Austria!

Zach and I flew from Scotland to Vienna, Austria to meet our buddy Brooks.  Brooks and I had hatched a plan back in January to go on a climbing trip while we were both in Europe.  We eventually decided on a place roughly 80km out of Vienna.  Our decision was completely based on the fact that there was a free camping area there.  We took a train out of Vienna to the small town of Reikenau, where we stocked up on instant noodles, granola bars, and beer.  We couldn't be asked to wait for the last bus at 5pm so we started out walking down the road towards Kaiserbrunn (where we would camp).  We wrote Kaiserbrunn on a piece of cardboard in the hopes that we might catch a lift.  After several miles of walking in the hot sun we were picked up by an elderly woman and here dog Larry.  It was perfect!  She gave us a lift to Kaiserbrunn and left us on the side of the road.

We found ourselves in a narrow valley, next to a beautifully clear river, surrounded by massive limestone cliffs.  We found a hidden spot down by the river and set up camp.  We decided we should go to the bar and get some wiener schnitzel for dinner (there is a hotel in Kaiserbrunn, thats it though, nothing else).  It was delicious.  What follows is the pictures from the trip.  We had a blast and I hope you enjoy the photos.  UK climbing photos coming soon.

Kaiserbrunn bound

Larry the dog

View from camp

Camp

Brooks stocking the fridge

Noodles for days

Zach is stoked on hiking half way up a mountain

(approx. 1500ft) only to find no climbs

Sketchy stairs

Finally found some climbing

We chose the one with the safest looking bolts.  Turned

out that is was rather hard.

Brooks and I slowly worked our way

Sketchy

Loads of limestone

The crew

Chalking up

A true man of the mountains

I'm displeased in the rock quality

Breakfast

Lunch/beers at the climbing house.  30 min up the 

road from camp, and by the rocks.

Brots!

Zach being a beast

The Kaiserbrunn Dance!

nice little 5.11 with scary bolts

Got rained off the rocks

Suns out guns out?

Our wet weather hangout on the stoop of the 

public bathroom

Brooks and I figured if the weather was nice on the last day we would make an early morning attempt at this tower before our 10:30 bus.  I woke up at 6:30 and it was all socked in, but naturally I still wanted to try.  Brooks didn't get up so I hiked up and found all the rock to be dry.  I came back down and got Brooks and we were able to get one pitch in before having to bail to make the bus.

Me on my morning scout.