How a spontaneous idea and 5,000 euros turned into a climbing paradise for the whole of Tirol – the story of Mike Gabl, the long-standing technical director of Climbers Paradise.
The idea for Climbers Paradise came about through a happy coincidence. Peter Thaler, who was then managing director of the regional association, approached his friend Mike Gabl with an unusual question: “We’ve got 5,000 euros to spare – what could we do with it to promote climbing?”
For Gabl, the answer was clear: to make Rock Climbing Areas safer and create new opportunities for the sport. The flagship project in the Ötztal valley ultimately convinced several tourism associations of the added value of Climbers Paradise.
“That was the starting point for Climbers Paradise. At first, people just laughed at Peter and me – but once the first professional Rock Climbing Areas were created, everyone’s interest was piqued.” – Mike Gabl
Mike Gabl – a teacher at Imst Sports Secondary School and a Mountain Guide – was not only the man behind the idea, but also the driving force behind its implementation. Supporting children and families was particularly close to his heart: he wanted to create places where children could try out their first routes as safely as possible. Today, there are 44 family friendly Rock Climbing Areas throughout Tirol.
The origin of the name ‘Climbers Paradise’ is partly linked to the original logo – Adam and Eve, clad only in climbing harnesses. Whilst the logo didn’t catch on, the idea behind it certainly did: from the very beginning, the focus was on safety in Tirol’s Rock Climbing Areas.
As a teacher and coach at the secondary sports school in Imst, he laid the foundations early on for promoting climbing not only as a sport, but also as an educational pathway. He took school classes to the Rock Climbing Area five times a week. Another milestone was the refurbishment of old Rock Climbing Areas to the highest safety standards: in the soft limestone, he consistently used M12 bolts instead of M10 – safety comes before cost.
Climbing competitions for children were initially paid for out of his own pocket. “It was chaotic, but that passion is what made Climbers Paradise great.” There were also some humorous moments: a stubborn farmer blocked a climbing garden project with his dog and sheer determination – setbacks like this never stopped Gabl from carrying on.
After more than 20 years of dedicated work, Mike Gabl is retiring – yet his influence remains palpable. The Climbers Paradise website, now one of the largest platforms for climbers in Europe, is a testament to his dedication. In his retirement, he intends to continue devoting himself to the sport of climbing and designing new leisure routes.
Here at Climbers Paradise Tirol, we are delighted to have found two specialists who will carry Mike’s vision forward: the Mountain Guides Andreas Nothdurfter and Christoph Schranz. Welcome to the team!
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