20
votes
How dangerous is it to climb a via ferrata alone?
The overall risk comparison between being alone or in a group can be split into parts:
falling: no increased risk
This is obviously independent of being in a group or soloing as climbing on a via ...
- 21.5k
15
votes
Is clipping onto the rungs of a via ferrata bad practice?
The reason is simple: You are not supposed to fall on these climbs, in any case. Falls will in most cases be very bad indeed, no matter where you clipped in. Your security line is basically made so ...
- 1,848
13
votes
Is clipping onto the rungs of a via ferrata bad practice?
If you understand what you're doing and why, do what is safe.
First of all (probably obvious): you should never fall on a via ferrata, so don't do anything risky.
Second: even a 10m + lanyard fall ...
- 5,153
11
votes
Accepted
How dangerous is it to climb a via ferrata alone?
Quantifying the total risk of an activity is hard and to an extent opinion based. The increased risk of being solo, is more quantifable and that is what my answer focuses on.
The major increase in ...
- 10.5k
11
votes
Climbing gear: can the energy absorbers of a lanyard for via ferratas be used only once?
There are such things as reusable energy-absorbers, they use rope and a braking plate to absorb the energy of a fall. Stiched webbing energy-absorbers are only intended to catch one fall, but that ...
- 53k
10
votes
Is clipping onto the rungs of a via ferrata bad practice?
The rule with Via Ferrata is to always have at least one point of safety clipped in at all times. Many people have fallen to their deaths while unclipped from their safety lines in order to pass an ...
- 53k
8
votes
Accepted
Differences between shock absorber and via ferrata set
No. An industrial shock absorber cannot be used as a via ferrata set, because:
Via ferrata sets are intended to absorb falls that exceed a person's height. EN 355 (industrial absorbers) mentions a ...
- 3,313
6
votes
How dangerous is it to climb a via ferrata alone?
Previous summer I spent a week in Switzerland and did four via ferrata's on my own. The risk varies greatly depending on the weather and the route.
One day there was mist and snow, and I went up a ...
- 161
6
votes
Accepted
Via ferrata equipment maintenance
For storing the harness, REI recommends
Transport a harness in its supplied bag and always keep it away from sharp objects, ice screws, crampons, direct sunlight, corrosive substances (e.g., battery ...
- 68.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Are there any unguided via ferrata routes in the Canadian Rockies?
Nordegg has a via ferrata that was set up by COE, the owner Mike Adolph "...recommends anyone using the via ferrata to do so through a guide, although if a climber shows up with a helmet and the ...
- 6,251
4
votes
Approximately how long does the Telluride Via Ferrata route take?
The thing with Via Ferrata routes is how long you take often depends on the size of your group, their fitness, and how comfortable everyone is with heights and using their gear.
I've seen people at ...
- 53k
4
votes
Is clipping onto the rungs of a via ferrata bad practice?
I have always used the rungs for clipping in, and was taught so by the guide too.
Never heard of any reason to not do it; yes, it slows you down, but clipping into horizontal steel cables also slows ...
- 290
3
votes
Accepted
Approximately how long does the Telluride Via Ferrata route take?
I talked to a local guide and they said typically on a weekday it will take someone in reasonable shape who isn't afraid of heights 2 to 3 hours to complete Telluride's Via Ferrata route. I will ...
- 295
2
votes
Accepted
Hallstatt trek: Obertraun to Lodge am Krippenstein
Your trail appears to follow a ski slope all the way, so you can pretty much rule out ferratas or technical climbing. Still, the snow may cover some rougher terrain in the winter (like streams that ...
- 1,712
2
votes
Is clipping onto the rungs of a via ferrata bad practice?
As long as you can safely clip into the cable, prefer that as it's the safety equipment on a via ferrata and lets you move faster and in a more ecomfortable way.
But of course safety first, do what is ...
- 134
2
votes
How dangerous is it to climb a via ferrata alone?
You could take steps to evaluate and mitigate your specific risk.
e.g.
Check whether the entire route is under cellphone network coverage
Analyse how popular is the route? Should you have a ...
- 121
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