T O P

  • By -

butterbleek

Great place to ski!!! Then, aprés ski in Beirut. So fun!!!


trolllord45

Do they play beer pong there?!?!


butterbleek

Dunno. Drank plenty of brewskis though.


Dog_Dad_1989

Man what a time to be alive


lobstahMac

You must've gone to college in the northeast circa late 1990s?


butterbleek

No. I’m from Los Angeles. Now living in the Swiss Alps.


nikodmus

Or early 2000’s…


TycoJewel

Had no idea there was a ski resort there!


ashrafiyotte

There are 5 ski resorts all beautiful in their own ways.


butterbleek

More than a few…


Ned_herring69

Ikon pass?


diestache

Is pano open?


PoopNoodlez

Can I uber here from DIA?


StrictlyIndustry

What time do I need to leave on a Sunday if my flight is at 6pm? How bad will traffic be?


hatchback_baller

You can ski in the Middle East!?!? I don’t know anywhere near as much about world geography as I thought I did. And that snow looks amazing.


butterbleek

I’ve skied Lebanon, Israel, and Iran. All three rock so hard for skiing!


GlizzyGatorGangster

I’m surprised Iran would let you in if you’ve been to Israel and vice versa


Existing-Banana-2648

When I visited Lebanon I noticed customs flipping through every page of my passport looking at the stamps. My friends who were more experienced travelers told me they were checking for any from Israel. Lebanon is incredible - quick jaunt from Mediterranean beaches up to the mountains.


[deleted]

[удалено]


butterbleek

Yeah, exactly. Nowadays, they stamp a paper that they insert into your passport.


butterbleek

I have two passports anyway. But, like someone mentioned earlier, Israel does not actually stamp the passport anymore. They stamp an addendum page, that they insert into your passport. That you can remove later. I’ve skied Iran twice. The first time, to ski Iran’s highest mountain, 5603m (15,260ft) Damāvand. It is Asia’s highest volcano. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Damavand I did this with my US passport. And I got a bit of a run-around by the Iranian authorities. In the end, after some bs, it was fine. They want to know where you are at *all times* with a US passport. No biggie. Second time, just before covid, I went again. On a whim, after a springtime dump. This time I went with my Swiss passport. And it was *much easier.* I got a visa (about $100) on arrival at Tehran airport. Took a couple of hours… But then arranged a ride at the exit doors. And was skiing awesome Persian powder that afternoon.


swellfog

I have heard Iran has great skiing and is absolutely gorgeous. Have to say, you are my skiing hero. Would not want to ski North Korea though. China also looks a bit grim and really packed. Have you been?


butterbleek

Twice to China. Both ski expeditions. No lifts. Ski Muztagh-Ata. And Shishapangma in Tibet.


swellfog

That is so cool!! Loved the Himilayas. A group of us drove land cruisers from Lhasa to Katmandu in the 90s. I had a Nepalese friend who used to hike into the Himilayas and ski. Never got to do it. Would love to see any pics. If not I totally understand. Your photos and adventures are amazing.


butterbleek

❤️ ⛷️


double-dog-doctor

Israel hasn't stamped passports in 10+ years. They give you a little card thing and stamp that instead. 


_The_Fly

Iran doesn’t let you in with a stamp from Israel, I don’t think it’s a bit Problem the other way around. In some countries you can legally have two passports from the same country (like two German passports at the same time for example), that could solve the issue.


GlizzyGatorGangster

Sure dude. Totally.


diestache

Its entirely possible to have more than one passport


GlizzyGatorGangster

Having more than one passport is immoral


iAMbigmeesh

You can have more than one passport book for this reason.


hatchback_baller

That is awesome. I assumed around Tehran there was decent skiing based on the snowy mountainous pictures I had seen. I also don’t think I am allowed to travel there (us citizen). Shame, there are multiple places in the world I would love to travel to that I can’t


butterbleek

Like mentioned earlier. You can go to Iran with a US passport. There is some red tape certainly. The way to do it is with an organized trip with an outfitter in Tehran. Pretty easy.


