Rock Climbing In Switzerland: Experience An Adventurous Paradise
Located gorgeously in the heart of the Alps, Switzerland is a beautiful mountainous country in Central Europe with several peaks over 4,000m. What makes it an amazing tourist destination contains a long list of things which includes climbing the Swiss Alps. Almost every adventurer’s ultimate bucket list features rock climbing in Switzerland. Why?
In addition to high mountains and stunning landscapes, Switzerland is extremely popular among adventurers for its rock climbing trips. In fact, the country has some of the best climbing regions in entire Europe. These outdoor rock climbing trips let you embark on a journey where you breathe fresh air and enjoy breathtaking views.
Although Switzerland has many small and big mountain climbing sites, it has three distinct climbing areas that grab the special attention of mountaineers. They are Eastern Swiss Alps, Western Swiss Alps, and the Jura mountains in the North.
Eastern Swiss Alps
This is a Swiss area that is usually referred to as the heart of Swiss Alps. It is because the region features numbers of climbing routes that could be as long as 400m. These are bolted single pitch and multi-pitch climbing trails that have different kinds of rocks, including limestone, granite, and gneiss. Here, you could also find some traditional routes where you require cams and nuts. Apart from these routes, there are some boulder areas.
Western Swiss Alps
Similar to Easter-side Alps, this region is also a popular rock climbing region. If you want to go for rock climbing in an area featuring the largest rock climbing routes in Switzerland, then reach Western Swiss Alps. From Interlaken to popular mountains of Eiger and Jungfrau, there are rock climbing areas in the region which are capable of gratifying the adventurer within you. It has many bolted single pitch and multi-pitch climbing routes that are 100’s of meters long. In the case you want bouldering fun in the area, then head towards Kandersteg as it has multiple areas that include the largest bouldering place.
North’s Jura Mountains
Although it’s a small mountain range situated in the north of the county, it has plenty of rock climbing regions to get a glimpse of the region’s scenic beauty while enjoying the climbing on limestone rock. Most of the routes in the region are bolted. This makes them some of the safest climbing routes in the country. As the climbing areas of the Jura Mountains are in a lower altitude region, you can enjoy rock climbing here in almost all seasons of the year.
Prepare For Rock Climbing
Rock climbing in Switzerland is fun and adventurous. The country is arguably a paradise for climbers. Whether someone is a beginner or an experienced individual in rock climbing, there are several things that a person needs to learn or remember before embarking on an outdoor climbing tour in the European country. It is necessary to test yourself and learn some skills before accepting the challenges in the mountains. There are outdoor rock climbing courses that you can study to prepare yourself for outdoor rock climbing in Switzerland.
While learning skills in the course, you test yourself in a controlled environment under the watchful eyes of experienced climbers and guides. There is a setup that makes you familiar with the challenges you may face during the climbing route. In addition, skilled experts train you for the route and teach you skills that you can use during the outdoor climbing tour to make it secure and enjoyable for yourself.
Join one such course at Life Adventure Guiding and train yourself for the bigger challenge in the Swiss Alps. If you are a group of individuals, who want to have rock climbing fun in Switzerland, then we also have courses for you.
Best Places To Go Rock Climbing In Europe
Like many sports, rock climbing is an extreme outdoor activity that requires skills. However, its difficulty level differentiates from beginners to experienced. Whether someone just started climbing or has been climbing for a long time, Europe is a climbers paradise. There are lots of popular climbing locations in the region, including places for rock climbing in Switzerland.
Switzerland, quite possibly the best country for climbers, features numbers of gorgeous locations to go rock climbing. They let you challenge the climber within you and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenic beauties in the world. When someone flies into Switzerland, the first thing that they notice from their airplane is the rocky and mountainous terrain of the country.
There are many regions where you can indulge in rock climbing, but Via Ferrata in Switzerland provides you with the perfect adventure of steep mountain scarps. Although the region is classified as dangerous by many climbers, it is fully secure. In addition, if you are looking for some great climbing places near Zurich or Schwyz, then Via Ferrata is a region to visit.
Rock Climbing Places In Switzerland
There are many fun climbing places in Switzerland for beginners and experienced climbers. Those are some famous alpine bouldering areas that serve as an ideal spot to gratify a climber in you. Below are some climbing places not to miss in the country:
Magic Wood
When it comes to the most famous rock climbing places near Zurich and Schwyz, Magic Wood comes at the top. Located stunningly in a forest high in the mountains, it is a beautiful spot to be- especially when the weather is too hot in other parts. The area has many boulders to test your climbing skills.
How to reach: One of the easiest ways to reach Magic Wood is to fly into Zurich. After that, you can take public transportation to get at the camping site in Magic Wood.
