Geierwand, Haiming · Inntal (Haiming Geierwand) · Austria
Easy to bailBolting confidence: high
A two-part combination: the four-pitch Geierwandführe as a warm-up to the big ledge, then five pitches of Im Auge des Geiers straight up the central 'eye' of the upper wall on pocketed, slightly overhanging rock with fine slabs to finish. Sustained at 6b in the upper part, but a little less demanding than Nebraska.
The route
Im Auge des Geiers is a five-pitch line up the centre of the upper Geierwand, starting from the big ledge. bergsteigen.com describes perfect pocketed rock that overhangs slightly in the middle and fine slab and wall climbing at the top. The usual way to reach it is the Geierwandführe, a pleasant four-pitch route up the lower tier that tops out at 6a+. Together they give nine pitches with the difficulty concentrated in the upper half, where you need some stamina at 6b. The route ends in the middle of the wall and you abseil.
The climbing
| Pitch | Grade | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 5a+ | 30 m | Geierwandführe, pitch 1. |
| P2 | 5c | 25 m | Geierwandführe, pitch 2. Some grass, which does not get in the way. |
| P3 | 6a+ | 25 m | Geierwandführe, pitch 3. |
| P4 | 6a+ | 20 m | Geierwandführe, pitch 4, ending on the big ledge. Walk to the plate marking Im Auge des Geiers. |
| P5 | 6a+ | 28 m | Im Auge des Geiers, pitch 1: rough, pocketed slabs. |
| P6 | 6b+ | 25 m | Noticeably steeper. |
| P7 | 6b+ | 20 m | Over a small bulge. |
| P8 | 6b | 25 m | A perfect rough, steep slab. |
| P9 | 6b | 25 m | The last pitch, to the abseil station. |
Getting there
Haiming lies in the Inn valley at the mouth of the Ötztal in Tyrol. Leave the A12 at Mötz or Ötztal, drive into Haiming and follow the 'Rafting-Center' signs. Turn right straight after the bridge over the Inn and continue past the rafting centre to the car park with the large Klettersteig board, at about 660 m. By public transport take the train to Haiming and a bus to the Innbrücke stop.
15 to 20 min. From the car park follow the Klettersteig signs towards the motorway and cross it. On the far side go a few steps left along the track to a rockfall net, then take the path uphill to the rock. At the top of the path go a short way left to the start, right of a prominent corner and right of the mountain rescue training area. Geierwandführe below and Im Auge des Geiers above the ledge are each named on a metal plate.
Loading map
The point marks the crag, not the exact start of the route.
Parking
Car park after the rafting centre, Haiming (bergsteigen.com marker 'Parkplatz')
Point from camptocamp waypoint 1793379 (GeierWand, Haiming); bergsteigen.com gives no start marker for this route
Contains the route point and parking. Opens in most mapping apps and GPS watches.
Points are compiled from published sources, with the precision stated above. They were not surveyed on the ground: check them against a current topo.
Coordinates: 47.26250, 10.87810 (crag) · Parking: 47.26020, 10.87830
Getting down
Abseil. The route ends in the middle of the wall and there is no walk-off. bergsteigen.com shows an abseil line just right of Im Auge des Geiers and recommends 2×60 m ropes to get down the upper part quickly; from the big ledge continue abseiling down the lower tier. It allows about 1 h.
Retreat
Easy to bail
Abseiling is the only descent, so every part of the route is set up for it. An abseil line runs just right of Im Auge des Geiers back to the big ledge, and the lower tier is abseiled from there.
Safety
Sun and weather
South facing, with the base at about 740 m and the top of the wall at about 1050 m. bergsteigen.com shows a season from March to November and Climbers Paradise calls the wall climbable almost all year, but both warn that it is very hot in summer. Spring and autumn are the best times.
Sun on the wall · S-facing
Working out the sunlit hours for this month.
