viaferrata

[Marmot]

Ive been on a high ropes course that they have in chamonix, where u wonder through the trees on the side of a mountain, but has anybody ever tried this

http://www.viaferrata.org/

its been passed onto me by a friend who loved it

[Geddi]

I wanna go, i wanna go, i wanna go. Why cant i go? http://www.goxplore.net/images/icons/icon9.gif

[andyharbach]

I had a go at two whilst on holiday in Saas Fee this summer. The first was rated easy / medium and was on the Mittaghorn. The second rated difficult was on the Jegihorn. They are great fun, and if you have an opportunity to have a go are well worth it.

[Marmot]

From the pictures i saw i couldnt quite work out exactly what you have to do, what kind of safety features are there in place?

[andyharbach]

Via ferrata consists of a lot of metal attached to the rockface! On the ones I was on there was a wire (similar to a cable car wire, but thinner) attached to the rock by pegs. You clip yourself on to the wire using two crabs attached to your harness, and climb. When you reach a peg you take one crab off and place it the other side. You then repeat with the other. This way you are never detached from the wire completely. The crabs are usually a special sort where they lock but you do not need to screw them up as it would be laborious with the number of times you take them on and off. The farthest you can fall is as far as the last peg on the wire, which is never too far.


Where the going is more difficult you may find ladders or possibly some rungs for your feet. When I have a chance I will put a few photos on the web.

As far as gear goes, you need a harness, helmet and via ferrata kit. I used the Simond Aerofrein. The purpose of this is to absorb the force of a fall, which could be high.

[Ollie]

Sounds quite interesting!

You don't have any photos or anything do you? The ones on the website are a bit hard to see.

Ollie

[Marmot]

When I have a chance I will put a few photos on the web.
use your eyes http://www.goxplore.net/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Ollie]

Smart Alec ;)

[Digby]

A GoXplore member, Paul Chamberlain, is one of the few people in Britain who can rig these attractions. Most of the work he does is in woodland, using trees, rather than rocks. In the UK I expect you would not be allowed to put permanent hardwear on any outcrops that were suitable - unless they were in somebody's garden!

[Marmot]

i think the rough translation is either "pillar of iron" or "by iron" - ferrata being italian for iron and via meaning either "pillar" or in the sence that we would use it as "by"

[insane_climber]

it was origionaly used to get german and italian artilery troop and guns to high advantage points during the war

[MariaD]

Just noticed this thread & thought I'd give my twopence worth! Via Ferrata routes are loads of fun (they range from easy beginner routes to extremely difficult ones) and the pre-placed protection considerably cuts down the amount of weight you have to carry. I would definitely recommend checking them out if you're going to be in the Alps.

Not sure I'd want them in the UK, though. I don't mind using them if they're already there but hammering new stuff onto rock faces seems to go against the concept that we should try to do as little damage to the environment as possible.

i think the rough translation is either "pillar of iron" or "by iron" - ferrata being italian for iron and via meaning either "pillar" or in the sence that we would use it as "by"

Not quite! Via Ferrata means "Iron Road", as the word "via" translates into "road" or "way" in both modern Italian and ancient Latin. The modern English word "via" descends from it.

[Hillwalker]

Via Ferrata is an exciting option for walkers (who are not necessarily climbers) who want to get into some wonderfully exposed situations in safe circumstances. The Dolomites of Northern Italy are without doubt the Mecca of Via Ferrata (I have been a number of times and love it), with grades from 1 to 5. Most walkers with a good head for heights would be thrilled on levels 2,3 and 4.

Have a look at www.colletts.co.uk (http://www.colletts.co.uk) who I would rate as the top UK Via Ferrata company. Go and do it.

Anybody wanting specific advice get in touch via my email and I will offer whatever I can.

[Digby]

Nice to see you back on the site Dave!

[MariaD]

I know several people who have used Colletts Mountain Holidays to do guided via ferrata routes, and they've all been really impressed. They're definitely a good choice if you want to try via ferrata in a group environment.

[Hillwalker]

Yes Maria, they affer escorted Via Ferrata routes everyday, also low level and high level walks.

However, if you are happy to do so you can go and do your own thing independently, which is what my son and I have done. With cheap flights into Venice the Dolomites is very convenient.

If you have a rack, there are plenty of roadside crags bolted up too. The Dolomites is my idea of heaven!

[MariaD]

I love the rifugios that are dotted about in the Dolomites - you can finish a climb & enjoy a nice beer and a bite to eat with a stunning view!

[Hillwalker]

You're dead right Maria, I have used refugios/huts just about everywhere in Europe, but the ones in the Italian Dolomites are without doubt the best in my opinion. They are well fitted, comfortable and warm, and I have never encountered the elitism and posturing that I have sadly found frequently in the French huts.

Ooops! Mustn't get racist must we!!!!

[MariaD]

The food they serve in rifugios is surprisingly good as well - it's generally cheap & simple but very good quality.

I was thinking of doing a long inter-rifugio walk/climb by linking up as many as possible in a continuous route. It'd be a good way to spend a week or so...

[Hillwalker]

I spent a week trekking through the Dolomites last year, going hut to hut - it was brilliant, some hard days, but in amazing scenery and with a good refugio at the end of the day.

Getting to a place to start then back after the end is not always so easy, but local buses and taxis are useful. I guess you could quite easily create a route that starts and ends with a telephrique out of and into a large centre where there are trains and buses.