#06 - How to avoid fatal mistakes on Via Ferrata | Via Ferrata tutorial for Beginners

Need to know how to stay SAFE and protect yourself on Via Ferrata?
This time, I present some of the possible fatal mistakes one should not make on Via Ferrata.
Summary
00:00:00 Introduction to possible fatal mistakes one can make on Via Ferrata
00:00:12 An incorrectly used resting system might make your Via Ferrata system static
00:00:34 A sling connected to the rest loop can lead to a Via Ferrata static system
00:01:05 Rushing to clip and unclip the carabiners can lead to a total disconnect from the Via Ferrata safety steel cable
00:01:38 Carabiners connected facing the same direction can lead to a total disconnect from the Via Ferrata safety steel cable
00:02:21 Pushing yourself over your limits can make you fall on Via Ferrata
00:02:30 When you fall on Via Ferrata, stay clear of what's around you!
00:02:50 Not knowing how to fall on Via Ferrata increases the severity of it
00:03:11 Not knowing when to use the proper Via Ferrata climbing techniques can create hazard
00:03:29 Not knowing how to use your legs while climbing on Via Ferrata leads to premature fatigue
00:03:38 Using the wrong shoes on Via Ferrata can expose you to unwanted events
00:04:00 Not using gloves on Via Ferrata exposes you to injury and can create hazard
00:04:21 Not knowing your limits might negatively impact your Via Ferrata experience
00:04:36 Know how to spot and how to avoid falling rocks or rocks about to dislocate on Via Ferrata
00:05:04 Only climb on Via Ferrata when the conditions are dry
00:05:12 Don't climb on Via Ferrata during rain or thunderstorms
00:05:25 Not keeping the proper distance away from other other climbers creates hazard on Via Ferrata
This is one of the episodes of what I want it to be a step-by-step nonprofessional guide to Via Ferrata.
BE ADVISED! I'm not a professional guide, mountaineer, alpine climber or Via Ferrata climber; only an enthusiastic mountaineer eager to try help and explain my experience so far.
All episodes are as short and concise possible.

[@Mr4Strings]

Once again JetSet by stating the obvious you demonstrate how important the basic elements of safety are to Vía Ferrata. Each one of your points seems so simple and intuitive but each one could also be an extensive instructional video all in itself. You do a wonderful service for the Vía Ferrata Community by taking your valuable time to explain logically and in detail the importance of safety. When I am doing a Vía Ferrata I can hear your voice guiding me and reminding me of the safety measures I wshould be following. Thank you!!! Hope you have fully recovered from your last mishap on the mountain.

[@JetSetYourself]

Thank you Hobo Wily 😁 I did see you last comment (reply) but I didn't answered on purpose (because based on what we spoke I drafted the next more advanced and in detail episodes of the series) and I wanted to reply once I am confident I have it and is about to materialise. If all goes well I will soon (before February) come with new content added to the Via Ferrata series. Initially I was thinking to make a separate Advanced series but upon reflection I think splitting them is not necessary. In meanwhile I keep buying and learning how to use this devices that help me record the whole thing. I bought a gopro 11 but had issues and I still wait for the replacement then I bought the dji action 3 but in low light does very poorly and of course I only seen this after being on the mountain with it (now the whole day is wasted and I have to do it all over again), I still have to figure out how to properly install the cameras to provide better angles while still being in frame (very hard to say if I'm in frame or not by looking on the small screens and fixing the cameras to then climb down the segment and do my thing). Your appreciation helps a lot. It makes me smile and of course gives a sense to all the effort I put in. Knowing that people benefit from what I do makes me so enthusiastic. Getting comments and seeing the need to explain even more motivates me. I'm already motivated because once I decided I want to do this as my way of giving back (I come from a very poor background, a harsh past and hard work that paid off also because some people gave me a hand an helped me at key moments in my past). I'm now at the time in my life when I can somehow give back. At work I help people advance their career, with my free time I try add as much value to the channel and not only. Thank you for asking. The knee is good. I just returned to London from another difficult climb; this time on a while unmarked part of one of the more difficult mountains of Romania. The knee performed well. I will say is fully recovered. I didn't had any issues (1400m elevation gain, a harsh descent, 9h long walk/climb). Is good to hear from you. Makes my day better! I hope all is well on your side as well.

