National newspaper cutting featuring the risk of closure in Zillertal's Zillergrund Wald. Local climber Gerhard Hörhager explained eloquently 'Boulders like these don't just spring up like mushrooms' Photo by archive Markus Schwaiger

The future of one of Austria's most important bouldering areas, the Zillergrund Wald in the Zillertal, is currently on the line as the granite boulders may be given free for quarrying Photo by Liesa Hergeth

Zillertal bouldering area threatened in Austria

09.11.2018 di di Planetmountain

The Zillergrund Wald bouldering area in the Zillertal, Austria, is at risk of closure due to quarrying. The local climbers have launched a petition and are appealing to the climbing community to help safeguard the area’s future.

Bouldering at Zillergrund Wald in the pristine Zillertal valley, Austria, is at stake as the land may be given free to quarrying. As it stands, the area of the existing quarry may be extended, resulting in the irreversible demolition of the entire Zillergrund Wald bouldering area. This is the valley’s premier bouldering spot and currently includes over 300 blocs and a huge potential for more.

The news comes as an immense surprise, especially since the region hosted the Climbing World Championships not even two months ago, and the local Stonemonkeys climbing community has immediately sprung into action by launching an online petition which they intend to put on the table during official negotiations next Tuesday.



The Austrian Alpine Club has backed this initiative, too, as have professional climbers such as Gerhard Hörhager, Reinhold Scherer, Markus Schwaiger, Jakob Schubert, Anna Stöhr, Kilian Fischhuber and Hansjörg Auer. Local hotshot Hörhager explained eloquently "Boulders like these don't just spring up like mushrooms".

It goes without saying that the more backers there are, the greater the chances of safeguarding the area’s future and consequently the global climbing community has been asked to add its weight in safeguarding this pristine environment by signing the petition. If you wish to do so, please note that signing process must be completed in 3 distinct stages:



1. add name, surname and email

2. add address and country, and comment (not obligatory)

3. confirm your signature by clicking on the link sent via email



Click here to sign the petition on www.openpetition.eu/at/petition/online/save-zillergrund-wald