It's hard to believe that spring is slowly starting - but it's also starting in Tyrol. After the "winter break", our fingers are already itching and plastic is finally being swapped for rock again. On the first beautiful day, we went for a few wall fixes to the gallery in the Martinswand near Innsbruck and its vacation villages. Due to its south-facing location, the wall is only suitable for the heat-resistant in midsummer. It is preferable to go there in spring or fall. The tours are challenging and on average 35 meters long. The rock has a good grip and even the smallest ledge delivers what it promises! The protection is good, but not excessive.
Pietro on the Martinswand
July in "gray elephant"
The approach to the Martinswand
The approach takes about half an hour. A trail leads past the AV climbing garden and the Alpine magazine in the direction of the train tunnel. Cross a gravel gully and follow the signs. The second warm-up via the iron ladder is also completed after the approach.
The gallery on the Martinswand
There are now around 60 routes on the gallery, well secured and nice and steep. Most of the routes are in the 6th and 7th degree of difficulty. Not really suitable for beginners. But endurance training is not neglected. The rock is still sharp and compact. Great and varied climbing on ledges, water holes and huge holds promises a day of climbing that won't be boring.
We chose the Rosinante as a warm-up tour and continued with a huge 6c "Spider Schwein". A varied tour with an unusual resting place in the middle, definitely worth a try. Every tour to the topos of the Martinswand has its own peculiarities.
After our work was done, we sat down on a bench at the foot of the wall and opened a well-earned can of beer. We let our eyes wander over the Inn Valley once again. The Tyrolean Dolomites - our Kalkkögel - lay picturesquely before us in the sunset, and on our right the last multi-pitch climbers were leaving a tour.
A little tip on the side: don't drink too much beer, because the iron ladder has to be climbed down again. In this sense, have fun climbing.
