In July 2004, we stayed in Flachau, Salzburgerland. On my route map, there’s a road marked leading towards the peak of the mountain between Flachau and Wagrain, called Griesenkar. It’s essentially just one of the countless small climbs in Austria. These kinds of roads often feature very steep sections, and this road is no exception. The start is in Flachau and is easy to find. Just before an apartment building, the road turns left, then right, and immediately hits 15%! So, it’s important to warm up in Flachau before tackling this climb.
The road is narrow, with lots of potholes and cracks, and there’s a lot of gravel on it. But because you’re going so slowly, it’s actually still fine to cycle here. Still between the houses, you’ll find some hairpin bends, and we continue on the road through the forest on the mountain’s slopes. It’s been consistently around 15%, and now we’re hitting 18-20%. Even with a low gear, it’s almost like standing still here. The road is so steep at times that you really struggle to keep your front wheel on the ground, but then your rear wheel starts slipping! Especially with loose gravel on the road, it’s crucial to keep pressure on both your front and rear wheels.
You’ll now reach the first mountain lift station, and after this, the road deteriorates significantly. There’s asphalt underneath, but it’s mostly gravel, sand, and gravel. Good tires are a necessity. The road remains steep, around 15%. It now winds through small pieces of forest and meadows alternately. This is where the famous cows walk right in the middle of the path, so be careful on the descent! When you look back, you have a beautiful view of the Dachstein massif. I climbed in the evening, and the sun shines beautifully on it!
Until the end of the road, it remains very steep, between 12 and 20%, and the road stays poor. Due to all the loose gravel, you can’t really gain speed on the descent, and it’s better not to exceed 40 km/h. I climbed this road as training for longer rides, but it was so steep that it became a challenge in itself. Is it worth driving to Flachau to do this climb? Hmm… Well, if you’re staying in Flachau or the immediate vicinity, then you should definitely give it a try. But undoubtedly, there are more of these steep climbs in the area. If you have the choice between a mountain bike and a road bike, I would definitely opt for the mountain bike on this climb. Note: I rode this climb in 2004. The situation may have changed since then.
