Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Adventure & Water Sports
Rock Climbing & Via Ferrate
Synonymous with mountaineering legends like Peter Habeler and South Tyrolean Rein-
hold Messner, Austria is a summertime paradise for ardent
Kletterer
(rock climbers). In
the Alps there's a multitude of climbs ranking all grades of difficulty. Equipment rental
(around €10) and guided tours are widely available.
If you are not quite ready to tackle the three-thousanders yet, nearly every major resort
in the Austrian Alps now has a
Klettersteig
(via ferrata). These fixed-rope routes, often in-
volving vertical ladders, ziplines and bridges, are great for getting a feel for climbing; all
you'll need is a harness, helmet and a head for heights.
Resources
Bergsteigen
(
www.bergsteigen.at
) Search by region or difficulty for climbing routes, via ferrate and ice-climbing walls.
ÖAV
(
www.alpenverein.at
)
Rock Climbing
(
www.rockclimbing.com
) Rock Climbing gives details on more than 1000 climbing tours in Austria,
many with climbing grades and photos.
Regions
For serious mountaineers, the ascent of Grossglockner (3798m), Austria's highest peak, is
the climb of a lifetime. Professional guides can take you up into the wild heights of the
Hohe Tauern National Park (
Click here
)
, a veritable climbing nirvana.
Sheer granite cliffs, bizarre rock formations and boulders make the Zillertal Alps (
Click
Other climbing magnets include Pelstein in Lower Austria, the limestone peaks of the
Dachstein and the Tennengebirge in Salzburgerland.