Chironico
Not just in Switzerland, but Chironico is one of the most popular boulder crags in Europe. The region is renowned among adventure lovers for its gorgeous trails, hikes, mountaineering tours, and several other outdoor activities. For climbers, Chironico has three routes featuring 812 boulders.
How to reach: Chironico is around 110 kilometers from Zurich. You can reach the region via train or a car. Although there is no direct train that goes from Zurich to Chironico, you can enter through a journey that includes transfers. On the other side, the site is less than 100 kilometers from Schwyz.
Brione
If you want to combine your rock climbing tour in Switzerland with site-seeing, then Brione is a great place to be. It is a beautiful valley containing many boulders to gratify a climber in you. Apart from that, there are many amazing attractions to see after the climbing activity.
How to reach: One of the easiest and most convenient ways to reach Brione is to reach Zurich first. There are trains that can help you quickly reach the region.
Gotthard Pass
It is a gorgeous mountain pass at 2,106 m. Located in the Lepontine Alps of southern Switzerland, the Gotthard Pass connects the southern part with the northern part. In addition to providing you with beautiful views of the region, it has numbers of boulders.
How to reach: Gotthard Pass is situated around 93 kilometers south-east of Bern, which is a direct link between Zurich and Lugano.
Learn To Climb With Outdoor Climbing Tour
If you are planning to scale some mountains in Klettersteig Switzerland tours, then have an experience of climbing with a rock guide course at Life Adventure Guiding. During the course, you are taught skills to securely climb in the natural environment. You can enroll in the course even when you do not have climbing experience.
Hiking the Swiss Alps-An Unconventional Guide
For those who love adventure and enjoy walking, Switzerland is a magnificent place for an adventurous vacation. The Swiss Alps in Switzerland has much more to offer to those who want to explore this are more. Switzerland holidays can be taken in one of the many towns or cities, or in quieter areas of mountains and lakes. This part of the country may often is overlooked by the majority of tourists and mass tourism has passed this area by, which is perfect for those who are looking for tranquillity. There is a lot to explore in the Swiss Alps and a hiking enthusiast would love to see and experience what these Alps has to offer. A guide of the unbelievable spots for Swiss Alps hiking tours :
- Lucerne – Mount Rigi panorama trail
The mount Rigi is well known as the Queen of the mountains which is surrounded by three massive lakes. The Panorama trail at mount Rigi, Lucerne is one of the favourite hiking spots of backpackers in the spring season. You can stretch the hike and can cover the whole panorama trail or a part of it depends upon your strength and ability.
- Zurich – Walensee
If you are looking for a hiking trip in Zurich, there are a lot of lakes and mountains around Zurich to hike. The most popular and beautiful one is the Walensee lake. In order to experience the breathtaking views and amazing waterfalls, visit Zurich in the spring season. You can go hiking in Zurich around Walensee lake year around depending on the weather conditions.
- Western Switzerland – Engel berg
The Furenalp hike in Switzerland is around the Engel berg valley. The hike open in May. This long and tiring hiking trail lead to a beautiful and refreshing waterfall that gives you a calm and composed feeling. The coming down from the fields to the Engel berg valley gives you an incredible and fantastic experience of this beautiful place.
- Grindelwald – The Eiger trail
The Eiger trail is known as one of the worlds best spot for hiking and climbing in Switzerland. This is found at the top of the bucket list of many adventure seekers around the world. As you proceed forward hiking in this trail you will experience the marvelous nature and scenic views this place has to offer to its visitors. The route of the trail is one way, starting from the Grindelwald to the Eigergletster station or vice verse.
- Interlaken – Harder Kulm
Harder kulm tops the priority list when it comes to hiking in Interlaken. The hike around this area is steep. It is a 5.5 hours hike to a beautiful view of harder kulm hang from the cliff of the mountain. You will get the life time experience hiking at this spot.
Conclusion
Switzerland is flooded with bountiful of hiking, climbing, and trekking spots. If you are a rookie hiker and climber, you must join beginner climbing courses before starting hiking and climbing in Switzerland.
