Skip to content
  • Map
  • Route Finder
  • Route Planner
  • Travel Guide
  • Community
Sign up or log in
  • Map
  • Route Finder
  • Route Planner
  • Travel Guide
  • Community
Sign up
  • Places & Accommodation
    • Places to visit
    • Eat & drink
    • Huts
    • Accommodation
    • Ski resorts
    • Crags
  • News & Conditions
    • Current Conditions
    • Weather
    • Webcams
    • Avalanche Report
    • Events
  • Inspiration
    • Collections
    • Offers
    • Travel Stories
    • Publications
  • Community
    • Challenges
    • Groups
  • Settings
  • Help
  • Alpine climbing in the Alps
    Alpine climbing in the Alps Photo: Sylvain Mauroux, unsplash.com
Alpine ClimbingAlpine Climbing
more

Alpine Climbing

Over steep rock faces to the summit

You start early in the morning with your climbing partner to climb the wall. There are several pitches waiting for you. Once you reach the foot of the wall, you get dressed: climbing harness, helmet, climbing shoes, exes, carabiners, slings and chalk bags. You are ready to go. The leader starts the first pitch. You will turn over and take turns with the guide from pitch to pitch. You climb higher and higher, under your feet it gets more and more airy. After a few hours you have made it, you stand on the summit having made the great ascent, the great panorama of the surrounding mountains is truly spectacular.

The best regions

Tyrol
Dolomites
Allgäu
Germany
Valais
Oberallgäu
Bavaria
Stubaital
Austria
Allgäu Alps
Switzerland
Vorarlberg
Graubuenden
Region Wilder Kaiser

What is alpine climbing?

In contrast to sport climbing, the aim of alpine climbing is to climb an entire wall over several ropes and, at best, to stand on a mountain peak at the end. As a rule, you climb with your rope partner from belaystation to belaystation with two double ropes.

In a two-man team, the lead climber climbs the first pitch to the belaystation, which is either already there or has to be set up. After setting up the belaystation, the lead climber belays the second climber during the ascent. The second climber then unhooks the individual intermediate belays. Once the second climber has reached the belay station, a change of lead takes place. If one of the rope partners is inexperienced or weaker, a climber can also take the lead the whole way.

  • Setting up alpine anchors
  • Climbing topos
  • Climbing protection – bolts, trad climbing gear, slings, quickdraws and belay devices

Trust is crucial

In alpine climbing, trust in your rope partner plays an important role, because you must be able to rely on him or her at all times. When the trust is there after a few tours together, you will quickly notice how safely and swift you can climb through walls.

In addition to confidence, you will also get moral support from your rope partner. For example, if you get stuck on a difficult pitch, motivating words can suddenly help you to get through.


Climbing in the mountains

In order to reach the summit on some mountain tours, climbers sometimes have to conquer a rock face. The mountains offer both easier climbing tours and challenges for experienced professionals.

With alpine climbing, good preparation is a must and there are also a few things to keep in mind during the tour. Once you have conquered the rock face, the view is usually exceptionally beautiful. As with almost every outdoor sport, during alpine climbing you will be greatly rewarded by the impressive nature.

Dolomites
Recommended story Between giants and dwarfs: a climbing trip in the Dolomites
Alps
Recommended story Stefan Stadler: A head for heights and sure-footedness - climbing the needles of the world

This is what you should bear in mind when alpine climbing

Alpine climbing, like many other outdoor sports, is associated with certain dangers. In the mountains, the weather can change quickly and there is also the risk of falling rocks. To ensure that alpine climbing is fun, it is also advisable to climb one or two levels of difficulty below the actual level. After all, the climb to the wall that has to be mastered beforehand, as well as the various challenges in the terrain, should not be underestimated.

In addition, you should start your tour in good time and allow enough time for your descent. Alpine climbing is often trad climbing, so you belay yourself with mobile belay devices. It is therefore better to use one belay more than too few during the climb.

Dangers in alpine climbing
Difficulty scales for climbing

Alpine climbing with the features of Outdooractive

Outdooractive provides you with all the important functions you need for your climbing tour. Whether you are looking for inspiration, planning your adventure or are already on site, Outdooractive's many features will help you find exactly what you need.

The Outdooractive map is always up to date and contains all the important information about the terrain, trail conditions and altitude. The BuddyBeacon function, which allows you to share your location with friends and family in real time and thus be found quickly in the event of an emergency, provides additional safety when out and about.

  • Features
  • Maps
  • Routes

Offers and discounts from our partners

Benefit from exclusive offers from our partners

As a Pro and Pro+ member not only do you have access to additional features and the best maps at your disposal, but you can also benefit from exclusive offers from our partners, ensuring you are always fully equipped for the outdoors!

Explore all benefits and discounts

Reviews

  515
Über die Reindlkante aufs Laberköpfl (1411 m) by Wolfram
Yesterday · alpenvereinaktiv.com
More Show less
Route done on May 12, 2024
Comment
Homo Marxuquerensis V+ by Julian
April 26, 2024 · Community
Route done on January 05, 2024
Comment
Monte Baone south ridge - Via del 92° Congresso by Christian
April 18, 2024 · Outdooractive Editors
More Show less
Route done on June 19, 2021
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Die technische Crux: Ohne Zuhilfenahme der Fix-Schlinge eine abdrängender 3er
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Der luftige Quergang hoch über den Dächern von Arco
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Schöne Abendstimmung am Gipfel mit Blick auf den Gardasee
Photo: Christian Reiser, Outdooractive Editors
Comment
Show more Show less

Challenges

Moving Time 2024 - 200 hours
2,744 signed up · 7 months to go
Mountaineering 2024 – 50,000 m
581 signed up · 7 months to go
Mountaineering 2024 – 10,000 m
1,303 signed up · 7 months to go
More
THE way to start your next outdoor experience!
Sign up now
Travel Guide Mountaineering Alpine climbing routes
App Store
Google Play Store
Huawei App Gallery
  • Our services
    • Features
    • Pro and Pro+
    • Pro for Search & Rescue
    • Enjoy benefits and discounts from our partners
    • Vouchers
    • B2B
  • More services
    • Help Center
    • Blog (German only)
    • Shop
    • Newsletter
    • Affiliate Program
    • Contact Us
  • Corporate
    • Discover Outdooractive
    • Outdooractive30
    • Careers
    • Outdooractive Business
Learn more about the apps for Android and iOS
1% for the Planet Digitize the Planet
Choose a language
English
  • Deutsch
  • italiano
  • français
  • español
  • עברית
  • 中文
  • română
  • português (Portugal)
  • português (Brasil)
  • čeština
  • suomi
  • русский
  • magyar
  • norsk bokmål
  • slovenčina
  • Nederlands
  • 日本語
  • українська
  • हिन्दी
  • Türkçe
  • Ελληνικά
  • Mobile version
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cancellation policy
  • Customer information
  • Terms of payment
  • Map information
  • Legal Disclosure