European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Heading for the Harz Northern Germany s ski country the discovery of Silver in the Harz mountains1,000 years ago led to extensive mining of on area once called i he Treasury of German emperors. Today it is Snow not Silver lha brings in the Cash. Straddling he East West German Border Southeast of Hannover the Harz is 1he major Winter tourist spot in Northern Germany while not comparable to the towering Beauty of the bavarian Alps the mountains of Iho Harz nonetheless offer military personnel in Northern Germany and Berlin a comparatively nearby resort area with Cross country and Alpine ski runs. Braunschweig about 25 Miles North of the Harz is 140 Miles West of Berlin 103 Miles East of Bremen and 220 Miles South o Flensburg. Munich is 390 Miles South of Braunschweig. High Teason or a Lara in the Harz begins in january and Rune until about mid March said Michael Lehmann a tourist Agency spokesman although More tourists visit the Region during summer Lehmann said the percentage of Winter visitors is increasing. Roughly 1.5 Kiffton visitors come to the Harz and the surrounding area each year. About 60 percent of Iha total choose the summer months. The remainder can count on an average Snow cover Between 23 and 31 inches in higher elevations Lehmann said. Over Christmas skiers had nearly 20 inches of Snow. We Don 1 have to advertise in Winter Lehmann said. When Snow is on the ground people come they come mostly from the West German states of North Rowne West Plafta and lower Saxony to which 1he Western Harz belongs. Hamburg Berlin and the slate of Schleswig Holstein also Are major drawing areas Lehmann said the Danes make up the largest contingent of foreign visitors Lehmann said getting around in English poses no big problem because of the area s dependence on tourism. Unfortunately the Harz s highest Mountain the Bracken massive 3,750 Feelis across the Border in the communist German democratic Republic. Ii is used by the East germans As an electronic listening Post on the Western Side the highest Mountain is the Wurmberg 3,185 feel. The nearest competitors Are the Ruchberg and the Achtermann both of which Are slightly More than 3,000 feet High. By comparison the Teu Felsberg world War if rubble Heap used by skiers in West Berlin is less than 400 feet High. It is also e super secret listening Post a commentary on the Lack of Elevation in North Germany. The Zug Spitze straddling try bavarian and austrian Alps has an Elevation of 9,716 foot. There Are More than 160 Miles of Cross country ski traits winding through the Harz. The longest Trail runs More than 15 Miles nine resorts Oiler Alpine courses. The longest run near the Schulenberg is less than two Miles. Artificial Snow is supplied at St. Andr Aasberg and Sci Gutenberg. Werner Maass runs a ski shop in Goslar a Beautiful medieval City on the Northern Edge of he Harz. Although he said he is primarily a Cross country skier Maass offered some is on places to ski. Scenic Cross country stretches can be found Between Torf Haus and Kong shrug the trails Snake along the Border West of the Bracken and a Beautiful Strelch winds around Achterman Shohe. Maass also recommended a Cross country track Between the Sonnenberg and St. Andre Asberg. Clausl Haf Zell Erfeld has a Cross country course Hal can be skied at night several times a week. Maass suggested the Wurmberg Schulenberg Eto Aksberg and St. Andre Asberg for Alpine skiing. There Are 50,000 rooms and a number of Winter Camp Sites available in the Harz Region which offers enough variety to meet nearly anybody s budget the complexity of the Many package Tours is one reason to suggest a travel agent be asked to help with arrangements. Information Tours and travel offices Are among those that offer ski trips to the Harz regularly an attractive feature for people planning an overnight in the area is the ease with which most ski Sites can be reached from most hotels it is 36 Miles from Goslar on the Northern rim of the Harz to bad Lauterberg on the Southern Edge. From bad Grund on lha West to Braun Lage on the East it is 25 Miles. The Region is studded with ski schools and Dally equipment rental averages a modest $9 for boots skis and poles. An important Telephone number is the weather hotline 05321-20024, More information including English language brochures can be obtained from Harzer Verkeshia verb and Mark Strasse 45, d-3380 Goslar wast Germany. Telephone 05321-20031. And wonder Wood carvings it left by member Oltha Meier Taulty pan Lour generations master Carver Hermann Malar fashions e tree below Young Ali tort took Over a Mode of mining operations carved by Kuchans Meier and his family. Stories by Joe Mapother Bremerhaven Bureau Sis it Moi to l. Emmett Lewis or Ury 23.19b7 the stars and stripes Page 15