Topic: Other things to do in the mountains.
When I think of the mountains, I think of rock climbing. The way in which most of us think about the mountains is generally based on what our experiences in the mountains are like. Hikers think about hiking, skiers about skiing, and mountain bikers about mountain biking. Aside from climbing, hiking, skiing, and biking, I wondered about other things people do for sport in the mountains. I was not disappointed! Here are 5 other things to do in the mountains1.
- Alpine Slide. There are several of these mountain/alpine coasters/slides/taboggans throughout the world, but to really get the experience of an alpine slide, Switzerland is the spot. Essentially an alpine slide is a smooth track built into the side of a mountain and can be as long as 3000 meters in length. The speed will vary depending on the steepness, but they aren’t so fast that anyone’s life would be in serious danger. I think the real appeal of an alpine slide is the ability to take in the beauty of the surroundings while your hair flows in the wind during a surreal experience. A quaint playground staple (the slide) infused with a cocktail of steroids and speed (the alpine slide).
- Summer Mountain Tubing. This could be interpreted very differently depending on where you are from. But for now we are sticking with Switzerland. During the summers in the Swiss Alps, the ski runs are often converted to quaint mountain hikes, or alpine slides, or round trip gondola rides to enjoy the breathtaking vistas. But the ski jumps are sometimes converted into summer mountain tubing. The views still come into play, but this one is really all about speed and adrenaline. It’s pretty easy to do. Just grab a tube, sit at the top, and let gravity take over.
- Ski Biking/Snowbiking. This is pretty much what it sounds like. Imagine a bicycle, but replace the wheels with skis. You just kind of sit down on the snowbike at the top, and gravity will do the rest. Turning and stopping can be a challenge, but snowbike lessons, and rentals can be found at most of the popular skiing destinations especially throughout Colorado.
- Highline. High-lining is a form of slack-lining that takes place at heights above 10 meters. Basically it’s a tightrope way up in the air. Because of the danger involved in the sport, most highliners wear a harness and tether. There are however some free-solo high-liners who scare the crap out of me. This is such a beautiful sport to watch, especially when you catch a silhouette of a slack-liner seeming as though they are floating on air high up between two mountains. If you’ve never seen what these athletes are doing, it’s pretty amazing and absolutely worth your time to take a look. If this is something you are intrested in trying, slicklines are relatively inexpensive, just make sure to start LOW.
- Downhill Cheese Rolling. Have you ever wondered just how much you love cheese? Well, Downhill Cheese Rolling is here to put your love to the test. I love cheese as much as the next person, but I’m not 100% sure I would be willing to concuss myself chasing a wheel of cheese down a steep hill as fast I possibly can. I mean I really like cheese, but not as much as 23 time winner Chris Anderson loves cheese. This annual event takes place each year on Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester England. Cheese Rolling is a tradition that is said to be over 600 years old. It’s a 200 yard hill and the first person to the bottom wins a 4kg (9 pound) wheel of Double Gloucester Cheese. The physical personal harm may seem like a steep price to pay, but a wheel of cheese that large retails for nearly $200. So, take a chance, strap on a pair cleats, a clean change of underwear, and get ready to
runfall into a most memorable (or not depending on how hard you hit your head) and cheesy experience!
5 Points 1 Topic!
- The links are videos for each of these mountain activities. If you skip everything else, at least click the downhill cheese rolling link (parental advisory advised)
thedihedral.com 
Precious one
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What a sweet thing to read, thank you!
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We could definitely get into an alpine slide, and possibly some mountain tubing – they both sound extremely fun – and who doesn’t love the beauty of scenery? Not sure about snow biking. Just reading about high-lining makes us a bit queasy. I (Kellye) probably would have a hard time watching. Cheese rolling, on the other hand, sound hilarious! Thank you for sharing another interesting post. Happy travels!
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Thank you guys, I think you listed these in the exact order that I would attempt them too. Part of me would love to fall for cheese, but I think in all honesty I would chicken out, and just laugh at everyone else.
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I would ABSOLUTELY run down a hill after cheese…
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Haha…that’s the attitude!
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I’ve never gone into the mountains with the express purpose of doing some glissading, but when the opportunity presents itself, it’s a lot of fun. I found an experience on Mt Adams in Washington many years ago worthy of a blog post. jmharr1.wordpress.com/2015/05/17/butterflies-on-mt-adams-by-john-m-harrington/
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Another thing to do in/on mountains: find God; e.g., Muhammad on Mt. Hira, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad%27s_first_revelation ; Moses on Mt. Horeb, https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/moses-and-the-burning-bush-bible-story.html ; Elijah on Mt. Horeb, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19%3A1-18&version=NIRV ; Jesus too went to local mountains to pray, https://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/luke/6/12 . I enjoy your posts, thanks.
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I was riding my bike around Mt Horeb just the other day and found god, as I almost always do when riding the back roads around here.
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wow! thanks for this mountain journey but cheese rolling ….I am speechless. lol! I am an Alpine Slider for sure.
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Oooh good choice!!! They should offer cheese at the end of every mountain sport, and the amount of cheese could be based on the intensity of the activity.?!
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And the type of cheese, too? Match the cheese with the activity.
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How are you not a world leader? That is the perfect idea!
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Why do you think I need a pseudonym?
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Excellent point!!!
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Oh my gosh! I do the alpine slide when I can, and even downhill mountain bike, but I REALLY need to chase a cheese (my number one food group)! Well, maybe 40 years ago.🤣 Great video.
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That is so cool Eilene!!! You’ll have to get a cheese chasing champion to do your bidding!
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Fun!
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I am happy you liked it!
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This is great! I am from the Rockies…back in the 90’s my father was the director at the Olympic Park and it was considered forward thinking to turn the ski hill into downhill mountain biking during the summer months… now it seems it is everywhere!!! I also saw a great documentary on the cheese roll… wow, talk about sacrificing your body for tradition! Great post! Thanks! 🙂 Annie
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That is awesome Annie…I wish I grew up in the Rockies! I need to look into that documentary, it sounds great!
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