Looking for a new climbing area? The Rote Wand above Karres, a small village just a few minutes from Imst, attracts climbers with the best slab limestone. The elongated rock bar has been awakened from its slumber by the Tyrolean climbing community "Climbers Paradise" in recent years. The result is a real climbing paradise with 7 sectors and 134 routes. Edges, ledges, spikes and dents characterize the slab limestone and are just waiting to be discovered and conquered by fans of steep wall climbing.
Climbing idyll and cultural landscape
The Rote Wand towers above the small community of Karres, just 10 minutes from the small town of Imst. The elongated rocky outcrop is beautifully embedded in a steep mountain forest and offers fantastic views of the striking peaks of the Tyrolean Oberland, which are covered in snow well into the summer. The drive to the area leads right through the village along a steep, narrow road. Once you reach the top, you are surprised by a large parking lot. Accordingly, the first exhale and no "I hope we're allowed to park here", just arrive and park - free of charge. The way into the area leads along a steep, well-trodden path through mighty avalanche barriers. On the way up, crickets accompany you in summer with their beguiling chirping, sheep bleat, from somewhere you can hear the finest cowbell jazz, the birds happily sing about the day, life and their terrain - the A 12 highway and its traffic noise have been swallowed up by the Roppen tunnel, above which the climbing area virtually extends. Climbing idyll in the Tyrolean cultural landscape spreads - and the anticipation of a cozy climbing day, including tingling in the fingers.
From fairytale forest to panorama - 7 sectors, 134 routes
After a good 10 minutes' approach: rock! Gray slab limestone in the Rote Wand. The structure provides information about the climbing: edges, spikes, dents, ledges - some obvious, some hidden. Good footing is an advantage if the next hold is not immediately obvious but needs to be found. The climbing is varied, the routes are surprisingly different, each has its own character and therefore always offers new challenges.
Climbing on the Rote Wand
In the first sector, "Märchenwald", climbers are immediately greeted with a potpourri of routes of (almost) all levels of difficulty that the Rote Wand has to offer. From 3c to 6c+ (French difficulty scale), everything is on offer. The lion's share of the 36 routes in the "fairytale forest" is in the 6a/6b range. Depending on your mood and climbing requirements, routes such as "Frau Holle", "Hans im Glück" or "Schwarze Katze" are waiting to be climbed.
If you prefer to hike a little further, simply climb further up - there are truly a fabulous number of climbing routes - bolts flash and blink all over the wall. The 6 other sectors: Tirol, El Condor, Goldfinger, Alpine, Versteckt and Panorama await rock-hungry climbers with almost 100 more routes.
All topos at www.climbers-paradise.com.
365 days of climbing fun
The Rote Wand is south-facing and lies at just under 1000 meters. Gnarled pine trees provide shade for a snack break with a panoramic view. On very hot summer days, the Rote Wand is only for heat junkies; everyone else uses the cool morning hours and dashes off towards the cool water from midday. Otherwise, you can climb on the Rote Wand all year round - thanks to its orientation, the rock dries quickly after rain and is quickly free of snow in winter.
The view into the Pitztal from the Rote Wand in the Imst vacation region
The mighty rock bar is a great "playground" for climbers who feel at home in the seventh to lower eighth degree of difficulty and love technical wall climbing.
Pack plenty of quickdraws and a long rope, the routes are up to 33 meters long.
Everything - except climbing
The Imst vacation region and the Rote Wand climbing area are perfect for a weekend or longer. The sectors and number of routes offer many days of climbing fun. And afterwards? The restaurants between Imst and Haiming tempt you to stop off and recharge your batteries with delicious Tyrolean delicacies.
For all those who prefer a balancing sport after climbing: the Imst vacation region is an outdoor sports stronghold par excellence. In some places, climbing helmets can be swapped for cycling helmets directly from the climbing park in Karres. Recommended: A mountain bike tour to Karrösten and on to the Karröster Alm. The view of the Gurgltal valley from here is unique.
On hot summer days, biking and swimming is the motto on a bike tour to Lake Piburger See/entrance to Ötztal. The natural bathing lake with its sparkling green water is a real feast for the eyes and attracts visitors with water temperatures of up to 24 degrees in summer.
Road bike fans get their money's worth both on the flat and in the mountains: uphill, the Ötztal, including the legendary Timmelsjoch, will make your thighs burn.
Water sports enthusiasts can book a guided rafting tour on the Inn or Ötztal Ache or go kayaking in the wild waters.
Area 47, on the 47th parallel, right at the entrance to Ötztal, offers the largest wakeboard facility in western Austria and all kinds of other water fun.
And if it rains, you can either head to the climbing hall in Imst, where climbing pros such as Angela Eiter climb their routes, to the bouldering hall in Karrösten or to the brand new Steinblock bouldering hall.
Further information about the fountain town of Imst and the vacation region with its villages: Imst, Imsterberg, Karres, Karrösten, Mils, Nassereith, Roppen, Schönwies and Tarrenz can be found at: www.imst.at
