Today we’d like to introduce you to Günter Almberger.
Hi Günter, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in the Austrian Alps, I got hooked on climbing and mountaineering pretty early on. What started as a fascination quickly turned into a full-on passion—and eventually into a way of life.
Climbing became the number one thing in my life, right alongside music. I figured I’d somehow make a living doing both, so over the years I traveled and worked as a musician and mountain guide, always moving between the mountains and the stage.
Along the way, I took a turn into the outdoor industry and became Head of Product, developing climbing and mountaineering gear and products. That chapter also unlocked another side of me: the creative one. I got deeper into design and visual concepts, and some of that work ended up being recognized with awards including the Red Dot Design Award and German Design Award.
For the past ten years, I’ve been running my own creative agency while also working on Climax Magazine, Austria’s climbing magazine. These days, a big part of my world revolves around putting the magazine together—shaping the overall concept, designing the layout, and bringing the twice-yearly issues to life.
Where the road goes from here? We’ll see.
One thing is pretty certain, though: climbing—still performance-driven and very much a big part of my life—and music aren’t going anywhere. They’ll be right there with me for whatever comes next, and I’m pretty sure they’ll continue to take up a good chunk of my final decade.
After all, some things are worth sticking with.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not always. Like most people, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs along the way. There have been times when things seemed to fall into place almost effortlessly, and others when I had to work a lot harder just to keep moving forward.
I’ve had projects that worked out beautifully, and others that simply didn’t go the way I had hoped. There were changes, uncertainties, financial pressure, and moments when I questioned whether I was on the right path at all. I think that’s just part of trying to build a life around the things you really care about.
What helped me was learning to see those phases less as failures and more as part of the process. Climbing has probably taught me that better than anything else. Sometimes you’re cruising up a route, everything feels effortless, and sometimes you’re hanging on a tiny hold wondering why the hell you’re doing this in the first place.
But you keep going. You adjust, you learn, you take a different line, and eventually you find your way again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
These days, my work is really a mix of design, photography, and everything I’ve picked up along the way through climbing and music.
The part of my work I probably enjoy the most is designing and laying out the magazines. There’s something very satisfying about taking all the different pieces—stories, photography, typography, graphics—and turning them into something that feels like one coherent piece. I really enjoy that creative process of finding the right balance between content and visual storytelling.
Photography is another big part of what I do. Being out there, chasing light, landscapes, people, and those little moments that tell a story is something I never really get tired of. And, of course, climbing is still a huge part of my life. It’s not just something I work around—it’s still something I actively do and care about, and it naturally influences a lot of my creative work.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was probably a pretty curious and independent kid. Growing up in the mountains, being outside was simply part of everyday life. I was always drawn to things where I could explore, create, or figure things out for myself.
I was into music from an early age, and I spent a lot of time playing guitar. At the same time, I loved being outdoors and eventually got more and more into climbing. I guess that combination of creativity and adventure has stayed with me ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.climax-magazine.com and www.runout-magazine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climaxmagazine_official/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/günter-almberger-2066a4302/
