oops, i did it again!
Well, I couldn’t help myself. I had so much fun doing the via ferrata in Norway that I had to do another... and another. After a wonderful visit to Bavaria, Julien and I headed south to the Tirolean Alps in Austria in search of groups doing Klettersteige (the German word for via ferratas). We asked friends, the tourist office, and complete strangers about guided tours of the best-known climbs. But it turns out that’s not how it’s done here. Guides are hard, if not impossible, to find. Instead, there’s a culture of independent climbing. People just go for it. So that’s what I did.
The wall at Ottenalm
I started at Ottenalm, which has three Klettersteige of varying difficulties all in the same area. After tackling the first route, I was debating whether to attempt a more difficult one. I wasn’t sure if it was a great idea to go alone. As I was standing on the rock clipped in at the decision point, there happened to be a group of three climbers who were making their way up. I asked if I could join them, and they graciously said, “Of course!” One of the climbers in the group was tentative on the difficult sections and needed a lot of help. Luckily the slow pace helped me take my time and relax. It also helped me feel confident in my own climbing abilities. It took us an hour or so to summit, and it felt great! One down!
The next morning, while gearing up at a local shop, we sought the advice of a fellow climber. I told him about my experience and interests. He suggested a climb nearby called the Kitzbüheler Horn. It sounded great – right in my wheelhouse with beautiful views. I had a little difficulty finding the route. But luckily, I got to the start of the route before it was too late in the day.
The radio tower at the summit was a bit intimidating, but the hike up to the route was still a treat.
The Klettersteig was near a popular hiking trail and close to a large ski hut. So, although it was not ideal, I felt alright attempting the climb without any companions. That turned out to be very important because from start to finish, I was completely alone. I started off slow and easy, giving myself encouragement along the way. As I climbed higher, I took time between moves to enjoy the surroundings. The views were spectacular. Cows were grazing in a field below. Like something out of a storybook, the dainty jingle of their cowbells filled the valley as I made my way up the route.
The last section of the climb was the least challenging and somewhat anticlimactic. But reaching the summit and the huge radio tower at the top of the mountain felt like a big accomplishment. Julien, who had rented a mountain bike and made his way to the ski hut near the trailhead, was looking at the route when I made it to the top. Two down!
... more to go?
Summit!
Can’t beat this view.
