With our kayaks stashed from the previous days adventures it was a nice mellow walk down to the start of the lower Section.
This Section of the Lech Gorges has some of the best whitewater in Austria. The action comes thick and fast with some cracking drops, boofs, slides and all set in one of of the most picturesque gorges!
If this is not enough to wet your appetite then one of the last rapids- the notorious Turmzimmer cannot be properly scouted, is a must run rapid and the first who drops in has no safety cover! Literally translated the Turmzimmer means "The Towers Room" and it certainly feels like a the gorge is towering over the river and the room, well you can imagine if you were stuck in there!?
The hole is munchy, the tow back strong and if you get caught then you are heading straight to the overhanging gorge wall for a slamming! Sounds kind of gnarly, it is, but it is also good for your soul and certainly keeps your heart pumping!
If your heart is not pumping before or after the Turmzimmer then it will be once you get to your van as the walkout is steep, real steep!
If you are around this part of Austria and are up to the challenge then it is well worth running, you can see some sections of river from high above on the road (the must run syphon rapid) and will get a general idea of the river and its character, though to be quite honest it is better to run the lower part of the Lech Gorge the first time with someone who knows the run, you really do not want to be caught in there with the wrong water level!
This has to be one of Austria's best class V rivers, it is just a shame that you can only kayak it until the 15 August!!
Maybe we will see you there next year?
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