[@Mr4Strings]

@@JetSetYourself So glad to hear you've recovered!!! You know as we get older an injury can put us out of commission for many weeks, months, or even end our ability to be active. We love your videos. The one you did about climbing shoes was excellent!!! After we watched your video we watched another shoe video from an "Influencer" and all he showed was a brand new shoe. Oh he said he hiked and ran in it but didn't show the worn shoe. I wrote to him and asked why he doesn't show his worn shoes and he told me that I don't know anything about "marketing" What a joke!!!! When you talked about your shoes it was obvious that the shoes on display were the shoes you actually wear!!!! Hey, do you ever run into any bears in Romania??

[@JetSetYourself]

The other day on the mountain I met a girl 1.90m tall wearing a pair of Salomon X Ultra Mid version 3. For this type of climbing I use the Salomon Quest 4. My point is (and the story behind this video) that a) I do what I say I'm doing (right now at the office on the floor of one of the largest banks I wear Salomon X Ultra 3, same as the girl on the mountain, not always but sometimes I don't put the office shoes on, not after long climbs like the last one) and b) as I was saying you can get by with one type of shoes with no issues (the girl climbed just fine even if she acknowledged that she needs something that provides better performance for her own good). My aim when I recorded that video was to convey how to choose the right shoe. In Romania for example Mammut has a wider presence than Salomon or La Sportiva with La Sportiva being well know for the high quality but also high price tag. You cannot recommend a particular shoe and brand. We all are so different. The maximum I could do is to show how to clip the crampons and the spikes, how to differentiate the types of shoes and the environment you should ware them, etc. I'm in a personal fight with the so called influencers because I ended wasting a lot of money because of them (and it took me a long time to understand the trap as it took us to become aware of the fake news concept). I bought a 360 camera just because is promoted by the influencers all over the place but to use that on the mountain is a pain, extremely hard to take any usable footage. I have a down jacket I paid a fortune on it because of the influencers and is not what it was supposed to be (soon to release a video on down jackets). I have a backpack from Osprey that is not what I need (but I do use Osprey as my main choice for climbing and hiking). They just got it wrong for rock climbers (better Petzl in this case). That backpack is still promoted as the best for rock climbers. I just used it on my last Via Ferrata (video to be released soon) and I kept hitting it with the back of my head (I will have to investigate what happened there). It was a vertical Via Ferrata, I needed to look above my head and the backpack was preventing me to do that. Otherwise a good backpack (as all Osprey backpacks). Based in time and possibility I will add more videos about how to choose your gear. Many times the brand is irrelevant. Wait to hear my story on choosing carabiners. They claim on internet one specific carabiner to be the best. Not true. They are as good as the need you have. If you struggle to clip it when you almost loose control of your arms and drop serves at nothing that it has the better track record on being the strongest. I've seen the girlfriend of a friend how she was struggling because he bought a screw lock carabiner for her resting system on Via Ferrata. Nobody explains how to choose carabiners for Via Ferrata when planning a resting system. I think I myself missed saying all about it during my introductory video. I bought a device to aid me on Via Ferrata. After 18 months I discovered a flaw. A big one. I have to go back on the cable and test it more to learn how to actually use it because the manual got it wrong (I think). I will come with a video in the new episodes about Via Ferrata (but you can see the falls in one of my Shorts). The shoes, the boots I was them after each climb. If they look like new is because I take care of them. I need them to last plus, I'm a single man, I have a lot of time on my sleeves to be OCD or what's the label for the people that spend a lot of time cleaning. You know my story already, I will not repeat myself complaining about being single and not having children. Thank you for acknowledging the effort that I make to send real, personal messages based on my own experience. The shoes are all used in real life. When I will post the video about Gran Paradiso (I was there late spring) you will see that I have on me the Storm 350 from Black Diamond I introduced in my video about how to choose a headlamp. I already have a video where you can see how I climb with the La Sportiva boots and the crampons on. I don't trust the influencers. I want a phone good at taking video. I spent a lot so far on the wrong phones. They review the Samsung Ultra 22 or whatever as the best phone but nobody says that the European version comes with a slower processor. Nobody states outloud that Google Pixel 7 is identical to 6 and the camera if any improvement is software not hardware. DJI action 3 is identical to DJI Action 2. The only difference is the replaceable battery in a waterproof body (they never say it outloud that the specs are identical). When I bought the tent, it was a challenge to choose what I now have. The influencers were advertising something else even if way heavier and almost as performant as what I bought at the end. I have a long list of how the influencers just advocate for what as you say is good marketing.

