Given the length of this climb, you might easily overlook it. Indeed, it’s just a short stretch. But a special one nonetheless. Suppose you’re in the area, perhaps to climb the Hahntenjoch, then you’ll practically or literally pass by it. So why not give it a go? The advice is to do the Hahntenjoch first and then this one. The fun of this climb lies in its steep gradient. Right at the bottom of the climb, still among the houses, a sign warns you of the 18% incline that lies ahead. Although the climb is only 1.85 kilometers long, you ascend 251 meters from Imst (795 meters) to Hoch Imst (1046 meters). That makes for an average gradient of 13.6%. So, tighten your shoes and hit the gas for the first steep section where the climb begins.
You can thankfully see the road quickly leveling off to about 15% before we reach the first bend. The brief flat stretch gives your legs a rest, but it quickly starts climbing again as we enter the forest ahead. And there, it gets steep again. With gradients between 10 and 15 percent, the road ascends steeply.
The road, as the photo also shows, is perfectly paved. You gain altitude very quickly here. In 4 hairpin bends, you reach Hoch Imst. The last 500 meters of the climb flatten out slightly. From Hoch Imst, the cable car departs. Additionally, it serves as a starting point for walking through the touristy Rosengartenschlucht. Therefore, Hoch Imst is particularly busy with tourists on summer days, and so is the road leading to it. I cycled this climb twice in one evening. Even then, I was still passed by several cars. The climb is short but challenging and, as mentioned, fun to tackle, especially in combination with the Hahntenjoch.
