Schilthorn closed until December

Chris,

The abseil looks like a lot of fun! I've done a bit of that sort of thing using a Figure-8 descender, but I'm not familiar with the rig they were using in the video. Looks like that area is a winter wonderland now (Brrrrr....).

OMG, I thought I had a challenging job

For the few people left who have "not" seen this youtube Schilthornbahn air rescue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUD-E7b2zVo

I watch this and think "Wow, to be so lucky". Talk about a memorable experience for those tourists!

They had to do one of these at Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire last week. I don't think the riders were too thrilled.

Oh Tim. I am so sorry I watched that. I have a height fear and thought I conquered it in 2014 on the rides up from Stechelberg to the Schilthorn but now I'm not so sure. Yikes.

I would have found a helicopter rescue like that to be a most exhilarating holiday experience! The Schilthornbahn has always worked perfectly every time I've used it, so I don't imagine this type of situation occurs too often.

Ken, I'm sure you would love it! I could not believe that guy was videoing on the way down. The helicopter work and the rescue personnel were unbelievably impressive.

I have never ridden this kind of suspended cable car. It looks terrifying. I will visit Switzerland within a year and know I will need to use these in Bernese Oberland area. I plan to duct tape my eyes! Lol.

Pam,

Yes, I'm sure I would enjoy an experience like that, and I'd probably be taking video as well. I've done some climbing in the past, so I'm familiar with the ropes and equipment, and know what limits the gear is designed for.

cunamnt,

The ride isn't "terrifying" at all for most people, but rather routine and uneventful most of the time. The Swiss engineering is exceptional and the Cable Cars undergo routine maintenance on a regular basis.

Ken..most of the time!! I feel so much better now.

cunamnt,

To put it in perspective, riding the Cable Cars is much more sedate and with less trepidation than Paragliding from Mürren. Floating across the power lines and then reaching the edge of that sheer cliff is a much more "unique" experience. If you're interested, have a look....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB9Aj-E2RXM

How are you on Ferris wheels? Roller coasters? Any kind of suspended ride at a fair? The cars themselves are quite large (about 100 souls) and if you need to, you can stand in the middle and stare down. But why not look out the windows at the view as much as you can, that's why you're visiting the mountains!

Actually, with my fear of heights what I did was walk directly on to the car with my RS group and sit on one of the benches lining the side of the car. I looked down and never looked up. I got off when everyone else did. No way could I have looked out. Once at the top and on solid mountain, I enjoyed the view tremendously. On the way back down there were no benches so I stood in the center, held on to a pole and .... looked at the floor, lol. The cars are pretty big so to me they were not as bad as a chair lift or something open and swinging.