It is Saturday morning, 8.45 am, and we are standing at the ‘Wochenbrunner Alpine Pasture’ hiking car park. Before us, the Wilde Kaiser soars into the sky – rugged, imposing, a mountain range that has always inspired dreams and where alpine climbing history has been made time and again.
Together with the ‘Wilder Kaiser’ Tourist Board and the Climbers Paradise Tirol association, we’re spending the whole day today under the motto ‘Climbing with Respect’: we want to combine climbing with nature conservation!
We shoulder our rucksacks and set off at a leisurely pace up to theGaudeamus Hut. Along the way, biologist Siggy explains the formation and composition of the Kalkalpen – the rock from which the imposing Kaiser Mountains are made.
We realise: we are guests in this landscape. The concept of ‘Climbing with Respect’ means not just climbing, but treating nature with care and responsibility – so that future generations may also experience this beauty.
Once we’ve arrived at the practice via ferrata, the Mountain Guides Gertl and Hubi explain all the safety-related aspects to us:
Before we venture onto the ‘real’ Via Ferrata/Iron Way, we’ll have the chance to practise the new techniques on the practice Via Ferrata/Iron Way and build our confidence. We’ll then head up to the Klamml Via Ferrata/Iron Way.
For many of us, this is our first time – and now we can put our newly acquired knowledge from the practice via ferrata into practice straight away! We quickly realise how muchenergy the correct techniquesaves, and that you get much further with composure and calm.
It’s motivating that we’re not just absorbing knowledge, but putting everything into practice straight away. Sure-footedness, efficient climbing, focused walking – it’s the Mountain Guides’ little tips that make all the difference. We venture upwards, taking a deep breath every now and then, climbing on, and enjoying the view.
In the late afternoon, we return to the Starting Point. Tired, content, and full of memories. After a well-deserved snack at the Gaudeamus Hut and a cosy get-together, we bring the day to a close.
We realise that ‘Climbing with Respect’ means climbing in harmony with nature – respectfully, mindfully and with the aim of ensuring that future generations can also experience this beauty.
Find out more about the initiative: Climbing with Respect at Climbers Paradise Tirol
