A "Riese" or timber slide

a chute-like channel

used for transporting felled timber from steep terrain, where the wood is carried downhill by gravity. In earlier times, timber slides were a significant means of transporting large quantities of wood from rugged terrain. As early as the 7th century BC during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, timber was transported using timber slides in Lebanon. Whenever possible, timber slide transport was combined with rafting and floating techniques, ideally ending directly at a watercourse.

Timber slides were a technical advancement from "driving," where logs were allowed to slide downhill, and "Loite" (also known as Luite or ground vehicle), where sliding was already improved through technical measures. With the advent of mechanized transportation, especially through modern cable systems and off-road vehicles, the significance of this form of transport for forestry diminished. Occasionally, in Europe, timber slides or ground vehicles made of steel, aluminum, or plastic are still used, which are easily deployable even in challenging terrain.