2 minute read
Summit portrait: Gerlossteinwand
Cliff in Sight!
Rock-solid certainty: The Gerlossteinwand above Hainzenberg has long been a Zillertal trademark. Stephan Eberharter has a very special relationship with this unique elevation.
Stephan Eberharter, Zillertal’s most successful skier, proudly and respectfully points out the Gerlossteinwand from a distance. And then the Olympic gold medallist and 3-time world champion smiles and says: “There on the left is the Brandberger Kolm, on the right you see the Ahornspitze, and in between is the Gerlossteinwand … a picture that I’d instantly recognise among thousands.” Not least because “Ste ” made his rst turns in the snow right there, at the foot of the cli . “That’s where we used to go after school, and I discovered my great passion for skiing.” Still, he has never before explored the 380-metre via ferrata in his life. It’s hard to believe, but Eberharter of all people, who is on a rst-name basis with the mountains as a downhill skier, feels somewhat in awe of the imposing rock. “I know that the well-secured wall can be a great adventure for anyone, but it’s not my trade.” And so, even at 52, he sees the legendary Gerlossteinwand for what it is: “A unique elevation, with many opportunities for athletes and families, and I always say: This is my Zillertal.” And even though he has achieved so many goals and doesn’t have the urge that “I absolutely have to get up there”, Eberharter wouldn’t be Eberharter if he didn’t smile mischievously and say: “But who knows? Maybe I’ll go up there one day after all to see what it’s like.”
Stephan Eberharter
By Train to Zillertal:
climate-friendly & relaxed
Travel stress-free. Thanks to numerous o ers that ensure arriving at your vacation paradise in high spirits. Also ideal for families.
Lightning-fast and safe
Have your morning breakfast in Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, or Leipzig, and explore the Zillertal mountains with your children already by early evening. Zillertal is easily accessible by day and night. With fast ICE connections from all over Germany to Munich and a simple transfer by EuroCity to Jenbach. Or with direct ICE trains on weekends during the vacation season, e.g. from Berlin, and daily Nightjet connections from e.g. Cologne, Hamburg, or Hannover to Jenbach.
Saving money the right way
With a special low Sparpreis or the BahnCard, travelling to Zillertal is quite affordable. Train tickets can be booked up to 6 months in advance.
Everything for the family
A train journey means adventure, fun, and plenty of room to move. Whether in the toddler compartment, in the ICE family areas or in the on-board restaurant or bistro with the children’s menu – there is no room for boredom. Many weekend ICE’s even have child care on board.
Travelling through the valley
A region-wide transport system will take you stress-free to the most beautiful excursion destinations in the entire Zillertal.
