Switzerland is officially home to the world’s first suspension bridge to connect two mountain peaks. Nestled in the glacier ski area of Glacier 3000 in the Swiss Alps, a long bridge dubbed “Peak Walk by Tissot” rests, connecting View Point peak at the top of Glacier 3000 and Scex Rouge.
At an altitude of nearly 9,800 feet above seal level, the walkway is just 31 inches wide and 351 feet long, costing a whopping 1.2 million dollars to build. As the only suspension bridge in the world to connect two peaks, its inauguration opened with a ceremony on Friday, October 24 at Restaurant Botta, the mountain resort that lies between Les Diablerets and Gstaad.
Its unveiling took place a day ahead of the start of the 2014/15 Glacier 3000 ski season. Just recently, the ski area officially opened for business, offering an upgraded terrain park with various jumps and features, and 25 km of pistes between 1,350 m and 3,000 m. Other attractions at the site include a summer toboggan run, a fun park, and a snow bus.
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From its high-up platform, visitors and athletes alike can see the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Eiger, Moench, and Jungfrau mountains. As long as forecasts are permitting, entry is free for all throughout summer and winter—in other words, all year long.
Originally, construction on the bridge was scheduled to begin early this summer, but was delayed till September due to bad weather. At the time, chief executive and Glacier 3000 CEO Bernhard Tschannen said the situation posed a “significant challenge,” citing that, “The work has progressed well, despite the difficult weather conditions.”
Now complete, the sturdy bridge is designed to tackle extreme conditions. It can withstand heavy snow and winds reaching 200 kmh, and can hold up to 300 people at any one time with a safety restriction of 150.
Tschannen said the walkway “is a unique addition to our destination.”
“It is a touristic highlight that is important for our position in the Asian and European market,” he added.
To date, the bridge is the world’s second highest suspension bridge, trailing behind the 3,000 feet up Titlis Cliff Walk in Obwalden, Switzerland.
