From the moment we began our hiking in Innsbruck through the Nordkette, we immediately knew that this specific hiking trip was going to be called an “Adventure Trip”. But that often begs the question: What would you call an adventure?
An adventure to one, isn’t really an adventure for someone else. Was our trip an adventure? Well, we will leave that up to you to decide on whether or not or hiking in Innsbruck really was an adventure or not… So, let’s get started!
Let the record show that on our first two days hiking through Innsbruck we definitely had a lot of fun! We were embarked on this adventure because of a work conference that we were asked to attend. What we hadn’t realised at the time was that travelling to Innsbruck was going to bring along memories that were going to truly last us a lifetime.
Naturally, the conference came to an end, and we thought that this meant the end of our trip, but boy, were we wrong! Innsbruck Tourism had gone and organized a few different activities, which also included hiking in Innsbruck. Sure, I had to choose the Adventure Trip – how appealing and exciting does it sound? It was an absolute no-brainer. After a long Saturday night, which was the last night with the rest of the fun group together, I just had 1,5 hours sleep! Which was definitely needed.
See also: A Winter Guide to Innsbruck Austria
Let’s start with how our experience of hiking Innsbruck mountains went
Day one got us all the way up into the surrounding Innsbruck mountains. Luckily, we didn’t have to walk all the way up, as there is a cable car connection right from the Innsbruck city centre. It is quite a ways up, so we were grateful for the lift all the way to the top. And trust me when I say that once the cable car takes you all the way to the top, you will be absolutely blow away by the views of Innsbruck. Definitely try to snap a few pictures but also give yourself a moment to take all of that incredible scenery in.
But hiking in Innsbruck got even better once we discovered this little handy addition: Innsbruck Tourism provides their guests with walking shoes… FOR FREE! Now, that is what I call a service! This means that you don’t need to worry about getting your own hiking shoes for the expedition. You already have the correct hiking shoes that are needed – all without having to swipe your card at all.
You’ll find a shoe depot right at the entrance of the Seilbahn, so make sure to look out for it. You will also be happy to know that they have a wide range of shoes and sizes, so don’t worry about not finding your size or the perfect fit. Anyways… back to the hiking in Innsbruck!
The right shoes chosen, we arrived at the top minutes later – shout out to the cable car that did most of the grunt work for us. You should also note that there was no chance to fell asleep! It had snowed during the night and the fresh air kept me and the others awake. So, keep in mind that you will want to bring along some warmer clothes too for those icy night and colder mornings!
Off we went! Right up! After a couple of steps, I wished I would have slept a bit more. Was it the lack of sleep or the high attitude or that I haven’t done much sports lately? My breathing was slow, and I had to fight with each step. You will want to keep this in mind if you are traveling to the Nordekette – the fitter you are, the better. Also don’t overlook sleeping. Sleep and some levels of fitness are great additions to this trip that will make it far easier and a lot more enjoyable.
See also: Innsbruck, Austria: Capital of the Alps
In these moments it’s good to have a photo camera with you. This gives you the chance to snap a few pictures and to rest (you will notice that rest and sleep come up a lot in this blog). 😉
But in the end, you have to get through it and you know that it’s pretty much just a mind thing. That’s where the lack of sleep helps you again. Just concentrate on your next step and keep on walking. It is as easy as that. It is all a mental game, because mental fatigue is a real thing too. Get into the habit of hyping yourself up and you will be good to go.
As you embark on this adventure, you will notice that the paths are incredibly exciting and the surrounding scenery is absolutely picturesque, which defiantly helped for those moments when I felt a little tried! There is nothing like Mother Nature giving you the boost of eery and motivation that you need for a hike.
Up the hill… down the hill… up the hill… sliding down the fields of loose rocks… up again… Reaching the top… What an amazing view!
What an amazing day!
Into the valley again, where we had a yummy lunch in the sun. I could have stayed there much longer! But as the hut was on the wrong side of the mountain, we still had to walk up that hill again. And it was a loooong upwards hike. But even tougher was, that we’ve decided to walk all the way down into the valley. Remember, we first took the Seilbahn all the way up. So, we still had quite a way in front of us and just downhill. We made it of course, but my knees thanked me for it, the following 2 days.
The following day we did some wildwater rafting on the river Inn and in the afternoon, we enjoyed some rather exhilarating canyoning. And if I could describe it all in one word it would be: Wow! Each would be a highlight itself and we had the pleasure to do it in one single day!
Do you like hiking in the mountains? Where have you been & which hike would you recommend?
See also: Build Your Own Custom Ski or Snowboard in Innsbruck, Tirol
