The Muttekopfhütte stands high above Imst like a stone promise - here, sustainable mobility and the wild beauty of the Lechtal Alps merge into an irresistible work of art. A day on the rocks high above, by bike and train - because freedom begins on the way there.
The whirring sound of an electric motor accompanies the first rays of sunshine through the early morning forest high above Imst. Uphill, always uphill, through fragrant forests and across lush green alpine meadows where the cows raise their heads curiously. The eBike as a reliable companion turns the otherwise strenuous ascent to the Muttekopfhütte into a relaxed journey - more energy for the wall, more time for the fine details on the rock.
The purist route: train, bike, feet
Our arrival day is purist: we get to the crag with the smallest possible footprint - without a car, but by train, bike, our feet, in exactly this order. eBike & Climb has long since become a genre of its own in Tyrol's climbing scene, with ecopoint climbing becoming the new red dot. These are mostly high-altitude alpine multi-pitch routes, where the sometimes long approach with a heavy rucksack is often made easier by motorized means. This is easy on the knees on the descent and saves energy reserves for the decisive moves on the wall.
The eBike is rarely used for pure sport climbing - but the climbing gardens around the Muttekopfhütte high above Imst are predestined for this. Short distances, great effect.
Minimalism meets Tyrolean precision
Ramona Kerber and Daniel Felsner from our Athletes Team are with us today. Neither of them has ever been up here before, so they are all the more fascinated by the whole setting: the lovely alpine meadows with the cows on the approach. The rugged rock formations around the hut. The delicious specialties from the Muttekopfhütte kitchen. “The whole package is just right up here,” enthuses Ramona as she sorts her equipment for the warm-up route in the Felswurm sector.
The new ELEVEN Raw quickdraw sets dangle from her climbing harness - simple elegance in a purist color scheme. They fit in perfectly with the minimalist philosophy of the day. These quickdraws also have short delivery routes in production: Made in Tyrol, just like the mountain world in which they are used today. The sparing use of anodizing ensures that the carabiners are easy to distinguish while still conserving resources - a detail that fits in perfectly with sustainable travel by eBike.
Rock diversity straight out of a geology book
The fascinating thing about the Muttekopf area is the hidden geology beneath the obvious beauty. Conglomerate rocks near the hut alternate with grippy limestone formations on the Blauer Kopf and the characteristic Rote Wand with its overhanging passages. A whole climbing guide full of vertical possibilities is waiting to be explored. As hut host Patrick says: “A geologist once spent 10 years writing about the complex structure of the rock here”. Groups of researchers and students regularly come to “Steinderlklopfen”. But we don't have time for that today - we want to climb and feel as much of the sharp rock under our fingers as possible!
Time for the essentials
Because short access routes with the eBike mean more time for what really counts: The routes on the rock. The moment when your fingers wedge themselves into the characteristic holes in the conglomerate. The feeling when you finally manage a difficult sequence. And a little bit too: the soothing pain that only subsides when the carabiner is clipped. "Harrschdi, the rock is sharp, that's not possible. But brilliant!" exclaims Daniel from the top of his route in the Eisenhut sector. The very appropriate name: “Bloody Fingers” (7a).
This makes the obligatory Kaiserschmarrn at the hut, which you can enjoy from the sun terrace with a sweeping view of the Inn Valley and the Ötztal Alps, all the more deserved. Afterwards, another bike, because you know that the eBike will wait patiently for 30 minutes below the hut until we arrive again and roll relaxed down into the valley. The Muttekopfhütte high above Imst proves once again that sometimes the shortest routes lead to the greatest experiences. And when regional quality products are used - from the Tyrolean express sling to the homemade Kaiserschmarrn - the overall package is just right.
Discover more eBike & Climb tours, as well as climbing and bouldering regions throughout Tirol, on Climbers Paradise.
Report and pictures: Simon Schöpf, in collaboration with Climbers Paradise
