Whether ascending a rock face high up in the mountains, strutting your stuff in one of the many challenging climbing halls of the region, scaling the dizzy heights of a frozen waterfall in winter or training in a hall, SalzburgerLand is a true climbing paradise, unbeatable in its rich variety. Furthermore, the activity of climbing has exploded in popularity in the region in recent years.
Via ferrata or bare rock face, climbing hall or bouldering, ice climbing or a winter break? Strictly speaking, climbing cannot be defined as one single sport as there’s an abundance of different variations to suit all tastes. Of course, you may have ambitions to conquer the north faces of the Alps but if you’re a beginner you should set your sights a little lower.
Ice climbing
As soon as winter sets in and freezes SalzburgerLand’s waterfalls with its ice-cold temperatures, causing majestic icicles to form, the crampons are strapped on and the ice picks flourished. The search for new challenges in winter drives many climbing aficionados to try their hand at ice climbing: scaling frozen waterfalls and oversized icicles on chosen routes. Strongholds for this sport are the Kolm Saigurn Ice Arena, Kruml Falls, the Bodenhaus waterfall, Frohn waterfall in the Rauris Valley, the Grünsee waterfalls in Uttendorf/Weisssee and the Sigmund-Thun Gorge in Kaprun.
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Weissbach bei Lofer, Saalachtal. The next Ice Age is certain to arrive. At minus 13° C, Mother Nature reveals her full beauty. The experienced ice climber knows that every step, every ice screw must be anchored perfectly in the icefall.
Scaling the rock face
Climbing surely belongs to one of the best things that you can do in the mountains. Wrapping your fingers around a bare rock face, you look to great heights and think your next steps through carefully. Absolute silence surrounds you broken only by the gentle hum of insects and chirping of birds. You slowly start moving, your arms and hands showing you the way as you take off. Completely reliant on yourself and your climbing companions, there’s scarcely any other sport that allows you to be so at one with yourself. However, it pays to watch out. As beautiful as the surrounding scenery may be, you should always be on the lookout for dangers that come alongside climbing. You should always be attentive to your own moves and that of your partner. Overestimation and overconfidence have no place at all on the mountain. If in doubt, always climb with an experienced mountain guide and never stray from the predetermined climbing routes.
Via Ferrate
In recent times many more via ferrate have been developed, meaning that you can now climb throughout the entire region on designated routes over rock and mountain faces. It goes without saying that there are also dangers associated with this, and you should never overestimate your abilities. Always keep a firm grip of the rope and keep attached to the equipment. Beginners should climb under the instruction of an experienced guide who will show you the ropes (no pun intended!).
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Spectacular. At a total length of 240 m, this via ferrata, sometimes extremely exposed, leads climbers over horizontal strata of slate. After clambering up 140 vertical meters, you are rewarded by phenomenal views of Hohe Tauern National Park. Not for those with vertigo!
Sport climbing
Scale rock faces with one climbing rope and with the maximum climb of up to 30 metres. Secured from the ground, this variant is ideal for beginners and those climbers who want to improve and train in a relatively secure environment.
Climbing halls
Whoever thinks that climbing on artificial walls is no fun and just for winter is completely mistaken. Traverse paths that are not to be found in nature, push yourself to your very limits, or just take it easy, again secured from below. The popularity of climbing halls just keeps growing and growing.
Bouldering
Bouldering is climbing without a rope either in halls or on boulders. You will always find yourself at a jumping height. The challenge doesn’t involve getting as high as you can, but rather developing your own technique. Climbing halls often have entire bouldering areas.
Climber’s paradise in the Steinberge Mountain Sport Region
Even if there are countless opportunities to pursue all forms of climbing in SalzburgerLand’s mountains, there are two regions that deserve a special mention. Salzburger Saalachtal and Saalfelden in the Steinberge mountain region are true all-rounders in mountain sports, famous and legendary on the climbing scene. Numerous via ferratas, bouldering walls, climbing halls, and well-trained instructors in the climbing schools ensure that there is much variety and fun to be had at all levels. Expect everything from slackline and children’s practice climbing rocks to magnificent climbing routes graded at 11 on the international scale.
Something for everybody
The region is a “climber’s paradise” and part of Austria’s largest climbing portal with the same name. And there’s a reason for this. Here everybody will find exactly the right adventure at the right level for them on the sheer rock face. A glance at just a few of the impressive figures that will tell you just how extraordinary this region is: 10 diverse via ferratas, more than 1,000 sports climbing routes, 8 climbing gardens, 64 multi-rope routes, 9 climbing halls, and 2 family climbing gardens. Particularly experienced climbers can even face the challenge of the “Pinzgawurm”, one of the largest Alpine sport climbing routes with its 45 pitches.
Children’s Climbing in Weissbach bei Lofer
Take small steps to reach the goal: the same is also true of climbing. It’s especially important that children don’t overdo it when they start out with the sport. In the beginning it’s all about mastering the basics and core skills. Weißbach bei Lofer is the ideal place to do this. This is where climbers, from novices to pros, pursue their passions and scale the walls, with special attention given to the youngest “rock-jocks”. Trained guides put them at ease, demonstrate how proper abseiling works, and teach the kids in a playful manner how to behave in the Alpine arena. There’s one thing that we can safely say at this point: there’s no cure for those who are bitten by the climbing bug.
