- Problematic aerial cableway malfunction - Helicopter delivery of Watzmannhaus ensues
The Watzmann Lodge in the Berchtesgaden Alps is currently being reached only via helicopter due to an issue with the cable lift system. The lift cable reportedly snapped last week, as per Markus Block from the German Alpine Club (DAV). The lodge is under the jurisdiction of Munich and Upper Bavaria division. Various news outlets had previously covered this incident.
The cause behind the cable snap remains unclear at this moment. The extent of the damage is being evaluated, and repairs are expected to be carried out as soon as possible. However, the timeline for completion is yet to be determined. Fortunately, there are no restrictions for visitors to the lodge situated above Ramsau in Berchtesgaden.
Given its remote location, the popular mountain lodge in the Berchtesgaden National Park will now rely on helicopter transportation, like other remote lodges in the park. The section intends to collaborate with other lodges and their respective divisions to minimize the number of helicopter flights in the environmentally sensitive area, Block added. The use of helicopters will undoubtedly incur additional costs for the section. The repair expenditure is still an uncertain figure.
The Watzmann Lodge boasts over 200 guest rooms and is one of the most frequented lodges of the Alpine Club, according to the section. Operations at the lodge will continue, despite the constraints, until the scheduled closure in mid-October.
Despite the cable lift issue, visitors can still access the mountain hut located above Ramsau in Berchtesgaden without any restrictions. To reduce the environmental impact of helicopter transportation, the lodge will collaborate with other remote lodges in the area.
