After a few difficult attempts, there is finally some real success news from the Olympiaregion Seefeld. After 2 arduous years, we have finally found a suitable location for a family-friendly climbing area in Leutasch.
The new climbing area "Flämenwandl" was created directly in Puitbach, 5 minutes' walk away and perfectly located on the banks of the Leutascher Ache. The name comes from the Belgian drilling team that helped us develop the area during a drilling training course.
After some preparatory work by Patrick and myself, the starting signal for the Alpine Club Academy Austria's drilling course was given on Friday morning. This year, 10 Belgians took part in the course, which covered current safety standards and general information on opening and renovating climbing crags. The participants were accommodated at the Hämmermoosalm, where the drilling enthusiasts enjoyed typical Tyrolean cuisine and rounded off the evening with a cool wheat beer. The drilling course was the perfect opportunity to open up a new climbing garden and teach course content at the same time. Gerhard Schaar accompanied the course and, thanks to his in-depth drilling experience, provided the participants with a great deal of input in the areas of climbing crag construction and renovation.
A total of 12 completed routes up to difficulty level 6b were created. A further 8 routes were completed over the next few weeks. At the opening, which is being organized in collaboration with the Telfs climbing hall, numerous toprope routes will be set up and interested climbing novices will be given the opportunity to get a taste of climbing.
An important foundation stone has now been laid to further establish climbing on the Seefeld plateau and to demonstrate the benefits for tourism and as a local recreation area for locals. We are pleased that things are finally moving forward after many discussions and that there is now a very good basis for discussion with Deputy Mayor Chrysochoidis and the hunting tenants in Leutasch.
During the drilling work, we also came into contact with representatives of all interest groups - hunters, locals, politicians and journalists - and had the opportunity to have a good exchange of views on the subject of climbing. The possibility of installing a via ferrata towards the Ahrnspitzen was discussed in detail on this occasion and concrete measures have already been taken. It seems as if all parties are really pulling together this time. Let's see what the future holds! In any case, we'll keep you up to date.
