Via ferrata

The via ferrata is a sporting route located in a rock face and equipped with specific elements (cables, scales, etc) intended to facilitate the progression and to optimize the safety of the people who use it. To traverse one via ferrata is an intermediate activity between excursion and climbing.

History

The first via ferrata French date of 1988, it since was democratized in France and Suisse in the years 1990, although it has existed in various forms in the the Alps for more than 60 years. It is the Italian army which is at the origin of this activity since it is it which started at the beginning it 20th century to equip certain passages escarpés with the Dolomites with handrails and levels to make it possible the alpine troops to cross these passages with heavy material.

Levels of difficulty

Via ferrata are presented by level of difficulty:

  1. F: easy

  2. PD: not very difficult
  3. AD: enough difficult
  4. D: difficult
  5. TD: very difficult
  6. ED: extremely difficult

These notations are sometimes followed of one + or one - (ex: F + or TD -) to specify the difficulty.

The ways F and PD can be practiced by even young children. The ways TD and ED are never very technical, but on the other hand require a good load-carrying capacity and a certain force.

Via ferrata is accessible to all. The only limiting factor is the fear of the vacuum which is often present on these routes.

The material of via ferrata

Very practitioner can take the route only with one essential material:

  • a Cross-belt of climbing;
  • a skirts via ferrata, equipped with a system of brake and two snap hooks, which makes it possible to deaden the possible falls and which is specific to the activity;
  • a helmet.

It is also preferable to carry as in any activity of mountain:

  • a cord of climbing and Snap hook S;
  • of the suitable shoes;
  • of the gloves;
  • a backpack with vivres;
  • a gourd;
  • a cow to cling to a bar in the event of breakdown (advised).

Practical

At the beginning of each via ferrata French, you will find a panel comprising of the explanations on the practice and the way (lasted, level of difficulty, route of approach and return…).

Provided with the equipment describes higher, the practitioner mousquetonne to the cable using both Mousqueton S of its skirts via ferrata. This cable traverses the whole of the way, it is intersected with stagnation points. Arrived at a stagnation point, the practitioner passes the two snap hooks one after the other (in such way that it is always attached to the cable) on the continuation of the cable. It is advisable to leave at least two stagnation points between each practitioner so that of the top does not involve the other in its possible fall.

Young people, beginners, and also those which prefer it, can (or must) be encordé S as in traditional climbing.

Attention, the fall in via ferrata violent and is often worsened by the presence of the scales and the metal handrails. Fortunately the fall is very rare there.

Some via ferrata

Here a list of some of via ferrata major of France:
  • large Fistoire (Cairo, 04);
  • the cascade (Orres, 05);
  • the aglet of Lauzet (Lauzet, 05);
  • the traditional one (Auron, 06);
  • the lakes Robert (Chamrousse, 38);
  • the storming of the Bastille (Grenoble, 38);
  • Escaldilles (Llo, 66);
  • the cross of the Verdon (Courchevel, 73);
  • the rock of Tovière (Valley of Isere, 73);
  • the tower of Jalouvre (Large Bornand, 74)…

A list more complete (but nonexhaustive) is available here .

External bonds

  • Charts and topos of via ferrata
  • topos of via ferrata in Switzerland
  • ViaFerrata.org
  • ViaFerrata-fr.net: All them via ferrata French
  • Spain Via Ferrata
  • Via-ferrata.de

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