As I exited the gondola, laughter and joyful screams peppered the crisp mountain air. I was about to have the most fun I’ve had in ages, I just didn’t realize it yet. I sat on my wooden toboggan, dug my feet into the snow to propel myself forward. “Dig your right foot in to turn right,” instructed J.P. my German husband. I dug my right foot in and started turning right towards the steep cliff right off the toboggan run. “Dig your left foot in,” J.P. instructed a little more frantically. “HOW DO I STOP?” I wailed. “DIG BOTH FEET IN…HARDER….HARDER,” J.P. said as I narrowly adverted crashing into the toboggan ahead of me. Between cliffs and other tobogganers, it’s a lot to concentrate on at once!
First collision avoided I stopped to observe the other tobogganers flying past me noting that no else seemed to need impromptu tobogganing lessons. But then I hadn’t gone tobogganing since…well it was so long ago that I couldn’t remember.
Tobogganing into the unknow due to the fog.
After one run on the Wallberg in Rottach-Egern near the Tegernsee in the Bavarian Alps, that’s about to change. The 6.5 km long toboggan run is the longest natural toboggan run in Germany and takes 30 minutes to descend for a total vertical distance of 825m! I soon joined in on the laughing and screaming as I worked my way down the steep toboggan run with pure joy running through my veins. Five minutes in and I was already a tobogganing convert!
Slowing down from my "top speed" for a photo opp.
Visitors have two options to ascend: the Wallberg tram which costs €10 and takes just minutes, or the good old fashioned way – hiking to the top which takes about 2 1/2 hours. We choose the former. Visitors can bring their own sleds or rent one there for €5. We rented our sleds, but waited in line for 90 minutes. Tobogganing on the weekend is a popular activity so arrive early. The toboggan rental and the Wallberg tram both open at 8:45. Another option would be to go on a weekday.
The first part of the toboggan run was steep and bumpy. I learned the hard way that when you go over a bump, you’re supposed to lift your bum up off your sled to reduce the impact. Still, I swooped down the run at top speed, eager to add “Professional Tobogganer” to my existing self-titled “Professional Gondola Operator” designation – or perhaps not. “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting almost 5 minutes,” J.P. impatiently inquired, anxious to continue. “Ummm…taking pictures, yeah that’s it, I stopped to take some pictures along the way….” Regardless of my debatable “top speed” I had a perma-grin on my face, only letting out the occasional profanity when I forgot to lift my bum over a bump. I unconvincing told myself that surely German children didn’t know bad words in English. My apologies to the German parents of those children if I was mistaken.
This hut serves liquid courage (and also non-alchoholic drinks) halfway through the toboganning run.
Two huts await visitors at the top serving typical Bavarian dishes and there’s also a hut half way down the toboggan run offering Glühwein (mulled wine) and schnapps should you need a shot of liquid courage on the way down. I was high on adrenalin and my mulled wine went down in a few gulps. I passed on the schnapps not wanting to wreck my perfect track record of zero crashes.
Sledding has gone to the dogs! Mmm...I wonder if monkeys like sledding?...
The second half of the toboggan run wasn’t as steep, nor as bumpy, but still fun and I purposely picked up my speed, swooshing like a pro around the turns. Trees be damned! This was fun!
For more info see the Wallberg Rottach-Egern official website. Disclaimer: I received two complimentary tickets in exchange for writing about the toboggan run, but as always, all opinions expressed are my own.
I'm Laurel, a former Program Director from Canada now living in Munich, Germany. I love traveling, diving, and hiking. I'm also an animal enthusiast with a special affinity for monkeys, cats and sharks.
Hello there, Laurel!
My name is Malte Zeeck, and I am with InterNations.org. I really enjoyed reading your fantastic blog! I think expats in Germany and around the world could really gain some great insights and have a few good laughs on this page. The quality of the blog in general is very convincing, which is why I would love to feature you and your writing on the Recommended Blog on Germany section on InterNations.org
Not only do we feature and link to your blog prominently; we also would like to hear from you directly in our questionnaire! We have also designed a link badge for your blog.
If you are interested, please feel free to contact me via email:
Best,
Malte Zeeck
@Malte – Thank you so much for your kind words. I will contact you directly through your email.
OMG that looks like SO MUCH FUN! This is definitely going on my wish list!
Claire recently posted..Le Père Lachaise Cemetery – Part 5
@Claire – Can’t recommend it enough. I felt like a little kid again!
I have no doubt that a Canadian girl was coming down that hill at “top speed”. Love the wooden toboggans! We had one like that when we were kids and you don’t see them much around here anymore – everything is plastic.
Lisa recently posted..A Day at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
@Lisa – Thank you! Speed really is a matter of perception
I love the wooden toboggans as well and had never ridden on one as I had the plastic “Crazy carpet” when I was growing up.
Outstanding terrain. Nothing wrong with a crazy carpet. Easy to backpack and a spray can of Pam will bring up the speed substantially. 6.5 KM is a long run. It looks like a lot of fun and a memorable experience. Thanks for sharing.
Barry recently posted..Coulterville – Yosemite National Park – Hiking California
omg that looks so much fun!! (Jumps!) I would love to do that…..since I get tired easily from skiing x_X
O_O did that dog really go sledding down the hill?
Annie – FootTracker recently posted..Taiwan(14) Noodles Everyday @Taichung
@Barry – I’ve never thought about spraying a crazy carpet to go faster, I normally am trying to slow down! It was fun and as an FYI the longest toboggan run in Europe is in Switzerland and is 15km – unfortunately my hubby doesn’t want to drive the 500km to test it out.
@Annie – Yes, it’s much easier than skiing. That dog really went down the hill with the woman also sitting on the sled holding him. Not sure how much he enjoyed it.
Wow this does look like fun and reminds me of when my kids were very little. We would take them sledding tobogganing and tubing every winter. The cackles and sheer joy is a great memory! Although we didn’t have a run that was 30 minutes long.
In Denmark, tobogganing is something you do with kids, and the weather right now is perfect. So, if we’d had a 6.5 km long hill and rented gear, I’m sure there would be more grown-ups around, because it is great fun.
@Debbie – I felt exactly the same when I did and realize that I need to seek our more of those “sheer joy” moments.
@Italian Notes – I agree completely! At this run there were just as many adults, if not more than there were kids. My husband says it’s the hot topic at work these days, everyone is talking about it!
This looks like so much fun! My husband would love this! I’m going to have to show him this post when he gets home. Thanks for sharing!
Cheryl recently posted..St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Hunt
That looks really cool! Somehow, I would be more comfortable doing that than skating on our “longest skating rink!”
My God, that looks fun! I ski from time to time but somehow that looks more fun. Is it possible that’s true?
Nice!
Tom recently posted..Does Your Name Make A Difference To Your Life?
Wow, that looks like such good fun. We call it ‘sledging’ in the UK and I haven’t done it since I was a kid. Having said that, we used to pull each other around snowy streets, not go careering down mountains!
Julia
Turkey’s For Life recently posted..Istanbul: It’s A Love Thing
This looks so fun! Wish I knew of someplace to do this in the states.
I’m headed to this spot this weekend!! I was looking forward to it, but now I’m really excited! Thanks for the great post.
Laurel,
Wow, I am jealous – this is so fun to hear about and not have to climb the hill to get to the top too. Wish I could do this
eileen
eileen ludwig recently posted..Fantastic Spring Concerts, Mardi Gras Parade, and Beads at Universal Studios