Tag: via ferrata

Categories
Swiss walks

Plenty of Choice

Via Francigena on the way to Aigle
Via Francigena on the way to Aigle
Reading Time: < 1 minute

A few days ago someone was angry at me for posting too much in a whatsapp chat and I've been feeling down because I felt bullied out of the group. I miss sharing project ideas but at the same time it is essential for me to remind myself that just because I am trolled in a whatsapp group does not mean that there are not dozens of other things to do.

I ignore the indoor activities, and the volleyball, and other more urban activities. This weekend I can go for a bike ride tomorrow afternoon. Saturday I can go on a hike to the Dent D'Oche with 1000m of climbing and desent with a via cordata/chain section or I can go for an afternoon via ferrata. Failing these two options on Sunday I can hike with a group to a castel above Neuchatel.

The point of this post is to demonstrate that despite being trolled by one person in one small whatsapp group there are still dozens of things to do with decent people. I could push very hard and cycle to Yvoire on Friday, before hiking up to the Dent D'Oche, and then on Sunday, for a bit of a rest I can hike from Neuchatel uphill to a small town.

I believe that Meetup.com, GoSocial and other communities in Switzerland have reached maturity and that if we want to have social weekends, without going to bars and pubs, we can, with ease. This is to encourage us to keep meeting sporty people and meeting people in the physical world, rather than dealing with trolls online.

The physical world is filled with decent people, and that is where we have to spend our time.

Categories
Swiss walks

The Illuminated Moléson Via Ferrata

Moléson at Night
Moléson at Night - view at the start of the Via Ferrata before the sun set properly
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Every year the Moléson tourism board and related teams provide people with the oppotunity to do the Face, and the Pillar by night. I have wanted to experience this multiple times in the past but because either of work, or weather, I had to cancel the plan to experience this.

The idea is simple. Sunset is at 20:25. People start climbing the VF from 1900 onwards with the option of doing the "easy" Pillar or the hard "Face". As I did The Face a few weeks ago in daylight I did The Pillar instead. My decision was based on two things. The first is that I had organised to go with a group, and I felt a sense of responsibility to help those with less experience should they require it.

Some Thoughts

Two thoughts I had during this climb is that it's like caving, rather than diving. When you look up you can see people making their way up both faces simultaneously. You can hear cow bells in the fields below as well as the sound of crickets. Every so often you notice plenty of small spiders. The legs are thin and the bodies are not big. If I'm indoors I would hate to put my hands so close to spiders but on a VF it doesn't bother me. I thought that I may see bats but noticed none. Either they don't have enough insects around there or they have no caves or caverns within which to sleep. It's possible that they're active between midnight and 4 am as indicated by a sign near the Areuse river.

Fear and Physicality

When you're climbing by night the landscape is different. You can see far, due to city lights and car lights. You get a sense of height but not as you would if you were doing this climb during daylight. In daylight you would see everything. At night you see as far as your light will reach, or other groups ahead and behind you.

At one point I heard one person in another group say "don't look down" and this felt odd to me. I always look down. With rock climbing, and especially when abseiling down I learned that if you don't look down constantly, when it comes time to descend you will be surprised by how high you are, and feel fear. By constantly looking down the change is gradual.It also implies that people doing this VF are afraid of heights.

Logistics

The illuminated event is well organised. You can book via a web form up until 1400 the same day, or you can see if you can get a ticket on the spot. They check off your name from the list. They get emergency contact info, check that you have all the required gear, and snacks. They also provide you with a ticket for soup at the end of the VF in the restaurant.

One of the best aspects, in my opinion is that they have a team at the start of the VF routes, to log you in and then three individuals at various points along the route to check that everyone is okay. In case of an emergency they are ready to abseil down in case of bad weather, or use the helicopter in case of good weather. If you push beyond your limits then people are there to support you.

A Howling Wind At the Top

One of the key features of this specific climb is that there was a very strong wind. At moments there were gusts strong enough to require you to fight back to remain upright, both on the VF but also when walking from the end of the VF to the télécabine. That wind made it cold, which is why people didn't stop and wait at the summit, but chose, instead, to head for the télécabine, and the restaurant below.

And Finally

It's an interesting experience that is worth doing. By the end of it I was exhausted so I'm happy that I did not do a hike that morning. It's when I finished that I felt exhausted, and barely able to stay awake. I don't remember being this tired after a daytime vf. I am rarely so tired after a daytime VF.

