What is Via Ferrata

Reading Time: 2 minutes
The landscape visible from the Plan Praz Via Ferrata.
The landscape visible from the Plan Praz Via Ferrata.

Rock Climbing For Tourists

Via Ferrata (VF) is rock climbing for tourists. It is a method by which non rock climbers can ascend a cliff with a minimum of training and effort. Hand holds and foot holds are placed within easy reach of these others. Participants in this activity benefit from a new perspective on the landscape and learn to handle their fear of heights and move at the group’s rate rather than their own.

Accessible

Hand holds and foot holds vary in via ferrata, there are staples, pedals and spikes. Staples are the most common on most VFs. Pedals can be found also be found. Spikes are simply rods that have been drilled in to the rock. To the right or left of the VF are metal cables. These metal cables are the via ferrata safety line. A via Ferrataist is always connected by at least one carabiner at all times.

The cable is attached to the rock every two or three metres. If someone should fall while exploring a VF they will only fall one or two metres. Via Ferrata equipment designed to today’s safety norms is designed so that beyond a specified force load it unravels and serves as a parachute to dampen and stop an individual’s fall.

Safe and enjoyable

This is a safe and enjoyable sport with routes suited to an individual’s abilities. When you look up via ferrata locations you will find information about how physical they are, how high up they are, how well equipped they are as well as the walking time to and from the via ferrata. Included is the estimated time that it should take to complete the via ferrata.

A view of the Jura on the road to Cheserex with bales of hay waiting to be plastified

A Two and a Half Hour Walk

Yesterday afternoon I was convinced that I would have a short easy walk, just to get out of the house. In reality I walked from Nyon to Bonmont and back along roads, but also farm paths. I walked this route because I decided that going for a walk would keep …

A Weekend of Hiking and Cycling

This weekend has been physically demanding. On Saturday I rode with people who do nothing but ride, so they’re far fitter, on a bike than I am, so by the end of the ride I was struggling to keep up. ## The Options I fully expected the weekend to be …
The "peep hole" made from a metal grill

On Summer Heat in a Very Noisy Village

For as long as I remember I have enjoyed summer heat. For a long time I lived in a house that was like a cave in summer. It would be 30°c outdoors but 21 to 25°c indoors. It felt like stepping into a cave when I got home. For a …
View of the Ruines D'Oujon

Why Would They Build This in the Middle of Nowhere

Recently someone said “I wonder why they would build the Abbey d’Oujon in the middle of nowhere and someone asked the same about Romainmôtier and the idea is an interesting one. It’s interesting because until motorways and before an extra four to six billion peoples wewre born and survived infancy …
Via Francigena on the way to Aigle

The Decision Not to Drive For Sports On a Sunday

This weekend I could have gone to Bellevaux for the VF, Thones for the VF, Kandersteg for the VF, and gone to Charmey, Rocher de Naye and one other places for hikes and climbing. I chose to do none of these things. My reason for this is to save money …
View of the Chateau of Aigle after walking from Ollon

The Pleasure of Looking for New Routes

For several years I explored every route that was walkable from my village. In the process I found loops that took up to four hours to complete. When there was no traffic they were all pleasant, whether it was wet, dry, hot, cold or windy. As cars and driving re-emerged …
A view from today's walk around Vallorbe

Walking to La Grotte aux Fées and Bisons

It’s good to browse Komoot because sometimes you find nice hikes to enjoy. Today I drove towards Vallorbe and specifically Juraparc. Juraparc is a park with bisons, wolves, alpacas, goats and bears. I saw the goats, the alpacas, the bison and deer. I didn’t look for the bears and wolves …
View of the Ruines D'Oujon

Exploring with Komoot and Meetup

It’s easy to find a group, and to do the same thing, again, and again, and again. Each year you do the same things in the same order, at the same time. It becomes routine. You get used to that routine. You don’t deviate. That’s where Komoot and Meetup come …
Vue from the Vallée de Joux

Watching the Weather Again

For five years it was sunny almost every day in Switzerland. It was sunny so often that the water tables declined and village fountains dried up, as did fields. Clouds of dust could be seen rising when tractors worked the fields. It’s because of this excellent weather, for years in …
A human looking a Threads, with the Fediverse visible behind.

Apple Intelligence and the European Union

Apple Intelligence may not come to Europe. It blames the Digital Markets Act, regulatory uncertainty and compromised security if it needs to give access to third parties. Whether this is valid is not is uncertain but it does bring relief. If Apple Intelligence doesn’t come to Europe then the key …

Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.