Israelis flock to nature by the thousands
Mount Hermon ski site closes for second consecutive day because of massive gridlock, while thousands walk among the poppies in the south.
The congestion began in the early morning, when thousands of skiers waited for the ticket booth to open at 8:00 AM.
Police decided to close routes leading to the site at 11:30 AM, and shortly afterwards the site announced it was closed to further visitors.
The site's operators said the slopes can host about 10,000 people simultaneously and that it was not yet full – but that traffic congestion was too much of a strain on the roads. They added that the site could be reopened later in the day. The site was closed at around noon on Friday when it filled to maximum capacity.
Low temperatures throughout Israel are an advantage for the site. Even though snow hasn't fallen on Mount Hermon since Tuesday, the cold has ensured that skiing conditions are still excellent.
Meanwhile, thousands of hikers went south to participate in the traditional march among the poppies in memory of singer Shoshana Damari and mark a decade since her death.
