Via Ferrata Equipment

What equipment do I need for a Via Ferrata?

Okay, now I will tell you, what you exactly need to do a Via Ferrata. The Minimum and the Maximum. I will go into details. Some information might not know everybody, but it could be of importance.

I will divide it into three parts: 1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 2. Additional Equipment and 3. Common Equipment (also necessary for normal hiking tours)

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

You need at least three things: A harness, a via ferrata energy absorbing system and last but definetly not least a climbing helmet.

Harness

There are no special Via Ferrata harnesses. You can use the same ones like for rock climbing and you can choose between one for your waist or a full-body one. The one for the waist is more comfortable, but you have to know, in case of a fall there is the risk of falling upside down. I especially recommend to use a complete full-body harness for kids. But never use just a chest harness alone!!!

Climbing harness

Kinds of Via Ferratas, components & special attractions

What kinds of Via Ferratas you can find?

There are classical Via Ferratas, Via Ferratas for enjoyment and modern sport Via Ferratas. A lot of them are alpine or high-alpine and the goal is to reach the summit of a mountain. The exit is not far away from the summit. Alpine Via Ferratas are for more experienced mountaineers, because the ascent and descent could be very long, as long as there is no cable car in the near.

Especially in Austria there are a lot of Via Ferratas nearby valleys. They are usually not leading to a summit, but at some places there is at least a hut near the exit. There could be also various routes in different difficulties, for example the "Huterlaner Klettersteig", "Zimmereben Klettersteig" and "Pfeilspitzwand Klettersteig" in Mayrhofen. There are 2 reasons for those kinds:

1. They are a good start for beginners, because of the variety of difficulties.

2. There is enough development of tourism in (high) alpine areas. 

Classical Via Ferratas

This definition is not clear. The German Alpine Club says: It is continuous assured by steel cables in not bold terrain with moderate difficulties.

In my opinion (and not only mine) it is not like that. A classical Via Ferrata can also contain not assured sections and also sections to climb in the I. or II. grade (UIAA). I agree with bold terrain, but also this can be very exposed sometimes.

Via Ferratas for enjoyment

This kind is not clearly defined. I would say, this are continuous assured Via Ferratas with moderate difficulties, where you can enjoy the panorama all of the time.

Sport Via Ferratas and Fun Via Ferratas

These are the newest kind, although the first ones were created in the 70s. They are difficult, very difficult or extreme and there are less of artificial steps. There also may appear special fun elements like a flying fox, rope bridges and shaky rope ladders (these fun elements may appear also in other kinds of Via Ferratas).

Assured steep roads

They are not a Via Ferrata. Just parts of a hiking trail are assured like a Via Ferrata.. Most of the people are using them without a Via Ferrata shock absorbing system.

Components

Steel cables

Steel cables with Anti-Shock Cones

Steel cables are the main components of a Via Ferrata. They are primary for your security. You can hook your carabiners into the steel cables. In bold terrain you can also use them as a tool to climb up.

Some steel cables do have Anti-Shock Cones at the suspension points (as shown in the picture on the right). They should avoid breaking the carabiners in case of a heavy fall.

History of Via Ferratas

From the first touristic Via Ferrata over World War I to modern Via Ferratas

In this post I will give you a short summary about the history, origins and development of Via Ferratas.

Everthing started at the Dachstein, Austria. The 1st touristic kind of Via Ferrata was created by Friedrich Simony. Instead of the modern steel cables he used marine rope.

In World War I  there was a mountain warfare between Austria-Hungary  and Italy. It was important to keep the summits and Via Ferratas were built as trails for the soldiers and logistics. Most of them are to find in the Dolomites, in South Tyrol and Trentino. A lot of them are reconstructed.

However, the "Big Boom" of Via Ferratas started first in this century. More and more modern sport Via Ferratas have been created. More spectacular, more difficult. And some of them became commercial. Well, that does not mean, you have to pay entrance, but they were built from cable car companies or tourism clubs to get more visitors in areas. Currently there is a contorversy. Alpine Clubs trying to fight against this development.