Categories
observation social networking Swiss walks Switzerland

On Whether to Do a Hike and a Via Ferrata on the Same Day

View of the Moléson without Clouds
View of the Moléson without Clouds
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Two weeks ago I thought that I would have an issue with this weekend and I was right. I thought that I would want to do a hike with one group, and do a Via Ferrata with a second group. That situation is now a reality.

A Good Hiking Group and a Goal I want to Reach

I have wanted to walk up to the Dent De Vaulion for a few weeks now, and on Saturday I have the opportunity to do this with a group, rather than alone. Not only this, but it's also a group that I appreciated being with two weeks ago. I want to experience that group again on Saturday. The issue is that it's a 13km walk with 700m of climbing. In my experience the distance is usually longer than planned, and if it is sunny and warm then heat fatigue is possible.

Having Energy in the Evening

My other concern has been around for weeks at this point. If I have lunch at midday and then I do something physical like a Via Ferrata in the evening, then how do I ensure that I have enough energy to do the climb. I was considering this challenge ahead of deciding that I wanted to do the hike in the morning. If I do the hike I will be fatigued. If I spend the day in the sun the sun will fatigue me. If I do not have snacks with me during the climb, and water, then I will be fatigued too.

Fear of Mission Out - FOMO

What this situation boils down to is FOMO. I want to go on the hike because I have a fear of missing out. But missing out on what? Meeting good people. By that logic the Via Ferrata Illuminé will be an excellent opportunity to meet people as well. We'll be at the registration, and then we'll be at the funiculaire, and then on the Via ferrate, and then at the top for the meal, and then on the télécabine down. In theory I will have my crowd bath (Bain de foule) with ease. If I save my energy for the evening then that is when I will benefit the most.

Once Per Year and a Short Season

The via Ferrata Illuminé is once per year in Moléson. This means that I need to do it on a specific day, or I will have to wait another year for another opportunity. The hike, in contrast, is easy to organise anytime. In fact it may be a good hike to do in Autumn, when the leaves are changing colour. I have been to the Vallée de Joux and Vallorbe quite a few times this year so it may be rational not to go yet again.

And Finally

I will stay signed in to the hike until it reaches 25 people, and at this point I may pull out to allow someone else the opportunity to enjoy the hike, that has no other plans. Logistically if I do the hike I need to park at Le Pont. The train is once an hour from Le Pont. If time is tight I want the flexibility of the car.

In an ideal world both activities would be on different day.

Categories
Swiss walks Via Ferrata

The Charmey Via Ferrata and Personal Limits

View of the K6 route in Charmey
View of the K6 route in Charmey
Reading Time: 3 minutes

There was a time when I would have gone to Charmey and climbed the Square Vide II route without hesitation. This is a K6 route that starts with an overhang, before continuing over several more overhangs. I tried the first part and decided not to continue. I climbed back down before getting over the overhang.

Years ago I would have done it because I went to climbing gyms every Thursday evening, and did via ferrata almost every weekend so I had a much stronger upper body. After six or seven years of not climbing much I have the upper body of a cyclist or hiker, rather than a climber.

It is for this reason that I chose not to do the K6 climb, and why I felt the lactic acid build up in my arms. I still know the technique and how to climb. The issue is that I can feel that my arm muscles tire much faster than they used to. In Square Vide 1 and 2, as they're called in English you need muscle endurance to find it pleasant.

Fear didn't play a role on this VF. It was all about lactic acid building up too fast. With a lot of VFs you stand, and clip and unclip while standing, without hanging from one arm but on this VF you're clipping and unclipping in slightly overhanging environments.

As I said, a few years ago I would have done the k5 and K6 with ease.

## The Value of Upper Body Strength

If we think in a linear manner then climbing, bouldering and regular Via ferrata would be the natural solution to building more endurance. Swimming, rowing, and outdoor gyms could also be used. So could indoor pull up bars, push-ups and more.

## A Reason to Go Back

Over the years I have been with many groups to enjoy Via Ferrata and sometimes I have skipped either a section, as with Saillon, or an entire route, as in Bellevaux. The same is true of Charmey. The rational is simple. If you go to do a VF once, then it makes sense to do all of the ones that are within easy reach. If you know that the VF is a yearly thing, then it's easy to say "I will do the easy route with the less experienced people.

In Charmey there are three routes and I did the medium one. Next time I could do either the easy, or the hard one, depending on how I feel. When I looked at the "map" of the Via Ferrata I found that the easy one looked like the most whimsical. The hard one is about pushing your physical fitness and the medium one is too, but without such pronounced overhangs.

