What was missing from the Imst outdoor region, apart from all the sport climbing routes and alpine highlights? Exactly: a bouldering area. In the summer of 2018, the team from the Steinblock bouldering centre in Imst worked hard to clean boulders in Hoch-Imst and develop a new bouldering area at an altitude of 1,400 metres.
Back then, the Football World Cup was kicking off in Moscow, whilst a bouldering area was opening in Imst. We opted for the opening with the most rock and the fewest people – and were there in the Imst outdoor region.
Text: Simon Schöpf
“The Imst mountains are better known for more alpine activities,” says Guntram Jörg from the Steinblock bouldering centre in Imst. “Up until now, people always had to head to the Ötztal or the Pitztal for bouldering.” But as Imst also has top-quality boulders practically on our doorstep, the next step was obvious: “Pack a wire brush, a bouldering brush and some keen friends, give them a clean, and off we go bouldering!”
People have been bouldering in Imst for quite some time now, over in Reithle – but there it’s mainly on walls. “In Hoch-Imst we have freestanding boulders, and that’s naturally more appealing to boulderers,” explains Guntram.
Even the journey there is a leisurely one: from Hoch-Imst, take the Imster Bergbahn up to the Untermarkter Alm, the middle station at 1,491 metres. From there, it takes about 10 minutes to carry the crash pads down a forest track to the boulders. Without the lift, access from Hoch-Imst takes about 25 minutes.
The boulders, made of the finest high-mountain limestone, are somewhat hidden away in a mushroom-filled forest, nestled amongst ferns, larch and pine trees. To find the best mushrooms, however, you often have to compete with the Tyrolean Grey cattle, which watch you with obvious bewilderment as you pull onto the first holds.
The result is a small but excellent area with plenty of easier problems – though anyone wanting to climb ‘Straight to Monaco’ will need to be capable of 8a. The altitude of 1,400 metres ensures pleasant temperatures even in summer. The rock features good edges, pockets and even cracks. Only fans of the Fontainebleau mantle will be disappointed: the water grooves at the exits almost always provide a brilliant hold as the final grip.
Tip: If you’ve still got energy left after bouldering, take the Alpine Coaster from the top station back down into the valley – one of the longest summer toboggan runs in the world.
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