Photos: Social Climbers! Carolyne...the view...the warning...Carolyne's husband Andrew Abbott...guide David Malbos...another climber...and four folks hanging on by a thread on the Cavaillon Via Ferrata. All photos by Ginger and Nutmeg except final shot, which is by Sam Bie.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
My Friend the Rock Star
Waiting for the bike technician to check
the brakes on my velo, I was thumbing
through the random pile of ad flyers promoting local restaurants. One pamphlet
caught my eye: a new Via Ferrata in
Cavaillon. This was something I really had to try but it took more than a year
to convince my husband to “harness up.”
Via Ferrata (iron road) is an Italian term.
The phrase was used to describe alpine military routes created during World War
I in the Dolomite Mountains of Northern Italy. Wooden ladder rungs and heavy
ropes were installed to fixed points along rocky ledges. These rustic vertical
corridors provided somewhat sheltered approaches to the summits for the troops.
Post-war,
the appeal of the Via Ferrata as an adventure activity for non-alpinists became
apparent, offering approachable routes to breathtaking European mountaintops.
In the 1930s, the Italian Alpine Club began converting makeshift army equipment
into more permanent installations (the whole story is here).
Currently
there are more than 1,000 Via Ferratas in Europe
including 200-plus in France alone. Two French websites with lots of additional
info are here and here. Adventure
seekers will be pleased to know that there are several Via Ferratas
in Provence.
The “iron road” in Cavaillon opened in June,
2013, about 40 meters up on the cliffs of the 180-meter Saint-Jacques’ Hill overlooking the city. It’s the only Via Ferrata
in a European city that’s accessible on foot from downtown. More than 20,000 people
have ‘’done’’ it since the official opening.
There are two loops: the shorter Via Natura that takes
about two hours to complete and the four-hour Via Souterrata. On both routes,
you’ll be treated to an expansive view of the Durance Valley. Up close, you
will enjoy seasonal fauna that sprouts from seemingly impossible perches.
The Cavaillon Via Ferrata is open all year and there
is no charge to use it. However, it’s
highly recommended that novices engage one of the certified guides listed on
the Cavaillon website here
for their first time on the circuit. We chose David Malbos of Vertical Session.
We left our car in the parking lot at the top of the
hill on Chemin de l'Hermitage and David welcomed
us with a broad smile, then introduced
us to the rest of the group; we were eight in total for this adventure. David is not only fully certified and clearly
passionate about his job--he was one of the early visionaries for the Via Ferrata
in Cavaillon. He was involved in all the stages, from the initial proposal in
2011 through environmental studies, design, installation testing and now
guiding. So, I felt that we were in good
hands.
After a brief run-through on proper equipment usage,
we were ready to start our tour. David did warn us that there is no easing into
this Via Ferrata…and he was right! After passing through a spring-loaded gate,
you clip onto the first metal wire, descend a few rebar rungs and you’re
crossing your first canyon on a single strand of cable. Despite the fact that the risk of tumbling is
nearly impossible, it’s difficult to convince your brain otherwise.
Our group completed the Via Souterrata in roughly four
hours with David’s coaching. I was never afraid of falling as you’re anchored
at all times. However, the via ferrata was more physical than I had expected:
there’s one notable climbing section, a few suspended crossings and even two
short tunnels. Had I checked the website beforehand I would have realized that
the Via Souterra loop was ranked TD --très difficile--so
although you do not require any rock climbing experience a base level of
physical fitness and some time spent in hiking boots will make for a more
enjoyable tour.
All in all, it was a terrific afternoon on the rocks overlooking Cavaillon. Have a
look at this video
clip to give you a feeling for the adventure.
When you hire a guide, they’ll provide a helmet and
Via Ferrata kit, which includes the harness and necessary clips. In addition,
you should wear lightweight hiking shoes, and carry a backpack with water,
sunscreen, gloves, an extra layer and a snack.
Photos: Social Climbers! Carolyne...the view...the warning...Carolyne's husband Andrew Abbott...guide David Malbos...another climber...and four folks hanging on by a thread on the Cavaillon Via Ferrata. All photos by Ginger and Nutmeg except final shot, which is by Sam Bie.
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Julie what a great post thanks for sharing. It was a really fun experience as you can tell we were still smiling after four hours on the wires.
ReplyDeleteWow! The video is well worth watching and I admire everyone who takes on this exhilarating challenge. Personally, I will be the one with boots on the ground taking photos! Thanks for sharing this information and I know precisely the person I am sending it to immediately! (Of course there had to be an appearance by le melon!)
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Awesome! I reminisce the days when I was in California. The mountain side is too cool! Love every photo you have taken. I’m lucky to be here, cool adventure!
ReplyDeleteMiranda Farley
bookmarked!!, I really like your site!
ReplyDelete