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36 ADVENTUREADVENTURE 3 7CLIMBINGDUOAlthough they climb the world's rock faces, forBarbara and Sabine Bacher from Längenfeldtheir one and only true home is the Ötztal Valley.That is also where the two World CupSisters have their favorite andtime-tested climbing spots.Text: Lisa Reinthaler“ Home is simply a special place", saysBarbara Bacher, "and here in the ÖtztalValley many things come together: theatmosphere is a casual and personalone, we all know each other and thanks to themountains and the nature we've got many opportunitiesto enjoy skiing, hiking or rock climbing."She and her younger sister Sabine haveespecially taken to rock faces from their childhoodonwards.The Bacher sisters Babsy and Sabby havebeen exploring the Ötztal Valley vertically for almosttwenty years. Their base was a small,close training group, the success and continuityof which is a result of the work of HeikoWilhelm, today’s coach of the Austrian nationalteam, and the sisters themselves. With talentand effort the two climbed all steps to thestage of the international climbing World Cupfast. They still shine there today. Babsy’s favoritediscipline is lead climbing and Sabby’sbouldering."Actually it should be the other way round,considering our physical and athletic potential",answers Sabine Bacher to the questionof the choice of their disciplines. "Babsy is themore athletic one and this is what is usually requiredfor bouldering. And I’m more of a tech-nical climber, I use my feet more often. Seenthat way we’ve both picked the wrong discipline."But in a competition it is mostly themental constitution that counts. For boulderingone needs to be concentrated for a very longtime and the head mustn’t tire even after thefifth problem, in lead climbing one attempt isdecisive. The Bacher sisters are perfectly up tothese challenges. Barbara got 8th at the EuropeanChampionship in Imst in 2010 and Sabinehas been constantly among the best 15 boulderclimbers of the world for many years, despiteof several injuries.The Bacher sisters stick together:In sports and in their love for their homein the Ötztal Valley with itsmany climbing spots.In addition to competitions the two sistersare also passionate rock climbers – preferablytogether and in the Ötztal Valley. "What makesit so great is that the rock is different in everysingle crag. In Oberried it's more bouldery,in Nösslach it’s eroded and smooth. So climbingis varied and exciting!" marvels Babsy. Theirfavorite spot is the crag in Niederthai near Umhausen.The granite boulders at Tauferberg of-Barbara Bacher climbs her favorite rock facefer an unlimited choice for experts and evoke aspecial feeling in the Ötzal-born Sabine Bacher:"Niederthai is a home for me. There we havespent the most hours by far and still we discovernew things there. And if we watch otherclimbers there it almost feels like they areclimbing on our rock."The Tauferberg graniteboulders are the spot where the athleteshave trained most often.In the Ötztal Valley, in the Armelen crag nearTumpen, Babsy and Sabby have conqueredtheir most difficult individual rock project. The“Schwarze Schwan” is a cult route with a difficultyof 8c. It was first conquered by the Ötztalclimbing pioneer Markus Haid. The Bachersisters conquered the route after two monthsof preparation and with the help of their family:Their sister Kathi proved to be an expert in belayingand motivating. The World Cup athletesagree: "This success is the highlight of our rockexperiences up to now."What they have tested at the rock faces ofthe Ötztal Valley, the sisters together withmountain guides and pros like the extremeclimbers Hansjörg Auer and David Lama orboulder star Lukas Ennemoser, hand on to interested(amateur) climbers within the scope ofthe Ötztal Climbing Camps that take place everysummer. "The Climbing Camps are a fixedpoint for us. We have a fantastic team and it isgreat fun to teach others and to see how theparticipants improve. That’s a great thing!" trainerSabine rejoices.InfoÖtztal Climbing Spots19 climbing gardens, 7 secured via ferratas.Morethan 600 routes of all difficulty levels.TheÖtztal Valley ranks among Tirol'sabsolute climbing hot spots offering loadsof possibilities.Ötztal Climbing CampLate July/early August 2013www.oetztal.com/kletternklettercamp@oetztal.com