## And Finally

When I chose not to do Leukerbad it was about an extreme fear that I felt. I felt it driving up. I felt it hiking up. It was gone by the time I headed back down. If I had done that VF I might have traumatised myself. I didn't like it at the peak of my Via Ferrata form.

With Charmey not doing the k6 route was about personal responsibility and fitness. I know that I need to strengthen my upper body, to be the lizard that I once was. Next year, or by the end of the season I may feel better, but for now I follow my instinct.

By following my instinct I saw that even the k5 was a workout, so I'm happy that I chose not to push myself too far. When the drive takes one hour you can afford to come back.

Categories
Rock climbing Sports Switzerland Via Ferrata

The Desire Not To Do Something

My left hand after climbing the Leukerebad VF
My left hand after climbing the Leukerebad VF
Reading Time: 3 minutes

More often than not I speak about the desire to do something, rather than the desire not to. Before showeing this morning I was looking at hiking ideas, to find some that would appeal to me and I did. Some friends/people I know want to do the Daubenhorn Via Ferrata on Saturday but I feel little to no desire to do it.

## Three Experiences So Far

I have done this Via Ferrata three or four times and almost every time I have said "never again". If you end an activity with that thought three times I think the message is clear. I don't like that Via Ferrata. It's especially the second part that I find so hard, after the "lunch" break. It's especially the last exposed bit, high above the ground.

Usually I am perfectly relaxed on almost all parts of all via ferrata but there are some that challenge me more than others, and that's when I was going to the gym two to three times a week to maintain my upper body strength in between climbs. I don't doubt that I would get to the top. I have enough grit. I just think that I will be tired and fatigued, and thinking yet again "never again".

## Other Interests

There is a flipside to this. There are at least three or four hikes that would tempt me. The [first is in the valley of Leukerbad](https://www.komoot.com/tour/1746102944). This looks like a nice hike with nice views, and at least two restaurants to stop by for a coffee or meal. In one case they make plenty of cheese during the summer season.

The [Lämmerhütte Walk](https://www.komoot.com/tour/1745948161) would be a physical walk with 880 meters of climbing and descent, and a loop that lasts for six and a half hours and 13.3km in distance. One of the highlights of that route is an old fortress and tunnel through the rock. Every time I have done the VF I have been curious about the walk that we see from above. I think it could be a nice route, especially if you then walk over to Kandersteg on the other side.

With the Lämmerhütte walk I would consider taking the télécabine back down, at the end of the day, to save my knees from the descent.

## What Made the VF So Challenging

### Different Setup

The first time I did this VF the first thing that struck me as odd was the spikes, rather than staples. The second thing about this VF is that it's much higer than most so you really feel that you're exposed. In French they say "plein de gaz" to describe it. The ground is far below, especially at some moments.

### Long Lunch Break

The second mistake I make is that I have the wrong snacks with me so when others take a break for lunch I snack, and by the time the break is over I don't feel like doing the second part. I would be happier with a shorter break that allows people to catch up, and then continue. I never enjoy long breaks when hiking or doing other sports, unless it's for a real meal. We can't have a real meal up there.

### Too Heavy

On at least one climb I took too much with me. I need to take a rain coat, a warm layer, something to drink, and snacks that I know I will eat in full.

## And Finally - Avoid Hitting the Wall

It's especially when I cycle that I tend to hit the wall at some point, and then I usually limp home metaphorically. I cycle but without energy. The question is not whether I can do it again, but if I can do it in comfort. Can I do it without hitting the wall on the last part after the cave?

I see this Via Ferrata as a pinnacle VF for a reason. If it was easy I would not see it as having to be earned. I would do it, and not spare a thought. Saturday I will challenge myself again, and we will see how I do.

Categories
observation

If in Doubt Abort

Reading Time: 3 minutes

There is an old rule that I live by. If in doubt, abort. It's related mainly to when I was diving but is linked to other forms of extreme sports. The logic is simple. If you're going hiking, climbing, diving or some other dangerous sport and you have some doubt, for any reason, the rational thing to do is to abort.

## Turning Around or Aborting

The idea is that if you're 200m from the summit of a hike and you get hit by a hail storm you turn around, despite being so close to the summit. The idea is that if for any reason one person doesn't have the right gear to dive, and you're diving with someone else, then you abort.

