The "Via Ferrata" was born in 1843 in Austria. Its use grew in the Dolomites, on the initiative of Italian troops during the First World War. The principle of the Via Ferrata is simple: you climb on a rock wall using added ladders, bars and/or footholds, while being protected by a continuous cable. However, its practice requires care, due to the ever present risk, thus the correct equipment should always be used and professional guidance might also be a good idea. Climbing along a Via Ferrata therefore requires strict compliance with safety rules, since you always need to be connected to the "lifeline" (the cable) via a harness & 2 slings. Each time you pass the cable anchors you need to unclip the 2 carabiners, one after the other, & reconnect them on the other side of the anchor, something which needs to be done carefully. Via Ferratas can all offer different specific challenges. In Haute-Savoie, the route on the Roche à l’Agathe (near Thônes) has a reputation as being the most difficult, since the line crosses several overhangs. But one thing all Via Ferrata have in common is the feeling of being airborn. Anyone that suffers from vertigo... beware!