Here is a timeline of the origins of Via Ferratas:

1843 - First Via Ferrata at the "Hoher Dachstein"

1869 - The "Stüdlgrat" at Großglockner got a fixed rope (currently not a Via Ferrata, but a popular climbing route)

1873 - A Via Ferrata to the Zugspitze was built

1899 - Opening of the "Heilbronner Weg" in the Allgäuer Alps

1903 - The Marmolada got a Via Ferrata

1911 - The Scheffauer in the "Wilder Kaiser" in Austria got a Via Ferrata

1915 

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1917   - At the front line of the mountain warfare in WWI a lot of Via Ferratas were built for a military purpose. A lot of them are reconstructed

1932 - The first part of the "Via delle Boccette" was built, the "Sentiero Brentari"

1967 

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1970 - Some of the most famous Via Ferratas were built, for example the "Via Lipella", "Via Tomaselli" and the "Pisciadu Klettersteig"

1976 - The first sport Via Ferrata was built at Monte Albano near Lake Garda and Arco. Because of some legal problems it was closed for a couple of years, but re-opened in 2014

1991 - Two of the first Via Ferratas were built in the French Alps and the Via Ferrata Boom started in France

1993 - Opening of the "Tälli Klettersteig", first Via Ferrata of Switzerland

2002 - Salzburg got his own Via Ferrata, the "City Wall Klettersteig". Very short, but extreme 

For sure this timeline is not complete. I will update it regularly.

My next post will be about definitions, components and special attractions of Via Ferratas.

It's all about Via Ferrata

Purpose, benefits and what else you will get in this blog in the future

So, here we go: My first international blog about a special kind of mountaineering: It is called "Via Ferrata" (originally an Italian word) or "Klettersteig" (originally German). There is no real English word for that and there is also a lack of information in English language. So I decided to start a blog about. The main focus will be on Via Ferratas in the Alps, but I will also write about other areas. 

I am not a native English speaker, but I will do my best to give you understandable and useful informations.

What is a Via Ferrata?

A Via Ferrata or Klettersteig is a fixed route in the rocks. Some are guiding to a summit, some not. The main component is a steel cable with 2 functions: Primary for protection, secondary it is a tool which helps you to get your way up. Some other components like a flying fox, ladders, shaky rope ladders and spectacular bridges may or may not appear in a Via Ferrata. You may also find some informations about that at Wikipedia. 

I will explain in a seperated blogpost the special parts of Via Ferratas.

Mountain Security

I will regulary post about security equpiment and how to behave in alpine areas and on Via Ferratas.

This is very important, because the mountain never forgives mistakes. I will also post about current accidents in the alpine area of Europe and will show the mistakes to prevent to repeat them.

In this context, there is a current report about alpine accidents of the summer activities 2014 in Austria. 188 accidents were Via Ferrata accidents, increased to 26% in comparison to 2013.

That is also the reason for me to make this blog. Via Ferratas are booming and some people are maybe not good enough informed about the risks.

Grading

There are various grading systems and this will be also a part of security and hubris in one of my forthcoming blogposts.

Via Ferratas and children?

There will be also at least one article, how to do a Via Ferrata with children. Especially because of a horrible accident a few weeks ago in Austria (Father and a 3 year old child died, a 5 year old child is currently in coma)

What do I expect? Feedback, Feedback and Feedback ;-)

Please feel free to ask about anything you want to know. I will answer as soon as possible. And I am always happy about comments. You can also suggest special topics, for example areas you need more informations about.

More about me

Well, I already do have another blog about all my Via Ferrata trips, but it is in German. I implemented the Google translator there, but as all of you know, it is good, but not perfect. Anyway, if you want to see some of my trips and pics, just click here. And if you want to know more about me, click here.

Coming up

My next blogposts:

1. History of Via Ferratas

2. Kinds of Via Ferratas, components & special attractions

3. Via Ferrata Equipment 

4. Via Ferrata Gradings

5. Via Ferrata: Planning, Time & Risk Management

6. Via Ferratas and children

7. Via Ferrata: Techniques