Hirschwände bouldering in Austria

Florian Wenter introduces the bouldering at Hirschwände south of Vienna in Austria.

There are also some great bouldering areas in the region around Vienna in the Eastern corner of the Alps. In fact, over 500 boulder problems can be reached in less than 1 hour south of the capital and these are all located within the typical Viennese landscape with its mix of rolling countryside with beautiful deciduous woodlands.

One of these bouldering areas is called Hirschwände. From Pernitz the towers of the climbing area Hirschw√§nde can be seen, as well as Hausstein on the other side and the small Myraf√§lle canyon. In 1998 the brothers Gerald and Michael Poharez discovered the boulders and started to develop the whole area of Hirschwände and Hausstein. In the two caves on the Hirschwand one usually climbs on coarse rock. The boulders consist of smooth limestone with ledges, pockets and slopers. The area is almost always above the usual fog which invades the plain in winter and, it the weather is nice enough, even the upper cave is suitable for some winter bouldering.

TOPO: Hirschwände, Austria