Athletic Challenge on Vacation: Ice Climbing in Tyrol

As soon as the temperatures allow it and the waterfalls freeze, the ice climbers immerse themselves again in their world of frozen water and snow, with routes available in a total of twelve regions in Tyrol.

A perfect area for ambitious ice climbers and professionals is located right next to the Mittelbergbahn at the Pitztaler Glacier, which can be easily reached with the Gletscherexpress. Here, there is a 2700 meter high glacier ice cave that offers something for all difficulty levels: easy routes at the edge, but also strongly overhanging cliffs for advanced climbers.

But the Ötztal also attracts numerous climbers to Tyrol, where many frozen waterfalls are waiting to be climbed. Very popular here is especially night climbing in Längenfeld, which takes place once a week at the natural waterfall "Alte Burgsteinerstraße". A special experience is also the ice climbing park at the Sportberg Gaisberg in Kirchberg, which with a height of 20 meters is one of the largest artificial ice climbing towers in Europe. Here, two-hour trial courses are also held every Friday, where you will be introduced to ice climbing techniques by professionals and mountain guides.

In terms of safety, it is highly recommended to always inform yourself about the current conditions for ice climbing. For the first attempts, a trained mountain guide should also be booked, and appropriate climbing equipment is essential. It is also important to properly place the ice tool. For this, the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and the head of the ice tool should form a line. This is then swung forward and must hit the ice vertically. Furthermore, it is also necessary to shift as much weight as possible onto the legs. Just like in rock climbing, unevenness or protrusions are also sought in ice climbing, so that the crampons can be placed with minimal effort.

the parallel or triangle technique. In the former technique, both ice tools are placed at the same height and one moves on with both legs. In the triangle technique, the ice tools are alternately placed higher, with the tool being placed above the head. It is best to practice placing the tools near the ground at first, as the strike must be very precise, otherwise there is a risk of hitting your own rope. If the ice is very brittle, hollow blows are recommended, as they cause less damage to the ice.