Float over the abyss attached to a rope – this thrill on the mountain is all the rage in a winter holiday. In German low mountain ranges, but also in the Alps, there are various ropeway installations that will give you an adrenaline rush during the rapid flight. We present some offers.
Flying Fox XXL
The Flying Fox is probably the mother of all rope flying facilities and can now be found in many places. In Golm you fly over a lake, in Oberaudorf over a mountain pasture at Hocheck and in the Safaripark in Schröcken on six lanes. Probably the wildest variant, which is also open in winter, is the Flying Fox XXL in Leogang. According to the operator, this is the fastest and longest steel cable slide in the world. From the Stöcklalm (middle station Asitzbahn) you glide 1.6 km over the valley and enjoy a great view at over 143 m altitude. Gliding is a relative term, as speeds of up to 130 km/h can be reached for a short time.
La Tyrolienne
The cableway La Tyrolienne – White Wild in Orelle promises a “flight of the eagle”. It is one of the highest aerial cableways in the world and has one advantage over other cableways: you can take your skis and snowboard with you on the ride. With bag and baggage you float over from Orelle to Val Thorens and enjoy the scenery of the famous Trois Vallées during the flight of birds of prey on the rope. The start is at the Bouchet chairlift at 3,230m. On the 1.3 km stretch, you sail over what is probably the most beautiful glacier in the Savoy region and reach speeds of up to 105 km/h. Arrived at the Funitel mountain station at the Col de Thorens at 3,000 m, you can immediately get back on your skis or board – fantastic.
Air Rofan
The “Air Rofan Skyglider” is located not far from the mountain station of the Rofan cable car at Gschöllkopf (2,040 m) in Maurach am Achensee. The construction is based on the wings of the golden eagle, which is at home in the Rofan Mountains. This gives the pilots the feeling of being able to float over the valley like an eagle. Four people hang next to each other in the steel frame and race down the mountain. With speeds of up to 80 km/h, the metal bird covers a distance of around 800 m and an altitude difference of 200 metres. Children aged 10 and over are allowed to fly and the minimum height is 1.30 m.
Zipline Stoderzinken
The Stoderzinken near Gröbming is considered the top panoramic mountain of the Schladming-Dachstein region. Here you will find one of the largest cable gliders in the Alps. With a length of 2.5 km and a difference in altitude of 700 m, it is hard to beat in terms of numbers. During “take off”, up to four people can float over the valley side by side on the parallel ropes. In 2014, the facility even won the great Tourism Innovation Award of the Province of Styria. From a height of 1.20 m and an age of 8 years you can ride along. The facility is open in July and August from Monday to Sunday and in September and October from Wednesday to Sunday.
Adrenaline X-Treme Adventures
Also in the holiday region Kronplatz in South Tyrol there is an exciting Zipline – which with 3.2 km is the longest in Europe. The passenger hovers 100 m above the ground, between trees and over the valley. He reaches a speed of 80 km/h. The course is located in St. Vigil in Enneberg and the rope is stretched over the beautiful Gladertal valley – including a view of the Dolomites. The minimum age is 11 years. Children weighing less than 40 kg are only allowed to fly in tandem with a trainer (by appointment).
Hirschgrund-Zipline
The Hirschgrund-Zipline-Area is located in the Heubachtal in the middle of the Black Forest. Here there are not only one, but seven tracks, which are laid out as a circuit and together make 1,620 m of rope length. First you try your hand at two practice tracks, before you go on the longer sections over steep slopes and valleys, hills and streams. The Ziplines with different character are connected by platforms and paths. A tour lasts a good two hours and requires average physical fitness. The Zipline Area is open until mid-November.
Harzdrenalin
The “Megazipline” in the Harz Mountains is Europe’s largest double-rope slide and promises a ride with a guaranteed adrenaline rush. The parallel tensioned ropes lead along the Wendefurth dam, so that two people can sail simultaneously over the 1 km long stretch at 120 m height. During the journey, the passengers hanging on their stomachs in their seat belts are subjected to speeds of up to 85 kilometres per hour. Also here courageous children starting from 10 years are allowed. Advantage: You can come without advance notice! Disadvantage for winter holidaymakers: The facility is only open until October.
Flying Waters
A Zipline of a slightly different kind was recently opened in Bad Gastein in the Hohe Tauern National Park. Since July 2015, the “Flying Waters” has been hovering over the town from Villa Solitude to the Thermal Spring Park. The special: This is not about the adrenalin kick, but about a new perspective on Gastein. On the 300 m long rope, one reaches a maximum speed of 50 km/h, so that one has enough time to enjoy the panorama: There is the historical centre of the village with its Belle Epoque architecture, the thundering waterfall and of course the mountains of the Hohe Tauern. The relaxed flight over Bad Gastein is possible in winter from mid-December to mid-March.
For most of these facilities you have to register in advance. So if you’ve got the taste for it, you should secure a very special flight experience early for your next winter holiday. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can also visit the facilities now in summer. SnowTrex wishes you a good flight!
