With a good 3,000 routes across all Levels of Difficulty, the biggest challenge is probably deciding which one to choose.
Of course, this is almost impossible for us too – but we’d still like to offer a little guidance here. One thing, however, can be said right from the start: in the Imst outdoor region, anyone who loves feeling rock beneath their fingertips will be in their element.
Text: Simon Schöpf
‘Gem’ is a pretty apt description of the Reithle. The area is tucked away in the dense forest below the Untermarkter Alpine Pasture, with conglomerate boulders standing a good 15 metres high. Whether you’re hanging out on one of the more than 60 sport climbing routes or simply doing a few bouldering traverses – anything goes here.
The area is also well suited to families with children thanks to the easy access at the foot of the cliffs. You’re best off visiting when the weather is warm, though: you don’t see much sun here.
Although Nassereith is a fair distance from Imst, it is still part of the holiday region. Here, particularly in 2007, a great deal of work was done with the drill bit, and the cliffs towering above the village were extensively developed. The protection is correspondingly good – you’re now even greeted on the outskirts of the village by a sign reading ‘Nassereith – a climbers’ and mountaineers’ village’.
There are well over 100 routes to choose from, ranging from very easy grade 4 routes right up to gruelling 35-metre endurance climbs in the higher Levels of Difficulty. The cliffs face south: autumn – and often even a sunny winter’s day – promise ideal conditions.
With one exception: the Götterwandl. This shady, steeply overhanging wall is home to the Adonis deities – routes up to Level of Difficulty 9a+ can be ‘worshipped’ here. Good heavens!
A Rock Climbing Area with a high-mountain feel in the heart of the Lechtal Alps: the Hahntennjoch leads from Imst into the Lechtal valley. Right at the top of the pass, at just over 2,000 metres above sea level, lies this fantastic, south-facing Rock Climbing Area – accessible in just 30 minutes – set in rock as solid as a rock.
And for those who like a real challenge, there’s also the inviting ‘Psychowandl’ below the road, featuring mainly difficult routes: even at the exposed base of the wall, you’ll need strong nerves here.
The Muttekopfhütte is something of an ‘advanced base camp’ for Imst’s vertical enthusiasts – a picture-perfect climbing area. Situated at just under 2,000 metres, this Alpinist Association Mountain Lodge offers pretty much everything you need for happy days on the rock in the immediate vicinity.
“The climbing up here has something for everyone. Whether it’s sport climbing, Multi-Pitch Climbing or Via Ferrata/Iron Way – the Imster ‘rock kitchen’ serves up a varied buffet here,” says Imster climbing world champion Angy Eiter, herself a frequent guest at the Mountain Lodge/Hut. And the buffet at the Mountain Lodge/Hut itself is also varied: if you want to climb well, you need to eat well – the cuisine is renowned far beyond the Lechtal Alps.
Once everyone’s had a bite to eat, we’re ready to go:
If you’re simply overwhelmed by the choices around the Mountain Lodge/Hut, here are two tips: firstly, get hold of Alfred Flür’s climbing guide for the Muttekopf area (available at the Mountain Lodge/Hut), and secondly, simply stay up there for a few days.
After so much alpine flair, it’s good to come back down to earth: in the wider Imst area, you can also stay close to the ground and comfortably set up your crash pad. Either at the aforementioned Reithle or below the Untermarkter Alpine Pasture, where numerous boulders in rugged high-mountain limestone have been developed in recent years.
If you opt for the Uphill Facilities, you can even take a leisurely walk downhill to the bouldering problems.
Tips & Safety
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