To catch a glance of the beautiful late spring on the mountain, it is best to join the free guided hikes that the Hermon site organizes between June and August.
By ITSIK MAROMRanunculus(photo credit: ITSIK MAROM)
The series of very hot days that we experienced lately paint-ed most of the country in the familiar summer brown and practically said goodbye to the spring. Luckily for us, we can still and the spring in the northern tip of Israel way up on Mount Hermon.For that, we have to climb more than 1,500 meters to the mountain where the temperatures are cooler and water from the melting winter snow is released. Another advantage for nature lovers is the unique variety of species that are not found in the lower land. So, we in Israel can get a taste of different flora and fauna – plants and wildlife that are usually found in more northern countries like Lebanon, Turkey and other alpine climates with high elevations or cool weather.Mount Hermon has many faces. Although in the winter it gets more than a meter of precipitation (rain and snow), in the summer it can really turn into a desert with lots of sun radiation and the temperature can reach 50º centigrade (122º Fahrenheit). The varied temperatures allow for the presence of desert species like the desert mantis that is very common in the Negev and Arava.Dog rose (Credit: ITSIK MAROM)Above the elevation of 1,800 meters, there are no trees – only shrubs that are tough enough to survive in the harsh environment of wind and extreme temperatures. Wildlife is also a variant. On Mount Hermon, there are many species that you cannot find in other areas of Israel. Among them are endemic species that are only found in the Hermon and nowhere else.To catch a glance of the beautiful late spring on the mountain, it is best to join the free guided hikes that the Hermon site organizes between June and August. In June and July on every weekend there is a guided hike on Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. In August, you can enjoy daily outings high on the mountain. The tours are free and do not require advanced registration. You just need to show up in the right place and time.There is a charge for the chair lift that takes you up to the higher region where the hike begins. Families are invited as well as groups and singles. So, if you prefer flowering spring in the summer months, then climb to the Hermon.For more details go to www.skihermon.co.il
