Via Feratta

With summer well and truly over I’d like to write about my first attempts at via ferratas.  To explain to the uninitiated these are routes up and along the mountains via fixed metal ropes, ladders and rope bridges.  It’s not pure climbing, but it certainly needs some climbing skills.  Not much equipment is needed, you wear a harness and use security ropes, should always wear a helmet and sometimes gloves, but that’s about it, and most people know someone that has the gear to lend.  If not, the mountain bike rental shops in the valley do equipment as well.

My first attempt was the lovely easy (ish) climb in Le Bez in May.  A short walk uphill and we were at the start.  I went with a group of mates who are experienced climbers.  Going with people that know what they are doing is always a good thing as I was completely out of my comfort zone.  The climb was a fairly short one, with a couple of scary (for me anyway) bits.  After reaching the summit I wasn’t sure whether I actually enjoyed myself or was it just relief?

I obviously didn’t mind it too much as I bought a harness for myself for the next climb which was a much longer one in La Grave, the Mines du Grand Clot.  This involved 2 vehicles so we could park at the village at the top of it so as to not have a very long walk at the end.  This was a much trickier climb and definitely could not have done it without the help of my knowledgeable friends.  The climb took about 3 and a half hours and at the top was pretty tired.  We were then faced with fairly long walk out, up and down to the second car.  I was very relieved that we did not face the long walk down to the start, heaven knows how people do it, I was pooped.  I also had a lovely selection of blisters as I used the ropes too much, a lesson learned.

The third and final one this summer was L’Aiguillette du Lauzet.  Just out from Monetier, there is a 30min easy walk to the start, unfortunately by the time we got there the weather had turned a bit wet, but as a group we decided to continue.  Ah, not the best choice, well not for me anyway, it got colder and started to snow which made it a little slippery and hard to grip with freezing hands.  To be honest I was scared for most of the climb, but you can’t go down, thats for quitters!  If it hadn’t been for my friend Clare coming behind me and giving me encouragement I would have probably cried, big pussy.  Reaching the top I was so happy, I didn’t care that the walk down was going to be cold and wet, id made it, the only injury this time was badly scuffed knuckles.

Even though it was a tough experience I think ill be doing them again next year.

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