Climbing in the Bürs Gorge

Until now, I had only seen the Bürs Gorge on hikes - a natural wonder that impresses with its steep walls and rushing stream. But now it was time to go up high: I had heard that the gorge hides a remarkable climbing garden. I was already familiar with the "Bürser Platten" climbing garden, not least because of the spectacular achievements of Beat Kammerlander and Babsi Zangerl on the "Prinzip Hoffnung" route. However, these smooth slabs are beyond my skill level - but inside, in the gorge, there should also be routes for us mere mortals.

After several climbing courses, my girlfriend and I are well equipped for the rope-length adventure. The region's climbing guidebook, our new best friend, promises exciting routes and detailed descriptions.

The very first view of the gorge is overwhelming: these mighty walls to the left and right and in between the stream that meanders through the landscape like a silver ribbon. Wow! The climbing walls await us on the left side, "into the gorge". The approach is a little adventurous, but that's what makes it so appealing - not for the faint-hearted, but definitely worth it.

Here we climb on conglomerate rock. The name sounds impressive, but what's behind it? Conglomerate is a mix of different types of rock - as if someone had taken clay and pressed a handful of stones into it. It is sometimes a bit of a challenge for climbing, as you might think the stones are about to break off. But don't worry, the rock is surprisingly firm and offers a secure hold.

Once at the top, exciting routes await us with exciting names such as "Jugendtraum", "Kümmerling" or "Hoffnung rechts" and "Hoffnung links" - a tongue-in-cheek homage to the famous "Prinzip Hoffnung".

In the 1980s, legends such as Beat Kammerlander, Marco Wasina and Heli Bertel drilled their first routes here - initially in secret, later with grand plans for development. And today? Today, we are the ones following these tracks.

A small step to the left, a bigger one to the right, fingers on a ledge - and bang, the Exe is clipped! That's how I love it! Relieved, proud and a little sweaty, I let my friend abseil me down again. But the next route is already calling. What a day climbing in the Bürs gorge!