A few years ago I spend 45 minutes arguing that I didn't feel safe diving with one person, without a more experienced diver with us. I had wasted two hours to drive to the dive site but I just didn't feel comfortable so I stayed true to my own limitations.

## The Concerns

Today, instead of writing a blog post I could have done a Via Ferrata with two different groups. In the end I chose not to because the foot that I injured last Sunday is still hurting. I have two concerns. The first is that I will start to feel real pain whilst climbing the VF. The second concern is that I might be fine while climbing but in agony on the way down a relatively steep path.

The third concern is that if I had gone to do either VF today I could prolong the time for which I am injured. Instead of being injured for four days I went for a walk and my injury has lasted seven days. If I did either VF I could prolong my injury time by another week or two.

I am frustrated that I couldn't do either activity today but that's a good thing. It shows that my habit of self-isolating is diminishing. I want to do things again. If I wasn't injured I would have had a choice of what to do.

## Delayed Gratification

My third choice is delayed gratification. I have chosen to allow my body to recover for another week, so that next week I can confidently commit to doing something interesting.

## Confirmation Bias

This morning my foot felt a lot better, and that is what really convinced me that I should take another day's break. It's because my foot felt so much better after a lazy day that I was convinced that staying home was/is the right thing to do today.

## The Spectre of "What If"?

Of course, the difficulty in deciding not to do something is the spectre of "What if". What if I felt fine? What if I had missed an opportunity to make new friends?

The real question is "What if I got stuck on the Via Ferrata and needed to be "rescued". What if the walk down was excruciatingly painful? What if, because I went this week and injured myself more, I ended up being out of action for even longer than a week and a half or two? That's why I speak of delayed gratification.

Misshing out this week amplifies the opportunities for next week.

## And Finally

The rational of "If in doubt, abort" is a good habit to have. If you do the Via Ferrata in Saillon and you do the first and second part then it's fun, but if you're in doubt about the second part it's good to skip it. It's better to regret, and come back, than to push too far and need rescuing.

Another time someone needed rescuing on a VF was Plan Praz. The person was exhausted and got stuck. We needed a rope to rescue that person too.

The third example, of the hailstorm on the Cheval blanc, is a good one. We were just 200m from the summit when a hailstorm hit us. We could have continued up but we didn't know if there would be another hailstorm and by the time we were down we, or at least I, was at risk of hypothermia. Luckily I did recover but it was good to turn around when we did.

In today's context I aborted because I have an injury that is clear and evident. I wish I could have done either via ferrata, and I could, but there is a very high probability that I would feel more pain, and that I would regret testing my luck.

Categories
Switzerland Via Ferrata

La Via Ferrata Farinet

View of the gorge and waterfall with the Saillon vineyards in the background
View of the gorge and waterfall with the Saillon vineyards in the background
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Plaque describing Farinet
Plaque describing Farinet

For a week or two in April the weather was nice but since then the weather has been bad. We had new snow, high winds and rain. Yesterday rain was announced yet again for parts of Switzerland but luckily only clouds were announced for Saillon where the Via Farinetta is. I expected it to be cold and grey but practicable.

We had moments of sunshine and the weather was even pleasant. As a result of all the rain and snow the waterfalls were full of water, to the point of growing with water and spraying the first part of the Via Ferrata.

A large volume of water filling the waterfall
A large volume of water filling the waterfall

As this Via Ferrata is in a gorge communicating with the people you are climbing with requires speaking loudly. Now is a good time to see the waterfalls and gorge when they are nicely filled with water.

As I have written about this via Ferrata before I will not go on. What is interesting is that there are now four or five Via Ferrata groups, of which three for those living between Switzerland and France. You have the Via Ferrata Suisse Romand Group, the Via Ferrata Geneve/Annemasse group, the Via Ferrata de France group and the Via Ferrata d'Europe group.

This is excellent because it means that we are now a community of hundreds of enthusiasts connected by Facebook groups and this can be extended to Whatsapp groups. It means that if you have a desire to climb you can suggest a time and place and people can say "yes" or stay silent. ;-). Sometimes they say "nope, some of us have jobs" but not to me as I haven't asked to do things during the week.

What's more, this community is not English speaking "expats". It is made up of locals and migrants. For years social media was about having conversations online but not being able to meet in person unless one caught the train, plane or went on a road trip. Facebook and other social networks have now reached critical mass, at last. This means that we can say "I want to climb" and then you do.