5 Incredible Hiking Trails in Switzerland
Switzerland has always something to offer, no matter what time of year you choose to visit. Also, it is an ideal place for all type of travelers- couples, adventure seekers and families. The Alps are the longest and highest in Europe. In the heart of the mountains lies, Switzerland. It is one of the many destinations offering some of the best skiing, snowballing, hiking and camping in Switzerland. Hiking is popular even during spring and summer. So its no wonder that so many people visit Switzerland for hiking in Swiss Alps. Switzerland hiking trail range from walks for beginners to difficult treks for the experts. It is known for its beautiful and scenic hiking trails. Here are the five most amazing trails in Switzerland:
The Eiger trail
The Eiger trail is one of the most beautiful and jaw-dropping Alpine hikes in the world. It is a classic one-way route in Jungfrau mountains that can be hiked in either direction. Starting from Eigergletscher station to Grindelwald or vice-a-versa. Starting from the Grindelwald glacier, you will reach Alpiglen in about two hours. You can stop over for lunch or overnight or continue to hike to the Eigergletscher station to the west. While walking to the west, you will get amazed by the draining water off the North face even in early July. The showstopper of the Eiger trail is the North face. The best time for hiking here is between July and October. Seeing the level of difficulties, you can even hire an adventure guide service.
Faulhorn trail
The Faulhorn trail takes its hikers from Faulhorn to Fierst while exploring the scenic Bernese Alps. It is located near Grindelwald providing the mind-boggling view of two peaks. However, the view of the crystal clear Bachalpsee lake is what takes away the heart of the hikers in this trail. The best time to hike the Faulhorn trail is in August but the weather conditions are also good for hiking from late June to early October.
Obersteinberg trail
The trail is in the Jungfrau region which is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most beautiful places on the earth. It starts from Stechelberg through to Obersteinberg. This trail is very challenging, not for the beginners but the views are breathtaking. You will observe beautiful towering peaks and waterfall along the way.
Oeschinensee hiking trail
The main highlight of this trail is the Oeschinensee lake, which is said to be the most beautiful lake in Switzerland. You can start from Kandersteg and hike towards the lake or if you can acclimate fully you can move towards the lake from Bluemlisalp massif. You can plan for hiking in Switzerland oeschinensee trail throughout the winter and summer expect from mid-march to mid-may.
Five lake Trail
The five lake trail covers Grindjisee, Stellisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee This hike is best for beginners and families with children. It is the best way to explore Switzerland five lakes along the way of the trail. You can even capture the glimpse of Matterhorn in three of the five lakes. It is stretched to about 5.8 miles, which you can cover in around two and a half hours. Once the snow is cleared, it is open for hikers.
Conclusion
There are bountiful of places for hiking and camping in Switzerland. You can also take help from an adventure guide service if you are a newbie in hiking in Switzerland.
All You Need to Know About Climbing
Rock climbing is a worthy pursuit if you are looking for fun, fitness and adventurous activities. For those people who love the outdoors and challenges, even more, rock climbing can prove to be the best adventurous sport of their life. Rock climbing is extremely challenging but the rewards are unimaginable. Imagine yourself fit, healthy, strong, and confident, viewing the breathtaking view from hundreds of feet off the ground. The views of outdoor rock climbing are a pleasure to the eyes and the feeling of accomplishment is absolutely amazing.
Warm-up and stretch
Like any other physical activities, you also need to stretch and warm-up before starting to climb. Warming up makes you even better climber. Proper stretching of muscle will warm up your body and also improves flexibility and blood circulation. This also helps to improve climbing endurance and technique.
Plan your route always
The best climber will stare at the wall he is suppose to climb before preparing to climb it. They will plan the whole route in their heads even stops for a break. Like any other sport, these skills in climbing develop with practice. You need to go through the wall and imagine your position in order to plan the complete route. This is proven to be the most important skill required in climbing, to climb easier and faster.
Use proper techniques not only strength
Learning proper techniques to climb is equally important as a good technique can do wonders that only body strength can’t. A few technique points that will help you are:
- Keep your arms straight and legs bent will make it easier pushing yourself up.
- Keep your body closer to the wall
- Strengthen the grip of your hands and use your legs to move forward.
Learn the rock climbing lingo
Communication between the be-layer and the climber is essential so you both are required to know one common lingo. Your be-layer needs to know if you are taking a break or crossing a difficult part in order to support you accordingly. These are a few climbing commands off belay, lower if you are taking a break and on belay, climbing, take while you are climbing.
Practice, watch and learn
The only way to improve and learn a few climbing techniques is to practice. Practice will also help you to develop your own techniques and styles. Practice and watch other climbers before climbing in outdoors.
Rock climbing can be done indoors or outdoors. As a beginner, it is a good idea to learn your skills and build your confidence indoor. This is the safest way to climb and many gyms provide you with the indoor climbing sessions to undergo beginner climbing courses before heading to the wall. They will guide you properly to how to tie and secure your harness, rope, and other types of equipment and will show you the necessary skills to become a good climber or be-layer. Once you head to the wall, you will get to know how challenging this sport is in reality. You will realize it even further as you take the next few days to recover from the muscle soreness. But it is totally worth it.