Via Ferrata

A via ferrata (Italian for "iron road".) is a mountain route which is equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges. It allows walkers and climbers to climb what would otherwise be difficult and extremely exposed routes, in relative safety and without the need for their own ropes and belays. They can be a feature in their own right, (of which most French vias fall into this category) or can be part of a longer scrambling route allowing climbers safe passage over a difficult section.

When undertaking a via ferrata, you have specialised kit that attaches to the fixed cables, as well as a rope to your guide. Via Ferratas are a great introduction to climbing, achieving similar senses of exposure only the very experienced climbers would achieve.

Via Ferratas originated in the Dolomites in the first world war as supply routes over otherwise unpassable mountains. The routes in Italy, Austria and Germany tend to be long scrambling routes, with sections of equipped via ferrata. In France the routes are shorter and generally on steep or near vertical terrain and are accordingly fully equipped throughout. They also nearly all feature a rope bridge as in the picture above.