But, quite honestly Swiss via ferrata could do with being a bit more of a challenge.
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Yes, in this post you can expect another via ferrata.
Swiss grade- K3 to K4
Time- 3.5-4.0 hrs
We have had a really peaceful night, up here , next to the reservoir, disturbing no one and no one disturbing us. We awake to find another Spanish vehicle next to us and it appears they are also on the lookout for a via ferrata.
We move Dora to a little bit of sun, so we can recharge our laptops, and then we walk up the road for about 300m to the start of the climb.
The reservoir is filled with milky white glacial melt water. The dam is magnificent.
It is a warm and sunny day. T-shirts for us as we put our gear on.
The route will follow the edges of the reservoir, but we are not sure at what height.
Such a nice variety to start with, some stemples a ladder, varying height above the water. This is all quite civilised.
The Spanish couple are just in front of us, but appear to be making good speed.
This should be the hardest Swiss via ferrata so far. Our impression is that it is the easiest, but then there is a long way to go.
These single bent over spikes are a new feature. On some the ends are turned up, to prevent the foot from slipping. A few of them are bent downwards by someone that has an obesity problem.
We have come across some of them badly bent over, perhaps some fat bastard stood there longer than required. Those stemples look untrustworthy but they are still solidly sealed to the rock. That is Swiss efficiency for you. SM
The early morning sunlight across the water is really beautiful.
The terrain is really quite varied, one moment we are on exposed rock, the next we have dipped into some pine trees, grateful of the shade.
So we vary between small woodland path and balancing across metal stacks.
This is meant to be as exposed as some of the other Swiss via ferrata, but quite honestly, you may be delicately tip toeing a long a rock face, just using 10mm diameter reinforcement bars cemented into the rock, but this is no where near the exposure as on the Eggishorn or than that at Murren.
Murren really set the bar high for us on exposure. It was a real shame we weren’t really able to capture that feeling on photo, too afraid to wrestle the camera out of my pocket. It is also that we probably have already acclimatised ourselves to exposure, and it no longer has the same sort of effect. It is amazing how you can adjust your perceptions.
Normally these little bits of metal are used to reinforce concrete. It is what makes concrete really strong, but in reality are just rods of steel. The rough texture really helps with the rip on the boots.
They keep the cable fairly taught here so that you can use it as a handrail. It is not really that necessary as the rock tends to slope inwards slightly. You hardly need to use your hands, just a loose grip on the wire for comfort and security.
which is what makes this Via Ferrata a bit less interesting. Its only challenge is that you seem to be walking above the water but there is no real climbing move required, none of those rock climbing skills need to be put into practise, no great deal of effort to be made, simply walk on stemples. SM
We are making good progress and are about half way along the reservoir. Susana is in front, and faster than me. She has reached a timber beam, maybe 75mm wide which you have to balance across.
More spikes, these really are the feature of this climb.
They are quite fun to negotiate however, especially when they go uphill.
You may think that the sloping wall makes it easier, but actually it becomes more awkward as you have to lean into the rock, clutching onto the cable. It is always best, balance wide to keep your body as vertical as possible.
Call that exposure! I suppose everything is relative. The water is perhaps 15m below us at this point.
We reach an easy bit with no cables, just a gentle amble through the overgrown grasses.
The dam looks quite a long way away now. This is probably our longest route to date, even those in Italy, the actual via ferrata were not that long.
But to be honest, so far it is a bit of a walk in the park. Not that much challenge really.
Always a little awkward when the cable is quite close to the footholds, but Susana deals with it well.
And back to a sedate path again.
Ah, this looks more interesting, maybe we have a small bridge coming up.
But first we just have to get there.
A bit more easy traversing.
Really quite liking those shots along the cable, but I must learn how to force the camera to focus on the distant object, Susana!
The bridge is quite wide and very solid, so not much challenge here.
Our conclusion about Swiss via ferrata, they are just not challenging enough. This is one grade below the highest and it is just too safe, too much protection and too little effort is required. Although saying all of that we still have over half of the climb still to do, so maybe it will come up with some surprises.
We hope so! SM
What this does mean, of course, is I am able to get the camera out at many points along the route, to photograph Susana’s elegance as she steps gracefully along the spikes.