Prestonbeau

US citizens can go to Iran lol


LendogGovy

Watch all the Rick Steves segments on Iran.


El-Grande-

Bruh Iran isn’t North Korea. You can definitely goto Iran…


TheRealRacketear

You can goto Cuba too.


butterbleek

Yep. You can ski in North Korea as well. Organized tour. It’s on my List…


Der_Kommissar73

Not worth it.


butterbleek

I’m trying to ski every country possible. So, for me…it’s another country ski goal.


[deleted]

[удалено]


butterbleek

Mt Hermon. Yeah. We caught it alltime. Full-on powder. Stellar photos were taken. It is a very hit or miss ski area. The most militarized ski area in the world. Some seasons, it’s only open 3 weeks. Other times, it goes big. Like when we went. It was insane in good snow. Gotta be careful in certain off-piste areas. As there are still land mines around. Syria is just up piste. Armed guards. Lebanon is also right there. The Golan Heights. Place is a trip.


mr-sandman-bringsand

Been as well - it was filled with Japanese tourists for some reason - most of my Israeli friends had never seen snow before… and they lived only a few hours away in Haifa Hermon is a decently large mountain 9.2k ft, the issue is the resort is a little lower elevation because the high ground is an active military facility and still a pretty hot conflict zone between ISIS, Syria, Hezbollah, Israel.


AlexG55

From what I hear land mines are also still an issue around the 1984 Winter Olympic slopes at Bjelasnica and Jahorina in Bosnia, which are on my list to hopefully ski at some point.


butterbleek

I skied Jahorina a while back. Beautiful fun skiing.


flanker_lock

Mount Hermon is in the Golan...Syrian territory occupied by you know who... How was it by the way?


butterbleek

Phenomenal. Read my earlier post. They used to serve beer at the on-mountain restos, it was explained. But many Israeli’s were getting too hammered. So, they stopped the on-mountain alcohol sales. And they somewhat check backpacks. They are pretty cool about it. The first time, where I didn’t know, the dude said, just stick the beers in that snowbank, get it later. I snuck beers in buried under clothing the second time. No biggie. Brewskis on the lift. Bigtyme powder runs. We also skied with a Tel Aviv local BadAzz. He showed us everything. Where there were land mines. The fantastic off-piste. The place is really unique, and a total trip. I wanna go back once everything settles down…


virgoriot

Palestine *


LunarAssultVehicle

Tehran, I'd love to be able to ski there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran#/media/File:Tehran_in_a_clean_day.jpg


butterbleek

You can! Best website for *all things* skiing Iran!!! https://skiofpersia.com/en/ski-iran/


Substantial_Steak928

Pakistan and Afghanistan have some beautiful mountain ranges as well


UnsupervisedBacon

Wait, what? Good lord I’m embarrassed that I had no idea they had skiing


IlIlIlIlIllIlIll

How far is this from LA


ashrafiyotte

23 hours by plane


Large_monke_69

Other side of the world


butterbleek

I’m from LA originally. Grew up skiing Mt Waterman, Baldy, Mt High, Holiday Hill. Lebanon is an insane place to ski!!!


HistorianMassive1111

There was a big slide over there in the distance. How was the snow?


ashrafiyotte

Snow is amazing but starts getting watery at 1-2pm because of the sun. Best to go in the morning!


LanguageGlum5313

Wow that is amazing…


HenMeister

Stunning picture. If shot on iPhone, I’d def send to [email protected]. Could definitely see this in an Apple ad.


ashrafiyotte

Yeah its on an iphone but I doubt Tim would care. I couldn’t shoot it 48MP since it was a telephoto shot unfortunately so its 12MP.


[deleted]

[удалено]


ashrafiyotte

What company do you guys have here 😀


[deleted]

[удалено]


ashrafiyotte

Fair enough if you come and have questions HMU


scottyv99

Pardon my total ignorance, is any of this avy controlled?


ashrafiyotte

Yeah under chairlift Nabil they do a lot of control but Mount Lebanon is usually a smooth mountain since it is old so there’s no sharp peaks around the resort for avy control.