Sun on the wallDaylight, wall in shade● Usual season
Estimated from the wall's aspect only. Ignores surrounding terrain, gullies and the wall's exact shape. Clock times are local to the wall (Central European time), for the 15th of each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar (usual season) | Apr (usual season) | May (usual season) | Jun (usual season) | Jul | Aug | Sep (usual season) | Oct (usual season) | Nov (usual season) | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean daily high °C | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 9 | 4 |
| Mean daily low °C | −7 | −5 | −1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 5 | −1 | −5 |
| Rain days 1 mm or more | 12 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
● marks the usual climbing season. Averages for 1991-2020 at about 723 m. Area climate from Open-Meteo reanalysis. Temperatures are adjusted to the height of the crag; rain comes from a grid cell of about 10 to 25 km, and summer highs on sea cliffs can read a few degrees low. The wall and valley can differ. Data: Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0.
What to carry
12 quickdraws (Climbers Paradise says 15), helmet and 2×60 m ropes.
Derived from the route data; check it against a current topo
From climbers
Reader reports are not being collected yet. Until they are, check a current topo and the local club or guidebook publisher for recent changes to Geierwandführe + Im Auge des Geiers.
Worth knowing
Open questions
Provenance
Same area
Austria · Inntal (Haiming Geierwand)
Billed as probably the best mid-grade multipitch at the Geierwand (UIAA 6/6+, 5 obligatory). It starts with steep, juggy climbing, and the upper pitches are rough pocketed slabs. It can be combined with Alhambra's upper pitches.
6a+12 pitches345 m
Austria · Inntal (Haiming Geierwand)
The longest route on the Geierwand and its most popular easy outing: rough slabs low down, a walk across the big ledge, then steeper, pocketed and more exposed climbing above. The crux is a short traverse to the belay on pitch 10. The last two pitches are scrambling over loose ground.
6a+12 pitches430 m
Austria · Inntal (Haiming Geierwand)
bergsteigen.com calls this the best route on the Geierwand: steep, almost always vertical pocket climbing on the left side of the wall. The hardest move comes on pitch 2, but the upper half stacks several 6b pitches one after another and tires the forearms. Recommended to climbers who are comfortable at 6b.
6b+13 pitches355 m
Austria · Inntal (Haiming Geierwand)
One of the longer and more popular lines on the Geierwand, at much the same grade as Alhambra but with rather better climbing. Well-featured slabs lead to the big ledge; above it the route continues to mid-height in the upper wall, where a few pitches are brittle but closely bolted. It ends in the middle of the wall and you abseil.
6a+10 pitches261 m
Around 6b+ · about 9 pitches
Morocco · Taghia
One of the easiest long routes in the Taghia cirque: nine sustained pitches of 6a to 6b+ on compact slabs and steep pocketed walls, starting from the bed of a canyon. The bolts are sound but airy, the obligatory grade is 6a+ and the day is long.
6b+9 pitches320 m
Read the cautions
Italy · Aosta Valley
Technical granite slabs and short steep walls in two tiers, in a quiet corner of the Val Ferret below the Mont Blanc range. The 6b+ pitch builds through three hard moves, the last very thin. Obligatory climbing and some spaced bolts make it more serious than its neighbour Il Gatto e la Volpe.
6b+9 pitches250 m
Read the cautions
Croatia · Paklenica
A modern line by B. Čujić and I. Matković up the full height of the Trapez sector of Anića kuk: ten pitches, 360 m, steady between 5c and 6b+. It starts right of the classic Mosoraški, crosses it in the upper middle part and finishes to its left. Slabs low down, then a vertical crack, superb vertical slab pitches, a huge corner with a chockstone and an exposed traverse.
6b+10 pitches360 m
Spain · Montanejos
Eight pitches up a vertical prow deep in the Maimona canyon, on orange rock full of pockets (agujeros means holes). Sustained at 6a+ to 6b and physical throughout, with a huge roof start to the crux pitch and a bench to sit on at the third belay. Closed from January to June.
6b+8 pitches235 m
Read the cautions
Compiled from published sources and last verified October 2026. Bolts, anchors and access change. Climbing is dangerous and you are responsible for your own decisions: check a current topo and read the disclaimer.