It makes meeting people possible once again. So far I've met two new people via the Via Ferrata group and I want to meet many more. It's nice to be part of a nice big, open community once again. This summer I expect to participate in a few activities with these groups, as soon as the mediocre weather gives way to nice weather.

Categories
France Via Ferrata

Via Ferrata Jacques Revaclier

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Via Ferrata Jacques Revaclier is located on the Salève a short drive from Vitam Parc and within easy driving distance of Geneva and Nyon. The Via Ferrata requires scrambling over a few metres of rock to get to the start.



This via Ferrata has two parkings. The first of these is for the Abbaye de Pomier and the second is for the "promeneurs". If the abbaye parking is empty use this one because you may hit the bottom of your car on the dirt track heaving up to the hiking parking.

The hiker parking
The hiker parking

This via ferrata goes sideways rather than up and requires you to go down and then up, and then across. You walk under the rock formation pictured below and then get to a section where you are more exposed to seeing the landscape and the landscape below. If you're used to via ferrata then this is the moment you will enjoy and if you are new to via ferrata then this is the moment that will either convince you of your love for the sport, or to try something tamer next.

Nice rock
Nice rock

When you get to the end of the via ferrata you will come into a cluster of trees and you are meant to follow the red paint back to the path down. This is not well marked so requires some tracking skills. I created a GPS track of this trip. Keep in mind that later in the season the track should be clearer. At the start of the season teams of volunteers have usually not cleared these paths.



Beginners can try this via ferrata but be aware that the last part may be a challenge for beginners so prepare them for the last section. It's short and easy to surmount but be wary of it.


Categories
Climbing Via Ferrata

The Klettersteig Rider 3.0

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Klettersteig Rider 3.0 is a dual system via ferrata kit. It has a carabiner like standard via ferrata kits have and a "rider" system. The "rider" system fixes to the via ferrata cable and progresses with you. As you get to a part where you need to switch you move the rider system up first and then you move the carabiner. 

What I like about this system is that if you slip or lose grip of the rungs for any reason you will only fall the length of the connector rather than the length from where you are to the most recent pig tail. This reduces the fall distance by a considerable amount. 

The Via Ferrata where I would most like such a system is Leukerbad. On the Leukerbad Via Ferrata when you get to the last third there are few handholds so you rely on finger and arm strength to progress and you get tired. With this system you would relieve that strain to some extent. It would make me feel more at ease. 

At 229 CHF from at least one online shop this kit is expensive. You can get Via Ferrata sets for between 60-115 CHF as a beginner. This kit is interesting for people who, like me, have practised Via Ferrata for years and use their kits every weekend in summer. Via Ferrata sets can last for years so if you estimate that you will use it from 3-5 years the price is acceptable. 

An alternative is the Austrialpin Hydra via ferrata set. It's 60 CHF cheaper but you only block on the cable when you need a rest rather than continuously. The third option, and the most used option is a sling with a carabiner. This is also the cheapest option.  

Categories
Climbing collaboration Via Ferrata

Gallantry and Rock Climbing

Rock climbing on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc a few years ago.
Rock climbing on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc a few years ago.
Reading Time: 6 minutes

Gallantry and Rock Climbing are a good combination. In Rock climbing the person with more experience or comfort helps the person with less comfort. In some cases it might be helping people walk on trails and in other cases it may be walking at the pace that is comfortable for others.

According to the Merriam Webster website gallantry can be a number of things:

1 archaic : gallant appearance
2 a : an act of marked courtesy
b : courteous attention to a lady
c : amorous attention or pursuit
3 : spirited and conspicuous bravery

According to the Larousse Galanterie is

  • Politesse empressée auprès des femmes.

Rock climbing on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc a few years ago.
Rock climbing on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc a few years ago.

The image above was taken a few years ago on one of the two times we went rock climbing on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc. At the time I was still new to rock climbing, was about to try Via Ferrata, altitude diving, canyoning and a number of other sports. At the time I liked to climb but I did not have the compassion or motivation to belay. I was more selfish, more interested in climbing and having fun than in waiting below and belaying people.

Since then I have learned to be more compassionate, to be more helpful and to be more patient. Within a year or two of this picture being taken we went canyoning as a group in the Italian Alps and several of us jumped from 11 metres in to a pool of water. One woman jumped the same jump that we had just done and came back to the surface screaming in agony. We rushed out to help her. We went to her and kept her afloat. We placed life jackets underneath her to float her horizontally. We placed them under her legs and brought her on to a flat rock.