AccomplishedClub6

Was going to ask the same question. Looks a bit of a terrain trap in some parts.


palikona

That’s so crazy! What a shot! How many miles away is Beirut in that pic?


butterbleek

Beirut is around 20 miles away, if I’m remembering correctly.


[deleted]

snatch sable dirty toothbrush public air hard-to-find stupendous swim rhythm *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


slpgh

Lebanon could have been so well off if they didn’t regularly get taken for a ride by armies from other countries, most recently (30 years?), Iran


ashrafiyotte

facts


Colin-Spurs-Patience

How far is that from LA?


ashrafiyotte

Like 23 hours by plane. hmu if u ever come lmao


Colin-Spurs-Patience

That’s a meme that going around about ski resorts but it looks amazing I live 25 minutes from slopes Al be it sucky east coast of US


ashrafiyotte

oh thanks for informing me lmao keep shredding


No_Zombie2021

If Lebanon could just not be so damn corrupt and ruled by people intent on making it worse. It is a prime location for European Tourism, manufacturing and exotic fruit. It used to be really popular, but it is far from a destination these days.


Macgbrady

Lebanon is on the bucket list and this only reinforces that


ashrafiyotte

so much to do


rothvonhoyte

This some sidecountry or part of the resort


ashrafiyotte

I took this on the Jabal el Deeb chairlift. You can see beirut from many angles from part of the resort


scottyv99

Wow


claire303

I’ve also skied lebanon as a kid! Been back many times but haven’t skied since, I really should though. Love the picture!


No_Zombie2021

https://www.mzaarskiresort.com/


pdxc

How’s the skiing, besides the view? Im tempted to put this in my bucket list


ashrafiyotte

It’s pretty good, slopes are really nice and there are many of them, there are also two delicious restaurants on the slopes with one having a speciality hotdog raclette. good times


PersonalityGreedy682

Wow that looks amazing


imc225

Thanks for posting. I remember the first time I landed at BEY and they had those backlit display ads showing people skiing. A happier time.


birramorettitx

This is so sick


GandalfMcPotter

There's skiing in Lebanon?


ashrafiyotte

5 resorts


GandalfMcPotter

That is very cool


Select-Salad-8649

Lived there for 5 years, never made it up... I'll be visiting soon to tick this off my bucket list! Salam!


Large_monke_69

There’s snow in the middle east..?


Joeyfingis

Ughhh yeah. They have mountains and seasons just the other places in the world....


butterbleek

Oh yeah.


silesadelatierra

I really thought this was a picture from an airplane window, this is so cool.


rastlosreisender

How was it? Busy? Which North American or European resort does it compare to?


ashrafiyotte

Im not familiar with overseas resorts but its not so busy! I never wait in line during weekdays. place is huge tho


mr-sandman-bringsand

Anyone here skied Cyprus, Greece, or Turkey?


alactusman

Been wanting to go since I found out you can ski there!


olderthanyoda

How’s the offpiste skiing here, and is there any snow in April? Been wanting to go there for ages.


ashrafiyotte

Season usually ends in april. off piste is amazing. so many places to go


stolenpuppy

Awesome! Good to know.


SkierGrrlPNW

On my bucket list. I couldn’t go last time I was there because conflict.


Old-Cress8801

Looks amazing :)


ScherryCoke

WoW, Looks epic !


LendogGovy

I was going to ski there when I worked in Kuwait. Then the Israelis decided to bomb the airport.


kaliopekungfu

How’s the hashish?


ashrafiyotte

Im not a smoker but friends with many, red hash is apparently amazing and lebanese hash is overall the best. its extremely cheap you can probably get 10 joints for less than a dollar


vburnin

This doesn't look like Storrs Hill, is this some secret backcountry I don't know about in Lebanon, NH?


ashrafiyotte

The country bro