Climbing area Lungern closed - future uncertain

The popular central Swiss climbing garden in Lungern remains closed. If the municipal administration has its way, climbing in Lungern will be a thing of the past. Co-developers of the area and the Swiss Alpine Club SAC do not simply want to accept this and are looking for solutions together.

The future of Central Switzerland is bad Climbing garden Lungern. At the end of May, the voters of the Obwalden municipality approved the rezoning of Brünig Mega Safe AG, thereby paving the way for the associated safe project in the rock massif. In the next three years, up to a hundred high-security caverns are to be built in which the well-heeled can store their valuables.

No climbing during construction

Simona Gasser, construction manager from Lungern, cited the risk of falling rocks in the area of ​​the climbing garden as the reason for the closure. This would not necessarily be directly related to the Brünig Mega Safe project. "We already had the natural hazards reassessed in 2019 and upgraded the risk of falling rocks based on the feedback from the experts." In addition, material could come down again and again during the construction work over the next three years.

Melanie Weingartner in the 7c + line eco pig in the lungern climbing garden. Image: Andrea Lerch
Melanie Weingartner in the 7c + line eco pig in the lungern climbing garden. Image: Andrea Lerch

Climbing garden with national appeal

The lungern climbing area was set up 30 years ago by Andreas Audetat and Peter Keller. Andrea Lerch also drilled various routes and a few years ago, together with other climbers, undertook a complex renovation.

He wants to see the whole thing in a larger context: “Climbing has been going on in Lungern for 30 years. The difficulties vary from moderate to very difficult. A lot of people have had a great time here in the past and it's always worked out well."

If you compare the possibilities that this climbing garden offers to the climbing community with the impact they caused, the impact is small.

Gloomy prospects: The lungern climbing garden will probably remain closed forever.
Gloomy prospects: The lungern climbing garden will probably remain closed forever.

Find a common solution

Andrea Lerch, together with the SAC, is looking for solutions to achieve the goal of being able to climb again after the construction phase of the Brünig Mega Safe project in Lungern. It is not a question of declaring war on the community of Lungern or the client. "The goal is to enable coexistence between this commercial project and the climbing community."

"The goal is to enable coexistence between this commercial project and the climbing community."

Andrea Lerch
  • If you want to find out more about Brünig Maga Safe and its “treasure chambers in the solid rock”, you can follow the links below Bloomberg article bring to mind.

That might interest you

Do you like our climbing magazine? When launching the climbing magazine Lacrux, we decided not to introduce a paywall because we want to provide as many like-minded people as possible with news from the climbing scene.

In order to be more independent of advertising revenue in the future and to provide you with even more and better content, we need your support.

Therefore: Help and support our magazine with a small contribution. Naturally you benefit multiple times. How? You will find out here.

Don't miss anything - receive our newsletter

* Indicates required
Interests

+ + +

Credits: Cover photo Andrea Lerch

News

Lara Neumeier shows nerves of steel | First female ascent of Trad-Route Psychogram

Lara Neumeier was the first woman to repeat the notoriously dangerous Psychogramm (8b+) in Bürs, which is considered extremely difficult to secure.
00:08:55

Daughter cheers on – Shauna Coxsey boulders Mito (8B+)

Since the birth of her daughter, Shauna Coxsey has turned her back on competitive climbing and devoted herself to outdoor bouldering—with success. In February, she successfully climbed an extremely difficult boulder—thanks to her daughter's encouragement.

DAV responds to Megos' appeal for donations for national team

Because the German Alpine Association (DAV) postponed increased funding for its national team for a year, Alex Megos launched a fundraising campaign for the athletes last week. Now the DAV is also speaking out.

Chris Sharma goes swimming | Legendary DWS first ascent of Black Pearl

In 2023, Chris Sharma climbed Black Pearl, the hardest deep water solo route of his career. His new video shows him making the first ascent on the cliffs of Port de Sóller in the DWS hotspot of Mallorca.

Lara Neumeier shows nerves of steel | First female ascent of Trad-Route Psychogram

Lara Neumeier was the first woman to repeat the notoriously dangerous Psychogramm (8b+) in Bürs, which is considered extremely difficult to secure.
00:08:55

Daughter cheers on – Shauna Coxsey boulders Mito (8B+)

Since the birth of her daughter, Shauna Coxsey has turned her back on competitive climbing and devoted herself to outdoor bouldering—with success. In February, she successfully climbed an extremely difficult boulder—thanks to her daughter's encouragement.

DAV responds to Megos' appeal for donations for national team

Because the German Alpine Association (DAV) postponed increased funding for its national team for a year, Alex Megos launched a fundraising campaign for the athletes last week. Now the DAV is also speaking out.