Rescue services were called in and everyone from the group evacuated the area except me. I stayed there so that she had at least one familiar person next to her. A helicopter came in but could not land so medical staff were lowered. The experience was both really exciting because I was able to observe medical staff at work from up close but also unpleasant because someone was injured and in pain. Glass vials of morphine were broken and given to her as she was prepared to be winched up to the helicopter. We used our bodies to shield her from the downwash from the rotor blades until she was ready to be lifted and transported to a nearby hospital.

The group went for a quick meal and then I drove to the hospital to see this person and wait for advice from the medical staff at the hospital. Eventually she was cleared to take an ambulance back to Switzerland but as it involved waiting for an ambulance to come from Switzerland we decided that we would drive her back ourselves. We were lucky because on that day I was driving a comfortable Mercedes. We flattened the front passenger seat so that she would be more comfortable. I drove more carefully and asked her which hospital she wanted to go to. We brought her to that hospital and waited until she was checked in before heading home. That adventure lasted until about midnight or one in the morning. As I was the person that had driven her from Geneva to the mountains I felt uncomfortable abandoning her up there. I felt that it was my duty to repatriate her.

That is one example where I was gallant but there were other cases. Most cases of gallantry in the mountains are more tame, less extreme. The gallantry that I was thinking about when I was inspired to write this blog post was more pleasant. As I climb frequently I am now growing more at ease with lead climbing, able to negotiate harder routes. I am also more comfortable with lead climbing. The person I climbed with yesterday had taken a break from climbing for a few months. As a result of this she was not comfortable with lead climbing so it was an opportunity for me to climb easier routes and set up the top rope for her to climb.

This worked out well for the two of us. For me it was an opportunity to climb easier routes and build experience and for her to practice climbing routes in safety. She thought that for me the experience was boring but I felt the opposite. It was an opportunity for me to climb more than I usually do at climbing walls. It was also more physically demanding. Usually when you go climbing you lead climb a route and then you come down, pull the rope down and then the next person climbs. In this scenario I would sometimes lead climb a route for myself and then set up another route for her. This means that I had no break between two climbs so it pushed my endurance.

Last summer I had another experience. I was climbing with a woman who wanted to do via ferrata despite her fear. I respect such people because they are not at ease and yet they still want to enjoy the experience. They do not want to look down too frequently and they want you to be close by. They need more coaching to get from the start of the finish to the end.

I did one climb with this person where she was really afraid. A route that I would have found boring and taken 45 minutes to do if I was doing the via ferrata normally took about two and a half hours. It was uncomfortable for both of us, for her it was because of fear and for me it was a mental exercise, to coach her along until the end. There was a moment when I did ask if I could be unkind and she said no so I stayed compassionate, courteous. By the end of the VF I felt mentally tired but the thing that hurt me was when the group that had been enjoying a drink or two while waiting for us dispersed. This was the most extreme case.

Now that I have five or six years of via ferrata I have no problem being at the back of the group to help those that are less confident. I also climb at the rear of the group because I know that when I was still new to the sport I did not like the feeling that I could be left behind or abandoned. It's also because I know where and how to rest so I do not get as tired. It means that I have reserves to help people when it is needed. In previous years we never needed to use ropes but last year was different. There were at least two or three moments when people were too tired to continue. Ropes were used to help them through the harder passages.

It is an interesting irony that in Bellevaux last year I had seen that one person felt unable to try the second via ferrata so I chose to stay and wait for those doing the second via ferrata to finish. I think some people finished the second VF so I went to catch up with them on the cliff. I climbed fast and hard and found that the group had become stuck on a hard bit. One person had decided that he had enough strength to do both via ferrata but ran out of energy at an overhang. At this point I passed a number of people, negotiated the bit that he was struggling with and helped with the ropes. We were lucky on that day because one individual, separate from our group had ropes and pullies. We improvised a rig to top rope the struggling person. Eventually we got him past the section that he was finding hard.

One of my goals when I lead via ferrata and when I climb with people is to keep them calm and comfortable. When they show signs of stress or fear I try to understand it and I try to coach them, to relax them. I pride myself in the ability to take relative via ferrata novices and help them complete the VF without ever having to call a helicopter or even use a rope. I believe that Via ferrata is a mental challenge where compassion and gallantry are used to get people from the start to the end of the climb. Those of us with experience are there to coach people with less experience to believe that they can complete the challenge.