E-bikes and alpine climbing go together like honey on buttered bread. Why go far when you can ride? An experience report from the tamer side of the Wilder Kaiser.
Of course, we don't want to give away a single meter of altitude. Everything that can be done with the electric motor will be done, if it can be done, then it will be done. So we take on the last few meters, pedal on, bumpy at the end. But then we arrive, stand under the rustic Wegscheid-Hochalm and park our bikes.
Comfortably up to the alp, thanks to the motor. Photo: Simon Schöpf
We set off down in Scheffau on our e-bikes, first passing the baroque village church, quaint farms and then the Jägerwirt. We plunged into a beautiful, shady forest and rode through the Wegscheidbach stream, splashing happily, on to the alpine pasture of the same name. And the whole thing, important detail, without sweating excessively. That's what today's climbers do, because harnesses, ropes and patches are no longer enough. To be able to have a say, you need a bike. And ideally one with a motor, because you're not stupid and want to save your energy for the wall. And thighs like tree trunks, that may be something for trail runners and ski mountaineers, but today's climbers save weight in the form of muscle mass and that's also why they use a motor.
A new form of climbing
E-bike & climb is now a thing, and climbers-paradise.com even has a dedicated landing page for it. It's an ideal combination, a fun way to master long, arduous ascents and, above all, descents. We continue, from the alpine pasture with honest muscle work, up towards the rock. In an honest 30 minutes we will already be at the foot of the wall.
The last few meters to the wall lead over a scree field. Photo: Simon Schöpf
Our goal is the Multerkarwand on the Treffauer in the Westkaiser. Admittedly, compared to the big names such as the Mauk, the Fleischbankpfeiler or the Totenkirchl Westwand, the Multerkarwand is ... well, a bit of a no-name. But today we don't want to repeat the heroic routes of Buhl, Dülfer & Co, we just want to have a nice climb. On beautiful slabs, water-eroded grooves, good holds. And on solid bolts - which you usually look for in vain on the classic routes in the Kaiser.
And that is precisely the wonderful thing about the wonderland of the Wilder Kaiser: everything is there, for every taste and every ability level. Today, we choose the predicate Plaisir, the pleasure, and warm up on the fantastic water grooves in the Multerkarwand climbing garden. We still have to clean the first few meters, the avalanches have left a bit of grass and stones on the rock over the winter. So we climb the "Putzteufel" (7-), followed by technical climbing at its best, as well as the "God und Gede" (7/7+).
Once your fingers are warm, you can also head straight for one of the short multi-pitch routes, such as "Das letzte Einhorn" (7/7+) or "Schee & Schwaar" (7/A0). You know what you're getting, nomen est omen. The imposing walls of the Kopfkraxen and the Sonneck, which are not that far from here, are always in the background. Great destinations for long days out.
Plaisier multi-pitch fun in the "Letzten Einhorn". Photo: Simon Schöpf
It's better to roll than to hack
We simply climb for as long as we feel like it and then abseil back down to the base of the wall. Treat ourselves to a snack and let our gaze wander over the entire valley, from the Großvenediger to the Tux Alps. We see the little village church at the bottom and know that we don't have to go all the way down: We don't have to hike all the way down, we can roll.
Put your feet up comfortably: at the Kaiseralm after the work is done. Photo: Simon Schöpf
And the way back doesn't necessarily have to be the same, because back at the bikes there is still a little time left in the day and we decide to cycle over to the rustic Kaiseralm. We probably wouldn't have done it on foot after all those pitches. But a Brettljause snack, Grammlschmalz bread and - of course - a bike beer make the day even better than it already is. And because the sun is still shining and the detour is not too long, we even decide to take a detour to Lake Hinterstein, which is almost on the way. As our battered feet cool off in the cool water of the mountain lake, we think to ourselves: "Hooray for the e-bike! How could we ever go without climbing?
Rolling out at Hintersteiner See lake. Photo: Simon Schöpf
Info: E-Bike & Climb at Treffauer, Wilder Kaiser The beautiful water grooves in the Multerkarwand climbing garden are a great way to get a feel for the larger Kaiser walls. Also possible as a half-day activity with an e-bike, sun from around midday on the wall. Wearing a helmet is also recommended in the climbing garden, as there are often chamois on the routes. The multi-pitch routes are also very well secured with bolts and equipped for abseiling (double rope). Routes & topos here Approach: From Scheffau (public parking lot not far from the church) via Gasthaus Jägerwirt to the end of the forest path below Wegscheid-Hochalm. From here continue on foot, finally over a steep gravel field to the foot of the wall (approx. 30 min). Detailed description & GPX track here.
