A Change in Perspective
Garrott on a Via Ferrata across from the Sella Massif in the Dolomites
When you travel to a new place, where do you like to go? What do you like to do?
When I moved to Innsbruck in 2016 to pursue a Masters in Business focused on winter tourism, I had to pick a topic for my thesis. Having studied Geography as an undergraduate, I found myself drawn to Visitor Flows: how people move through space and time when they first visit a new place.
For example, most people visiting Paris for the first time will visit the Louver, Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. On their next visit, people will likely visit lesser known attractions.
One of the most common visitor flow traits is the desire to get up high to get an overview of the city. That might be to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Washington Monument in DC, the Nordkette mountain range overlooking Innsbruck or the top of any lighthouse, firetower or ski jump. Seeing a place from a higher elevation helps offer a new perspective that isn’t possible from the ground and an orientation that can’t be captured in a map.
As cross country skiers, we often spend our time in valleys. We admire the peaks soaring above us, but it’s rare that we are able to cross country ski at the higher elevations in the winter. Most of the big views go to the downhill skiers.
On Lumi trips, we always try to include a big view. The beauty of skiing in Europe is that there are often gondolas that can bring us up. On the Dolomitenlauf & Marcialonga trip, we take a chairlift right up to the base of the Dolomites in Italy before sledding back down to the valley.
On the Norway Birken trip, we take an elevator to the top of the Holmenkollen ski jump with views of the Oslo fjord below.
Views over the Oslo Fjord from the Holmenkollen Ski Jump
On the Factory Tour Trip we take the gondola to the Dachstein Glacier with views down to Ramsau and visit Monte Lussari in Italy with views to Austria and Slovenia.
Looking down on the Ramsau from the Dachstein Glacier in August
Perhaps my favorite view is on the Seefeld & Engadin Trip where we take a funicular (cog railway) to a mountain top overlooking St Moritz and the whole Engadin Valley, where you can see almost the entire 42 km race course from one place.
The St Moritz and the Engadin marathon course in Switzerland
Last weekend, I took a trip to the Dolomites for a couple days of Via Ferrata; using a climbing harness attached to iron cables to climb mountains and access views that are not normally accessible on hiking trails. I always thought the views from Seiser Alm were some of the best in the Dolomites.
The Schlern in Seiser Alm at Sunset
The Via Ferrata route we took goes high above Seiser Alm and looks down across the Marmolada Glacier. For history buffs, the route also goes through several caves and tunnels originally carved out as part of the Italy - Austria front during the First World War. These tunnels reminded me of the railroad tunnels we ski through on the Cortina - Toblach route in the winter.
Skiing through tunnels in the Dolomites
As we head into the long Independence Day weekend, I encourage you to get up high and find a view you have never seen before. If you’re looking for something a little further from home, we still have limited space available on most of our trips for this winter. Come experience these stunning views for yourself!
See you on the trail,
Garrott