The Imster Achterbahn
Probably only a few people will know what an Alpine Coaster is. I didn’t until coworkers took me there by chance one weekend. Picture a giant roller coaster going straight down a mountain. Add cows, and a couple of nets in case you fly off. Take away most of the safety and security you take for granted on a Busch Gardens or Six Flags ride. Finally, add a 1h hike (or a ride up the chairlift) to get to the top… voila, you have an Alpine Coaster!
Here’s a link to watch the video in HD on YouTube.
This was shot on a Canon HF200 attached to a helmet. Yep, I’m aware the video is a bit jerky. The coaster is a LOT jerky. And optical stabilization is not enough. As yet, I haven’t bought a video editing software which will combine the miraculous abilities of a) digital vibration reduction and b) NOT CRASHING. Let’s see what I can find in the next month.
Here are some photos on the way to Imst and while hiking up the mountain. I love that about Europe: where else can you see cows grazing on the ski slopes in the summer? And standing in the middle of windy mountain roads…
We took a wrong turn on the way to Imst, and found this beast in the road...
Is that a beginner or intermediate ski slope in winter? Guess it depends if the cows are still there.
Don’t miss this gratuitous photo of Bunky being nuzzled by a young cow. Daaaamn, that’s hot… if you’re a bovine.
Now there's affection for you.
Getting to the Imster Achterbahn:
- Address for your navigation system: Hoch Imst 19, Imst, Austria. Google maps link here. If you go in late 2009, a word of warning: Imst has some construction downtown, and we had to go around it to get there (a different exit from the main road).
- I recommend checking the opening times first, as they often have weekend-only operation at the beginning or end of the season. (In German: opening times = Öffnungszeiten).
- Prices in 2009: 6.70 to go up the chairlift, 5.90 to come down the coaster (less expensive for kids/seniors, or big groups).
Official website: http://www.imster-bergbahnen.at/index.php?id=6&L=3
Enjoy the coaster, and post your experiences here! Coming up soon, hiking up the Zugspitze… including scaling the side of a cliff! Subscribe with the orange RSS and Email links on the left to read about it. Dave out.
