70 to 30 – that was already the revenue ratio between summer and winter at Jenner, high above Berchtesgaden in Germany. Looking back, it now seems logical that a more economically promising solution was sought for the 30 percent winter revenue, especially since even this 30 percent was increasingly generated by non-skiers.

“Since winter 2024/25, we have focused exclusively on a diverse winter experience. We offer tobogganing from the top station, winter hiking, a 360° panoramic circular trail around the top station, snowshoe trails, and an ungroomed, non-snowmaking ski route for ski tourers and freeriders. Snowmaking is used only on the toboggan run if needed (three snowmaking points),” summarizes Alexander Eder, operations manager of the Jennerbahn, describing the new offering.

If there is enough natural snow, Jenner will continue to be visited by ski tourers as before. In addition, freeriders using the open terrain will still be transported by the cable cars.

These include the 10-passenger gondola from the valley (630 meters) via the middle station to the mountain (1,800 meters) and the Mitterkaserbahn (detachable 6-seater chairlift: 1,530 – 1,800 meters), where the toboggan run and ski route are located.

First alternative winter 2024/25

Jennerbahn recorded an 8 percent increase in revenue in 2024/25 compared to the last alpine skiing winter in 2023/24, marking a success. The fact that this winter season was so successful, despite its short duration (December 14, 2024 to March 9, 2025), is due to significant increases in visitors for tobogganing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking.

Additionally, there were positive effects on profitability: electricity consumption decreased by 20 percent, and diesel consumption dropped by 40 percent. “Our offering, which was met with a lot of positive feedback this year, will be continued next winter,” confirms operations manager Eder, encouraged by the positive guest feedback and promising profitability.

Part of the new strategy also involves selling the Jennerwiesenbahn, which opened in 2018/19. The 6-seater chairlift, previously needed for ski operations, has been sold to the Dachstein West mountain lifts. It was dismantled in April and May 2025.

Special circumstances in retrospect

“Our ski area was small, with about twelve kilometers of slopes, but at the same time demanding. We had only 1.3 kilometers of blue (easy) slopes,“ says Jennerbahn operations manager Eder, describing the suboptimal conditions. Although families love small ski areas, they usually expect wide, gentle slopes. Meanwhile, advanced skiers often prefer larger resorts with more options.

This led to the situation at Jenner where, despite major investments in 2018 and 2019 in the new gondola and chairlifts, there was no significant increase in skier numbers.

“We started concrete considerations for a new direction in winter 2021/22, as the clearly rising demand for alternative winter sports offerings was already becoming apparent,“ says Alexander Eder, who concludes: “The success of cable car operators in the future will depend more than ever on how quickly and flexibly they can respond to existing and changing conditions.”

Long, strong summer

The summer season, which this year already began on April 10 and runs until November 9, is the economic backbone of Jennerbahn. This is also due to the high visitor numbers in the tourism hotspot Berchtesgaden/Königssee and the stunning view from the Jenner summit of the Königssee.

“Apart from the short hike to the Jenner summit, our hiking options with great views from the top station, the two via ferratas, as well as our paragliding and hang-gliding offers, are extremely popular,“ Eder concludes.