von Gast Blogger
20 April 2017
Summer
The mountains his companions - Heinz Zak
Heinz Zak is one of Austria's best-known extreme climbers. In addition to his fascination for climbing, he also has a passion for photography and is also a pioneer in slacklining. On his countless mountain adventures around the world, Zak always appreciates returning to his home in Scharnitz, where his "living room", the Karwendel, is located.
Heinz Zak discovered his enthusiasm for climbing at a young age. His father himself was a passionate mountaineer and his mother a gifted gymnast. With his grandparents he spent a lot of time on the alpine pastures, where the mountains became his companions. The deep passion for the sport on the rock wall, he developed together with his faithful and best friend to this day.
Heinz Zak climbing
In the 1970s, Heinz Zak was one of the first Austrians to learn free climbing in Yosemite Valley in California. In the early 80s, he opened the first alpine ascent in free climbing style on the Schüsselkar (Hexentanz der Nerven, 7th degree) - many others followed. Zak explored the most important climbing areas in the world, but he always liked to return to his home country. There he climbed numerous first ascents in the Wetterstein as well as in the Karwendel at the beginning of the 90s.
Heinz Zak and the most famous highline in the world
Zak started balancing on ropes in Yosemite in the late 70s and has been active as a slackliner ever since. As one of the pioneers in this sport, he was the first European to balance over the most famous highline in the world ("Lost Arrow Spire") in 2003. After that, he also brought the sport to Tyrol in his home town of Scharnitz. In 2006, the international slackline meeting took place there with over 250 slackliners from all over Europe.
Heinz Zak slacklining
Always with him on his tours: his camera. With an eye for the beauty of nature, he fascinates with breathtaking shots from the mountain world. In 2005 he accompanied the free solo ascent of Wolfgang Güllichs. His pictures went around the world and Heinz Zak became a world-renowned climbing photographer. In 2002, 2011, 2014 and 2016 he published books with impressive pictures from his tours.
Only last year 2016, he accompanied Adam Ondra, one of the currently best climbers in the world, for a photo reportage to Norway. His current project is the book "Berge Tirol" in collaboration with the Tirol Tourist Board and the National Geographic publishing house - you can be excited and look forward to dreamlike pictures from the Tyrolean Alps.
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