Climbing in the Western Harz is first and foremost pure granite. Rough but hearty is the motto. But it is especially climbing in nature. Deep forests, surprisingly imaginative rock formations and romantic mountain streams make the Harz one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Germany. In addition to fully equipped routes with bolts, there are also many mixed routes where you can belay yourself. Some of the best crack climbing in northern Germany can be found here! The focus is on easy and medium-difficulty routes.The Oker Valley is particularly attractive for vertical climbers who prefer easy and moderately difficult routes, which is why we have extended our previous three-stage route colour categorisation (grey = difficult, red = medium, blue = easy) specifically for this purpose. The new categorisation is: very easy (UIAA 1-3) = green, normal easy (UIAA 4-6) = blue.This new edition of 2025 includes a whole series of completed projects, a few additional topos and new photos throughout the book.The guide Harz Rocks 1 is part of the complete Harz Rocks publication, which consists of Harz Rocks 1 on the one hand and Harz Rocks 2 on the other. In the second book all other rocks of the Harz are presented, e.g. the rocks of the Hochharz around Schierke, Eckertal, Steinbachtal, the sandstone rocks of the northern Harz foreland and also the limestone rocks of the southern Harz and the difficult sport climbing routes of the Krokstein.Perfect photo topos, precise access and ascent maps + detailed descriptions, route information, star ratings, tips for protection.288 pagesLanguage German / partly EnglishEdition 2025A. HackeGeoquest Publishing House

In HARZ ROCKS 2 all climbing areas of the Harz and Harz foothills are described in detail.The Oker Valley is left out, since this part of the Harz was already covered in HARZ ROCKS 1.HARZ ROCKS 2 now presents the areas from the Bodenstein Cliffs in the northwest, over the Steinbach Valley in the east to the rocks in the southern Harz.The Harz thereby offers an unbelievably large rock variety: sandstone, limestone and above all: granite!The subareas:- Bodensteiner Klippen (including the rocks recently opened for climbing)- Northern Harz (rocks near Bad Harzburg)- Oberharz (rocks near Schierke)- Rübeland (limestone, marble and melaphyre)- Harz foothills (soft sandy rocks and quartzitic hardened rocks along the Teufelsmauer)- Steinbachtal (the granite area has incredible new routes!)- Ilfelder area (quiet and remote rocks)- South Harz (among others ruin Scharzfels and Römerstein)- Westharz (rocks near Clausthal-Zellerfeld)- included: ice climbing guide!In addition to easy-to-read, color photo topos, the climbing guide includes many overview and detailed maps, QR codes / GPS coordinates for parking and location of the rocks, as well as many climbing and atmospheric pictures.384 pagesLanguage GermanEdition 2022A. HakeGeoquest Publishing House

Bouldern in and around the Harz The bouldering guide HarzBlock 2.2 covers the bouldering areas in and around the Harz mountains on 528 pages. 2500 boulder problems are described in detail with photo topos, pictograms, first ascent information and comments. In addition to the main area of Oker Valley, other granite areas in the northern and eastern Harz are also listed, as well as the sandstone areas in the northern Harz foreland. The approach to the areas is described with detailed maps and in words. The location of the blocks is shown on the maps, and GPS coordinates are also given for each block. This combination should make it possible to find each block.Numerous photos, all in colour, hopefully whet the appetite and motivation. The guide also contains a detailed information section on areas, rules of the game, accommodation options, history as well as food and rest day tips. For the collectors, a tick list for all problems >= fb 7a is also included. The information section as well as the area and approach descriptions are also in German and English, so that guests from abroad should also find their way around better.Like its predecessor, the bouldering guide comes with the vertical-life app.The bouldering areas described in and around the northern Harz include the granite areas in the Oker Valley, near Bad Harzburg and in the eastern Harz, as well as the (limestone) sandstone areas near Langenstein, Westerhausen, Blankenburg and Bodenstein.OkertalThe largest of the areas described and the heart of Harz bouldering. The countless blocks of rough granite offer excellent opportunities for vertical short progamming. Consequently, a large number of new problems and areas have been opened up in recent years, making the Oker Valley one of the largest bouldering areas in Germany.Bad HarzburgHere you will find another granite area similar to the Oker Valley, but also the Wolfstein, a small limestone cliff with ideal and steep bouldering opportunities right on the edge of town.Eastern Harz: Hohnstein Cliffs and SchierkeOther large granite areas with short (schierke) and long (Hohnsteinklippen) approaches.Langenstein, Westerhausen, Blankenburg, BodensteinSmaller, but very fine sandstone areas, whose bouldering and rock quality are in many parts close to Fontainebleau. Short approaches and friendly jumping terrain make them perfect (family) bouldering areas. 528 pagesGerman / EnglishEdition 2020 with vertical life appH. ApelAutoedition