Hold Onto Your Butts: Ascending the Eagle's Nest

The Kehlsteinhaus, aka the Eagle's Nest, sits over 6,000 ft high in the Berchtesgaden Alps. Originally built as a birthday present for Adolf Hitler, this chalet structure is a survivor of the Third Reich with spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding land.

Today the Kehlsteinhaus acts as a restaurant/picture perfect viewing point where visitors can explore the same rooms that were once occupied by Germany's most infamous historical figures. Enjoy lunch, grab a beer or simply take in the breathtaking scenery. Drinkers beware, the Eagle's Nest has no shortage of steep drops and isn't exactly a place you'd want to be tipsy. 

While the view upon the top of this alpine wonder is simply serene, getting there isn't exactly relaxing. The peak of the mountain can only be reached by one road, Kehlsteinstrasse, on a specially designed bus. Kehlsteinstrasse is one of the highest mountain roads in the entire country with a max gradient of 24 percent and an elevation of 1.834 m.

Now for a blurb from someone who was convinced they were going to die on this bus ride (me)... if heights aren't your thing whatever you do, don't look down! Although the drivers are specifically trained for this gut-wrenching, vertigo-inspiring trek, I was 100 percent certain our bus would be the first on record to tumble down the side of the mountain for infinity. Despite it only taking 20 minutes to reach the summit, time has a funny way of slowing down when you're approaching full-on stress mode. Those anxiety-packed 20 minutes consisted of weaving up the side of the mountain, crossing through 5 tunnels and views that became more spectacular, yet evermore frightening as the elevation continued to rise. Now, I've had multiple people ask me if others were as stressed as I during this ascent, all I can say is most of the people on the bus were old and probably already made peace with their potential fates after living a long, jolly good life.

(The fear is real)

Upon finally reaching the top (hooray!) the rest of the ascent is made by elevator. The elevator shaft is impressive on its own lined with polished brass and Venetian mirrors. The Elevator Operator crammed us and 51 of our closest friends into the elevator and we were up, up and away. Funny enough, it wasn't the ride up Kehlsteinstrasse that scared Hitler, but the possibility of the cable used to lift the elevator being struck by lightning. Because of this, special precautions were taken to ensure any lightning that may strike will be safely conducted into the surrounding mountain walls. The elevator ride is quick and upon exiting visitors are mere footsteps away from the mountains edge and spectacular views.

The final verdict, is a trip to the Eagle's Nest worth it? Probably, yes. I'm not saying I would put myself through the stress of that bus ride again, but the views were pretty sweet in the end. If you're looking for adventure and want to make some spectacular memories check out the Kehlsteinhaus next time you find yourself in Bavaria.