Via Ferrata — 'The way of steel'

There are many Via Ferrata sites throughout France and Italy, though none exist in the United States.

What exactly is a Via Ferrata?

It's a path up the side of a mountain along which its creators have installed steel ladder–type rungs.

There's also a steel safety line for you to clip onto in case you lose your grip.

The half–inch thick steel bars are cemented into the mountainside.

Thus, you're climbing up and along the sides of real mountains, usually vertically, without having to grip the rock or hammer in footholds.

There are also tightropes between mountains and, in one case, a steel net to climb.

Most Via Ferratas take about three hours to complete.

As the sport has grown in popularity over the past few years dedicated equipment for "ferratiste" has been developed.

What're you waiting for?