Personal Roller Coaster

DATELINE;
Imst-Hoch, Austria

While snow skiing in Ohio growing up, I would often see signs at Mad River Mountain for an "Alpine Slide" that would open in the summer months.

The path followed the lift hill north. Even covered in snow, you could tell the slide was in disrepair. The cement joints of the flume weren't flush. How a sled on wheels was suppose to roll down the path, I have no clue. But the poster inside the ski lodge made the concept look great.

Fast forward some 25 years and Alpine Coasting is making a resurgence.

In the Alps of Austria rests the world's longest personal roller coaster. It's a twisted mix of Coaster, Bobsled and Slide. Unlike the early version in Ohio, this newer cousin uses stainless steel tracks, no troughs.

The cars are built for two riders, yet most adults appreciate going solo. And while each car is locked to the track, the passengers control the breaks. However, the cars look like a lot like snow sleds.

In order to get to the top of the hill, one must hike and endure a 3,000-foot elevation change, or take the more scenic chair lift.

We arrived with enough time to ride once according to the lady selling tickets.

After scrambling aboard the chair lift, we rose higher and higher into the snow capped Alps. As we got higher, patches of snow could be found still melting under us.

Scott found the song "The Hills Are Alive (with the Sound of Music)" on his phone and played it as we floated above the trees.

Riding parallel next to us on a second lift, are the sleds that we'll ride down.

The track is fast, or slow as you want, since you're essentially riding the break the whole time.

There is no speedometer. But since the coaster is never more than 10 feet above the ground, it feels faster as the natural terrain whizzes by.

Then there is the smell. It's spring in Austria and the scent of pine trees is in the air as they begin to grow after the long winter.

"This is the best thing we've done yet!" Adam exclaimed.

The Alpine Coaster is so much fun, we may have to do it again in the morning.

NEXT: A Night in Austria