foot.

After 8 km and over 1,000 meters of elevation, we reached the summit of Mount Hermon! Stunning views, a unique atmosphere, great people, and overall, the perfect escape from routine.

The descent back to Neve Ativ was just as spectacular—the transition from white snow to lush green landscapes was mesmerizing. I even adopted a new downhill technique—walking backward, which I proudly named the Moon Walk. Surprisingly, it worked! Less strain on my knees and toes, and after 15.5 km of adventure, we wrapped up an incredible hike.

Totally worth the traffic jam on the way home.

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