The Via Ferrate was born in Italy a few years ago, the Dolomites soldiers designed cable trays to circulate through galleries dug in the full wall. You had to be crazy and already sporty!
Vertigo paths or dizzying hikes, the fact remains that the Via Ferrata also sometimes requires climbing vertical portions equipped with bars and ladders … it is not always easy and it is also very similar has rock climbing.
Fortunately it is a fun and rich activity, with a good training you can practice this activity safely to get the maximum pleasure.
A full nature activity accessible for half a day or a day for sports souls or nature lovers looking for alpine landscapes.

How to start in Via Ferrata?

If you have no experience in climbing or via ferrata, start with an easy route, we are not all equal when faced with the apprehension of emptiness, so it is necessary to familiarize yourself gently with the dizzying sensation and the lines. leakage created by the walls and cliffs. Some via are very impressive with passages on monkey bridges, footbridges or zip lines in full vacuum hung on cables tied to the rock.
In addition, some of them are several hours long, the route may be more or less athletic depending on the verticality of the natural site chosen for the development: gorge, rock face or even waterfalls.
It is therefore preferable if you are a beginner to go on a little difficult or quite difficult course but to keep a good safety margin, in general the easy routes start with an approach walk, then the course uses sidewalks wall by exploiting the less steep areas by bypassing overhangs and caves. The rungs are installed to make the route more affordable.
In the event of a problem, there are always loopholes halfway or each difficult portion, so it is possible to leave the course.
At the top of the route you can enjoy a breathtaking view and a breathtaking panorama, the descent is most often done by hiking on a path.
Practitioners with good physical condition may opt for a more difficult and often more aerial route.

What material for the via ferrata?

If you go with a guide in via ferrata, this one will lend you the complete equipment: the absorbent lanyards provided with automatic carabiners which slide on the via cable, these lanyards are elastic and specific for falls in via ferrata, they are equipped with a shock absorber or energy absorber.
The webbing lanyards are directly attached to the harness or harness which is your main personal protective equipment for this vertical adventure.
A mountain helmet is highly recommended to protect against possible rock fall, animals like the chamois or ibex like to send stones on us humans who come to disturb them in their natural environment.
A small backpack with a windproof jacket, a water bottle and something to snack on is essential.
Protective gloves such as leather mittens can be appreciated if you have to hoist yourself along cables or rungs.

The most important thing is to follow the safety instructions to avoid any fall or improper use of the equipment.

Where to do Via Ferrata

In France there are many via ferrata sites, there is a very good Via ferrata.fr site which references all via Ferrata sites.
In the Northern Alps, beautiful Via Ferrata are laid out in the Aravis: In La Clusaz with the Via Ferrata Yves Pollet-Villard, In Le Grand-Bornand with La Via du Jalouvre or La Via de Thônes La Roche à l’Agathe …
The Roc des Vents above the Roseland Dam in the Beaufortin is also spectacular.
The Via Ferrata du Pont du Diable in Maurienne is located above a torrent in gorges, the simple fact of having living water below the feet adds a special atmosphere.
Abroad in the Dolomites in Italy you will find the most beautiful via ferrata in the world because they are aerial and authentic and above all you can eat a superb pizza after the effort!