GlanzBrothersProductions

- One week of biking, hiking and kayaking in Osttirol -

Hey,
I just came home after spending a week in Osttirol. This might be the most beautiful part of Austria... But that's just my opinion. Although Osttirol isn't really big it offers many rivers to kayak, has huge mountains and the possibilities for mountain-bike rides is almost unlimited.

We first drove up the Deffereggen creek to start the vacation with a bike tour to the very end of this amazing valley.

After that I had to take a look at the waterfalls of the upper Deffereggen Creek aka Schwarzbach. Since there had been a thunderstorm the night before it was to high. There weren't any other kayakers I could have joined anyway... I decided to to a solo run of the lower Isel instead - This is a fun big water run, that starts with big waves and holes and mellows out to the end.

Foto von Hannah Bobik

The next day we hiked up the upper Isel to visit the Umball - waterfalls. The first picture shows a little waterfall on a tributary creek. This was the second time I visited the falls, but the first time we hiked up to the upper Falls, shown in the second picture.

In the afternoon I called up Stefan Kinner, who lives to Osttirol. We decided to run the Waterfalls of the Deffereggen - creek in the evening. By the way, this is my turn on stand up paddling.

Picture by Hannah Bobik

The flows were still high. We both decided to chicken out on the first drop and portaged the entry. But everything else was good to go.

Foto von Hannah Bobik

The next day we did another bike tour near the Großglockner. This is the Seebach - valley. They wanted to dam this amazing place 30 years ago. Luckily that didn't happen.

This are some pictures from the Staller Sattel in the evening.

View at he Großvenediger from the Tauernbach valley. This was the last bike tour we did.

We spend the last day to drive up to Salzburg and visit the Untersulzbach waterfall and the famous Krimmler waterfalls.

The Krimmler waterfalls...

Now, after 5 hot hours in the car we are back home... Monday I have to work... that sucks...

Later, H.G.

- a little photoshop -

Later, H.G.

- Don't forget my gig -

This Friday the 18th my band plays a gig at the moxx theatre. I'd be delighted if I see any of you people at this hopefully awesome metal night.

This is the truly ugly flyer again: ;)

See you there!

Later, H.G.

- Piemont, Aosta -

Last week I spend five awesome days kayaking in the area around Ivrea with my brother Reiner. On the first day we ran the upper Chiusella - This is a beautiful California - like bedrock river. However, we had a really low water level... I imagine it would be even more beautiful with more water. Next week they have a race at this creek - hopefully with more water. Racing a low creek - sounds like hell....

Picture by Reiner Glanz

After we had finished the run, we decided to drive up to Hone to take a look at the famous waterfalls of the lower Ayasse. Unfortunately the Ayasse had about three times the suggested flow. It looked runnable but also extremely pushy. We decided to take a look at the upper Ayasse instead, which we didn't have much info about.

We found a section that was very cool - Grade 4-5 with one portage.

Picture by Reiner Glanz

The next day we ran the Soana river. This is a nice long boulder run through a deep gorge. We didn't take any pictures since most of the run consists of bigger boulder rapids we wanted to run together. Taking pictures on such a run with only two people on the river is difficult.

Where can I turn this f***ing thing on?!

Two idiots looking like idiots....

Next up was the Stura di Ala - Famous for it's 15 meter high waterfall in a tight gorge. We couldn't run it, since we didn't have our climbing gear with us and to run it, you have to belay down into the gorge after another unrunnable 12-15 meter drop above the waterfall.
Ok, thats a lie - At least I wouldn't even consider running this drop even if was not walled in. ;)

Anyway, here are some pictures from the upper and lower Stura di Ala. (The lower part is a less known short but very hard gorge - We portaged most of the main drops)

First, the upper part...

Picture by Reiner Glanz

This is huge input slide to start the lower Stura di Ala

Picture by Reiner Glanz

To finish up our short kayaking trip we drove back to Osttirol to run the waterfall section of the Defereggenbach - But this creek also had to much water, so we only did a easier section below the waterfalls.... here are some Pictures from the way back home... (The Dolomiten - Mountains)

Well, thats it. Hope I can get back in this area around Ivrea soon, because it offers some sweet creeking!!

Later, H.G.