Activities in Wilder Kaiser, Austria – up in the treetops!

“We all have a little monkey in us from way back”, joked our instructor at Hornpark, a treetop adventure playground with 8 aerial courses and 14 zip wires over a lake. We’d gathered at a social get together on the first evening of Alpine Sports Week in the Wilder Kaiser valley of Austria.

This was our chance to hear about all the outdoor activities on offer including high wire climbing, mountain-biking and canyoning.

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Searching for my “Little Monkey” in Wilder Kaiser

But I was not quite sure whether I would re-discover my “Little Monkey” on the Hornpark high wire course. I’d heard of similar treetop courses in the UK where kids might go for an adventurous birthday party.

Normally my happy place would be an Alpine hiking trail, preferably with blue skies and brilliant sunshine. Perhaps even a mountain hut to order a cold beer and admire the view! I may have walked the Tour de Mont Blanc and tried climbing a Via Ferrata, but the high wire course was definitely stretching my climbing abilities.

I hope you enjoy my video below about the Alpine Sports in Wilder Kaiser, Austria

If you can’t see the video above of the Alpine Sports in Wilder Kaiser, Austria, see it on my blog here or YouTube here.

In the cosy hut we were fitted with helmets and climbing harnesses, the instructor checking they are tightly fitted. Not the most flattering, with the loops tight around your thighs and the waistband cutting in above your hips.

Safety training at Hornpark

Next came the most important part – safety training. Since we were going to be high in the treetops performing climbing manoeuvres, it was reassuring to know that the cables, ropes and carabiners would be there to save me if I fell.

But at the end of the day it’s also down to how well you follow the safety procedures and golden rules of climbing.

Rule number 1 – there are always 2 separate carabiners (metal clips) and they clip to the safety wire in opposite directions so you can never accidentally unclip them both at once.

Rule number 2 – as you clip and unclip the carabiner, you always keep one hand on the safety wire.

Rule number 3 – the carabiners are colour coded red-to-red and green-to-green and match the place where you clip them, either onto a safety wire or onto the metal slider you use when on the flying fox.

With these and a few other golden safety rules swimming around my head we practiced on the ground, to get the hang of what we would soon be trying high in the treetops.

The beginner course at Hornpark in Wilder Kaiser

We moved on to the beginner course which didn’t seem too tough. The gaps from tree to tree were quite short and the platforms not far off the ground.

There were a few wobbly moments, but confidence was high. Then I realise that this course is just so the instructors can check we are doing it correctly. Just a warmup really!

Moving onto the green beginner level rope course felt a bit different. Suddenly I had to reach a little further, bend and twist my knees awkwardly, using tummy muscles I didn’t know I had. Just to get up to the first platform I hd to scale a climbing wall which only revealed the weakness of my arm muscles.

Crossing the tightrope wires wasn’t too stressful so long as I focused on every step. In between I inched carefully around the small wooden platform, carefully clipping and unclipping the carabiners as I’d been taught.

The most tricky bit was crossing the wooden poles that swing from chains. My knees shook as I attempted to step from one unstable pole to the next. Where I have two choices, I decide against the skateboard which zips across the gap and step gingerly across some wooden blocks instead.

The intermediate course at Horn Park in Wilder Kaiser

After the first green course I moved onto the intermediate blue course and this time it all felt a lot more dodgy. The climbing wall at the beginning reminded me that I should really get back to the gym and build up my upper body strength, which was frankly pathetic.

I tried the zipwire and managed to end up lower than the platform with my legs waving like a spider. After a few minutes dangling there, I in-elegantly swung my legs up onto the platform and hauled myself up like a sack of potatoes.

Once back on the ground I watched another member of the group who has dared to try the much harder red course. I could barely watch as he eventually made it across the wooden poles swinging in a zig zag pattern. He finally descended, sweating with fear and exertion.

The ‘flying fox’ zip-wires

The best bit of the day was at the end when we tried the longer ‘flying fox’ zip-wires that criss-crossed the lake, having built up our confidence and trust in the equipment. Earlier I watched, as one girl dangled just short of the platform and had to be winched down by an instructor.

Thankfully I flew across the lake and just made it onto the wooden platform. There was still a bit of hauling up to be done on the rope. I found that each zipwire was actually a series of zipwires which took you in stages, gradually down to ground level.

The final zip-wire started high just by the cable car station and ended in the treetops the other side. By now I felt like an old hand – this could get addictive!

I was tempted to have just one more go on the zip wire, but realise I should know my limits.

How do I sum up the day on the high wire? Scary but exhilarating and if here’s a little monkey in all of us, I think I found mine in Wilder Kaiser!

Read Next

Read about my day of Mountain-biking in Wilder Kaiser

Want to try Alpine Sports Week yourself?

Heather tried out her outdoor activities as part of Alpine Sports Week in Wilder Kaiser. This special week long event allows you to try out 6 different mountain sports over 6 days. You’ll have the guidance of expert instructors at a special price.

In addition to the high rope course and mountain-biking that Heather tried you can go canyoning, trail running and do a Via Ferrata. Check here for more information.

All of these activities are also available throughout the summer to try as you like. In addition the region is a paradise for hikers with many day walks. You can also enjoy multi-day hut-to-hut walks of 3 to 5 days in length.

You can spend a day on the high wire like the one Heather tried at Hornpark in St Johann in Tirol, Austria. The cost per day includes lift pass and all equipment and safety instruction. Check the Hornpark website for more information.

For more information on things to do in Wilder Kaiser visit the Wilder Kaiser tourism website. More information about things to do in the Tirol region of Austria on the Tirol tourism website.

How to get to Wilder Kaiser

Transfers from Munich to Wilder Kaiser take around 1.5 hours. They can be arranged through Four Seasons Travel who have a desk at the airport. Alternatively Innsbruck airport is around 1 hour drive from Wilder Kaiser.

Where to stay in Wilder Kaiser

Heather stayed at the comfortable, family run Vitel and Panorama Hotel Sonnenhof in Going. This four star hotel is furnished traditionally with plenty of Tyrolean wood and has a spa and indoor swimming pool.

I enjoyed the hearty breakfast spread with a full selection of muesli, fruit, nutty German breads and freshly cooked omelettes. Also, fresh juices, honeycomb and anything else you would wish for. Check prices and book your stay here.

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Thanks to Wilder Kaiser Tourist Board who hosted* Heather’s stay and provided the experiences mentioned.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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