Multipitch Atlas

Caipirinha

Nösslachwand, Längenfeld (Au) · Ötztal · Austria

Bail not documentedBolting confidence: high

A mix of slabs and steep, juggy passages in the Sonnenblume sector, mostly around 5b to 5c+. The one hard move is a small roof on pitch 4 (6b+), which goes easily on aid.

Hardest pitch
6b+
Pitches
5
Length
170 m
Approach
15 min
Aspect
SW
South-west-facing
Rope
1×60 m
walk-off

The route

Overview

Caipirinha is in the Sonnenblume sector on the left side of the big Nösslachwand. It is a little harder in the middle than at either end: an easy first pitch, slabs and a steep juggy pitch, then a small roof on the fourth pitch that is the only really hard move. bergsteigen.com grades the roof UIAA 7 and says it is easy to aid, which leaves a route of about UIAA 6 (5c+ to 6a+). Climbers Paradise gives 6b+ with 6a+ obligatory.

The climbing

Pitch by pitch

Pitches of Caipirinha
PitchGradeLengthNotes
P13a30 mEasy, with a small waterfall to the right. Shortly before the big ledge with a tree, move right to the belay.
P25c+36 mSlabs. Climbing directly over the last bolt is harder, perhaps UIAA 7- (about 6a+).
P36a+25 mSteep and juggy, ending at the belay under the roof.
P46b+17 mThe small roof: UIAA 7 free, straightforward on aid.
P55c+45 mA long pitch to the route book.

Getting there

Approach

To the parking

Leave the Inn valley motorway at the Ötztal exit and drive about 18 km up the valley, through Umhausen, to the hamlet of Au just before Längenfeld. Use the signed car park by the river Ötztaler Ache, opposite the small sewage works and chapel; Climbers Paradise asks you not to park at the recycling yard or by the chapel. By public transport: train to Ötztal-Bahnhof, then the valley bus to Au.

On foot · about 15 min

About 15 min. From the car park go through the cycle-path underpass to the sewage works, then left on the hiking path towards the Wiesle inn. About 50 m after a wayside shrine, at a clearing, clear path traces lead right to the wall and a platform. Climb onto this ledge and go past the route Sonnenblume, marked by a stone with a sunflower glued to the rock. Caipirinha starts there and is named at the base.

Map of the walk-in

  • Route base
  • Parking

Loading map

The point marks the base of the route.

Coordinates · route base

47.10930, 10.95390

Parking

47.10560, 10.95314

Signed car park by the Ötztaler Ache at Au

Point from bergsteigen.com touren/klettern/caipirinha-noesslachwand

For your phone or watch

Download GPX

Contains the route point and parking. Opens in most mapping apps and GPS watches.

Points are compiled from published sources, with the precision stated above. They were not surveyed on the ground: check them against a current topo.

Getting down

Descent

On foot, about 30 min. From the route book follow a ledge left along a fixed rope and go briefly up. Keep left to a meadow, following the markings, and take a path to the hiking trail, which zigzags down to the car park.

Retreat

Bailing off the route

Bail not documented

Retreat is not documented. The descent is on foot and neither source says how the belays are rigged. The pitches below the last are 17 to 36 m.

Retreat from
Not known.
Point of no return
Not documented. The roof on pitch 4 can be aided, which makes continuing easier than it looks.
Carry
Maillons and cord in case you must abseil; two ropes or a 70 m single for the 36 m second pitch.
Basis
Inferred from the route factsSources give only the walk-off; rope advice is inferred from the Climbers Paradise pitch lengths.

Partly inferred from the route facts

Safety

Hazards

  • The lower part can be wet from spray off the neighbouring water streak.
  • The first part of the descent is on a ledge with a fixed rope.

Sun and weather

Conditions

West to south-west facing, 1200 to 1350 m. Season May to October. Best after a dry day. In strong wind the lower part can be damp from the water streak next to the route.

Usual season · May to Oct

Sun on the wall · SW-facing

Working out the sunlit hours for this month.

  • January: not yet worked out
  • February: not yet worked out
  • March: not yet worked out
  • April: not yet worked out
  • May (usual season): not yet worked out
  • June (usual season): not yet worked out
  • July (usual season): not yet worked out
  • August (usual season): not yet worked out
  • September (usual season): not yet worked out
  • October (usual season): not yet worked out
  • November: not yet worked out
  • December: not yet worked out

Sun on the wallDaylight, wall in shade● Usual season

Estimated from the wall's aspect only. Ignores surrounding terrain, gullies and the wall's exact shape. Clock times are local to the wall (Central European time), for the 15th of each month.

Climate figures for Ötztal are not available yet

What to carry

Gear

bergsteigen.com says 10 quickdraws in the text and 12 in its data field; Climbers Paradise says 12 and a 50 m rope. A 60 m single rope is the bergsteigen.com recommendation. Helmet.

Checklist

Quickdraws
12
Rope
1×60 m (walk-off)
Helmet
One each
Maillons or spare karabiners
To leave behind if you retreat
Cord
Mentioned for retreat

Derived from the route data; check it against a current topo

From climbers

Reader reports

Reader reports are not being collected yet. Until they are, check a current topo and the local club or guidebook publisher for recent changes to Caipirinha.

Worth knowing

Tips

  • Aid the roof on pitch 4 and the route becomes a pleasant outing at about 6a.
  • Südwind (5c+, five pitches) is the similar but easier neighbour to the left, though its last pitch is described as demanding and loose.
  • Allow 2 h to 2 h 30 on the route.

Open questions

Where sources disagree

  • Length: 170 m (bergsteigen.com) against 153 m (Climbers Paradise, whose pitch lengths are used).
  • Obligatory grade: UIAA 6- (bergsteigen.com) against 6a+ (Climbers Paradise).
  • Quickdraws: 10 or 12 depending on which bergsteigen.com field you read. Rope: 60 m against 50 m.
  • Aspect: south-west against west.
  • Climbers Paradise lists the route as "Caipirinha 6b" in its heading but grades it 6b+.

Provenance

Sources

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Compiled from published sources and last verified October 2026. Bolts, anchors and access change. Climbing is dangerous and you are responsible for your own decisions: check a current topo and read the disclaimer.