The route suddenly splits, should we go up or down. Down looks a little more exposed.
I think we chose correct.
We re-join the upper path as we near the end of the reservoir. We were able to glance down from above yesterday and we saw a narrow suspension bridge crossing the gorge.
But shortly afterwards, back into woodland. We have been keeping an eye on the opposite shore. The rock here looks a little more intimidating, perhaps the challenge will be a little bit higher.
We push on, keen to complete this section, cross the bridge and see what the other side has to offer.
Our first view of the bridge. The Spanish couple are just setting foot on it.
When we get there they have just stepped off. Susana gingerly starts to cross.
Although it has very little in the way of balustrades, it is rock solid, the cables have been pulled so tight, and there is very little sway. These Swiss really know how to build bridges!
Looking back down and the reservoir is just out of sight.
And back up, no sign of either the waterfall or the glacier. I think we said our final goodbye yesterday.
Once off the bridge a different sort of challenge, maybe things are looking up.
It is definitely getting a little bit more strenuous, but there is still far too much protected, and not enough contact with the rock.
We make our way up and over a rocky bluff, and once again get back towards the reservoir.
Once again the dam is visible,
the homeward stretch!
And then back to more of the same really.
We have chosen a very nice day for it.
Delicately does it, I don’t like these leany down bits.
This is a little more interesting, a bit more exposure here.
As Susana disappears around the corner.
And then disappears into the distance leaving me, carefully putting the camera away. I am so afraid one day I will drop it into the abyss, never to see it again.
Looking back, it is almost impossible to see the faint lines of the cable and the spikes as the route works its way above the water.
On the horizon we can see more snow covered mountains.
On the via ferrata front, this side is a little bit more entertaining, with some nice little projects to carefully negotiate.
Nicely done
And smile for camera!
We really are approaching the dam fast.
So I’d better follow in Susana’s footsteps.
But she just keeps getting away, I never seem to be able to catch up.
So are those peaks in the direction of our next objective. Could that be the Monte Rosa massif
The first time we did one of these it was so intimidating. It has a lot to do with how tight all the wires are. The tighter they are the easier it is. This one is , as you would expect from the Swiss, super safe. The overhead safety cable making it almost impossible to come off.
Sometimes these are quite difficult to get on to and off of. The wires catching on your rucksack as you bend to get in-between them.
Bridge is swiftly despatched.
These stretches look quite nice, occasionally the rock gets quiet vertically pushing you out into open space, with just the cable to clutch onto.
More spikes,
and more, you just pray for the odd one to have worked its way loose, or is bent flat against the rock, just to vary the experience a little.
Maybe they ran out at this bit.
And at last a tricky bit, you see how Susana’s body gets pushed out away from the rock, and the rock is quite smooth here so you have to rely on the cable.
That was probably the most challenging bit so far, two and a half hours into the climb. Lets hope for a few more.
But it doesn’t look like it and we are coming perilously close to the end of the route.
We continue around a few more bends.
Back mainly on woodland paths.
Taking in all the views around us.
We have spent a few days in and around this valley.
And we have packed in a lot of activity;
2 via ferrata
a small summit
a two day trek
a night in a refuge
an amazing day down the side of a glacial
a 124m suspension bridge.
It has been a good few days.
But after this we are heading towards Zermatt and a new challenge.
But first we need to finish this climb.
It starts to head upwards.
Gaining more height.
More timber balancing beams.
This one was a little trickier as they were quite loosely tied and therefore moved a little. (Probably if the Swiss get to read this it will be tightened up good and proper!)
Actually the last bit of this climb got to be a little more fun.
But eventually,
After a last little climb
We neared the end, as we got above the dam
And what a way to finish, above such an impressive structure.
We dropped down the utility steps onto the top of the dam.
The upper part actually curves over, presumably it is structurally stronger like that.
Farewell glacier, somewhere up there.
We head down the valley for the last time and drive towards Zermatt, find a layby quite close to the road. Hunters are above us shooting hell out of the shrubbery. Surely every animal within fifty kilometres must have taken cover by now.
It could be a noisy night!
Distance 5.2 kms
Time taken 2 hours 45 minutes
5.2 kms
2.5 hrs
GDR
26/08/2015
Waouhhhhh!
I know! We are mad!!