Josef Wiegand, a family-owned manufacturer of toboggan runs, rail-mounted toboggans and stainless steel dry slides has created a bespoke slide for the world’s longest treetop walk. This is located in Switzerland and connects the two villages of Laax Murschetg and Laaz Dorf.
Attractions such as treetop walks and slide hiking trails, where pathways and slides combine to add extra fun to a family hike, are rising in popularity and now, this new trail in the Graubünden canton takes things to the next level.
Spiral slide winds around tower
The record-breaking 1.5 km long treetop trail opened to the public on 11 July and is accessible year-round, either by spiral staircases or barrier-free lifts. Two towers have been custom-built alongside the elevated pathway through the trees in Murschetg and Dimplaun.
At the Murschetg tower, which is over 30 metres high, visitors can opt to ride down to the ground on a 73 metre long Wiegand stainless steel tube spiral slide. During the experience, riders will enjoy glimpses of the scenery, thanks to the partly transparent polycarbonate cover – which also lets spectators enjoy the ride. Meanwhile, in the fully-enclosed sections of the ride, light effects are used to add to the feeling of speed.
“GTSM Magglingen AG is Wiegand’s sales partner and was awarded the contract for this slide,” says a statement from the company. “The system was manufactured by us at the Wiegand premises in Germany, Rasdorf, and the assembly was completed by our fitters. Two crane vehicles with special long jibs were used to lift the slide sections to the appropriate heights. The system is now finished, and the treetop trail is ready for action.
“We would like to thank the company GTSM Magglingen for working with us and look forward to completing other exciting projects with them in the future.”
Wiegand has also completed similar projects recently, such as providing two slides for the treetop trail at St. Englmar in the Bavarian Forest. Earlier this month, the company announced that it created two stainless steel slides for the Arts Resource Center, within the LUMA cultural complex in Arles, France.
Header image © Weisse Arena Gruppe
