02/12/2024
Firewood on a sleigh for the win!
The only form of winter transport for farmers in Allgau, Bavaria, not so long ago. Schalenggen, wooden horn sledges, brought "Heu und Brennholz" for "Stall und Ofen" for the winter months.
After the first snows, sleds carried the "Hay and firewood for barn and stove" down from the Almen, mountain pastures, where it was stored after harvesting, and riding Hörnerschlitten, their runners shaped like curved horns, was a necessity. But now it's a Faschingssamstag, Carnival Saturday, tradition.
Four journeys every day. First the sleds, weighing about 50 kg (110 pounds), were dragged up the mountains, then loaded and driven back down to the valley.
And this with neither brakes nor steering.
The runs were dangerous, often resulting in broken bones and damaged sleds, so after the successful completion of a series of descents there were real celebrations, with Glühwein, beer, traditional food and music.
Usually "home-made" and to original plans, the sleds are loaded exactly as they used to be and can reach 100 km, 60+ mph, although not only the fastest also the slowest, and even those who crashed on the way down, are awarded a trophy.
Today is Faschingssamstag and, so you have an idea of what you are missing, here is a short video of past run: http://bit.ly/3xvQwD1
Photo credit: Schalenggen Rennen via Füssen aktuell.
