The Hinterhorn..

     Arriving in Innsbruck we deemed it would be great to go to one of our favorite places by bike. There were somethings however that we had not considered. One was we have never been in the Inntal in summer, always in late fall or winter.
     Second we had never been there by bicycle, only the roundabout way by hiking up and into the Karwendal range, down a valley, up, out and eventually to the "Carrot Platter Please!" Place, the Hinterhorn.We called it that as they have an assortment of donkey's and llamas that watch you eat and always laugh about what they would order.
    We started out in Innsbruck and if you haven't been here it is a urban riding heaven with bike paths and bike racks everywhere and with a few exceptions lots of respect for riders. Weekends you will see lots of club riders out. Off we go down the Inn River cycle path to the town of Hall and began climbing up to Absam on a local singletrack.

    With a little negotiation of local roads we got onto the correct one and happily began climbing some more on our way to Gnadenwald. And then we climbed some more.. as the heat of the Inntal became apparent. Starting at 2 in the afternoon we had expected the Inntal to be a cool summer wonderland but found out that it's summer is heat and humidity and soon we were soaked with the effort.
     It should have been a hint of things to come as we made the turn off and in passing the toll booth ( for cars only) that written on the pavement was Hinterhorn Challenge. And challenge it was. The majority of the ride is a series of switchbacks that climb up and up until finally passing the treeline. Rarely does the climb drop below 10% and it was almost always 14-17% at times reaching 21%.
     This type of gradient over long extended climbs is unusual but for here we now know it as a norm. At times we had to stop and we were often passed by the amazingly strong Tyrolean riders on both road and mountain bike, out for their evening ride.Up and up you go on the switchbacks, thinking and hoping that you are farther up the climb and the next switchback would be the last until you see the kilometer mark painted on the pavement, dashing your hopes.

     Riders coming down the hill would encourage us with "Super!" Many of them had passed us and were now on their way down. Hikers coming down the more direct trail would whisk by on their way down. One older gentleman came up to us and after informing us that it was only 3 long switchbacks to go leaned in very closed to my face and said in German, "it's near, have courage" and laughing hard to himself turned and headed off down the trail.
   Finally clear of the switchbacks you exit the treeline. The approach to the Hinterhorn is a long extended climb across a mountain face until finally reaching your goal and the privilege of lining your bike up along the fence with all the other cyclists who have made the climb.
     Cool water and cold beer await, substantial meals for those that want them, all perched on an outcropping high above, and overlooking the Inntal.