What is a via ferrata? What gear do I need to do a ferrata? How do you tackle a ferrata?
It's a route that runs mainly on rock. The route, which can at times be exposed and dangerous, is fitted with metal steps and handholds to make progress easier. Vie ferrate are built with rung ladders, and metal cables or chains fixed into the rock and cemented pegs. The cables run along stretches of varying length and allow those who follow these routes to clip in and protect themselves from accidental falls.
Vie ferrate are an entirely Italian "invention". Found mainly in the Dolomites, they were created at the end of the 1800s, in the years before the First World War, for essentially strategic and military purposes. Their function was in fact to allow the Alpine troops to move quickly through rugged and extremely impervious terrain.
List of the equipment you need
Normal equipment for mountain hikes: boots, clothing suited to the season, food and thirst-quenching drinks, first aid kit;
Map of the area to be visited at a scale of 1:25,000 or larger.
Mountaineering equipment: harness, a via ferrata set (energy absorber, 2 karabiners, 2 lanyards), a quickdraw for belay stands, a helmet, protective gloves;
As for normal mountain equipment, please refer to the individual chapters of the manual on hiking, with which it shares some aspects:
- Choosing a rucksack;
- Choosing boots;
- Summer clothing;
- Winter clothing;
- Equipment suitable for every hike;
- First aid kit;
As for the specific equipment needed to tackle a via ferrata safely, please refer to the following articles:
- Harness;
- Via ferrata set (energy absorber; karabiners and lanyards);
- Essential accessories for the via ferrata (helmet, gloves, 1 quickdraw).
What to know before tackling your first ferrata
A ferrata is not a path with a few ropes: it requires a sure foot, no fear of heights and a minimum of training, because the equipped sections can be long and tiring for the arms. Before setting off we recommend finding out about the difficulty of the route, the length of the approaches and the possible escape routes, also consulting the mountaineering difficulty scale.
While climbing you always stay clipped to the cable with both lanyards, moving them one at a time at the anchor points. The metal cable is dangerous in a thunderstorm: if the weather is uncertain it's better to give up or set off earlier. Always check the condition of cables and ladders by eye, and for your first experiences rely on experienced companions or a guide. For choosing the specific gear we refer you to the via ferrata set with energy absorber, lanyards and karabiners.