[@Mr4Strings]

@@JetSetYourself You are the best, most honest and knowledgeable!!!! Thank you!!! Hey you come across any bears when you are out in Romania???

[@JetSetYourself]

I forgot about the bears question. My apologies. I don't recall how close was the bear when I was skiing. I only remember seeing him with my right eye while I was already sliding fast. He was between trees with no visible intent to get on the ski slope. When I was going to climb Moldoveanu (the highest peak in Romania) I've seen a bear mama with two kittens walking next to the tents of the campers. I was in the car like 20m away. On Transfagarasan I've seen them from the car like 1m away. These are my single real encounters. I've seen another one on the mountain but I was like 150m or more elevation gain above his location. No chance to ever intersect.

[@Krugerking84]

Thank you this could save my life when I go on it very soon

[@wkurzuiblocie]

Very good explanation, thank you.

[@testboga5991]

Bridging the absorber is indeed a huge issue, also in industrial rope access scenarios.

[@ViaFerrataCH]

Good advice, sadly I have been on VF routes in rain, some snow and even got caught in a lightning storm once, so planning ahead is essential and if in doubt don't go, you can always come back another day...

[@JetSetYourself]

You are correct. Most of the times you can predict weather. It is rare that you are caught by surprise. What amazes me is that on internet there is not much easy information to learn from on how to take care of yourself on the mountain. It just isn't. I would love to get out there better prepared and not to most of the times learn from own mistakes or personal experiences. There is no such thing. Something easy to get without the need to read ten books.

[@ViaFerrataCH]

@@JetSetYourself I think they only thing you can do is research before you go & on the day use your intuition; if in doubt don't do it. I have been to Furenwand twice now & didn't do it either time as it's a 600m vertical with no escape routes & both times the weather was bad.

[@daviewavie112]

Great video!

[@rl9427]

Great job explaining!!

[@JetSetYourself]

Thank you!

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Excellent

[@LatoviusFromLaniakea]

What do you think about wearing slicks/climbing shoes on VF? Some guides here recommend it for difficult routes. I think that since they're so light it's worth to try it out, I will soon do so once my forced exercise break is over

[@JetSetYourself]

If you have them at home (otherwise it gets expensive) and you plan climbing difficult routes that go mostly on the vertical with no pegs and rungs or other artificial elements but only the safety steel cable, yes, you can do it if the rock requires. Nothiong bad with it. Be mindful about the possibility of inflicted pain if the route is too long. It might be that you will have to stop and take them off to relax the feet. Otherwise, I don't recommend them at all.

[@LatoviusFromLaniakea]

@@JetSetYourself hey thanks for your answer and the answer in your latest video! Definitely thought of bringing them only for big verticals and just giving it a try. Even though mine aren't as crazy tight as other advanced climbers, they're still not great for walking.

[@JetSetYourself]

With great pleasure. Taking inspiration from you out of curiosity I will climb Rino Pisetta in Italy with climbing shoes and see how it goes.

[@edvinskrumins3436]

Is it safe to do via ferrata alone?

[@JetSetYourself]

Hello. I most times do Via Ferrata alone but I have with me everything I think I need to help myself in ase I get into trouble. As long as you don't push it too far (you only climb the difficulty level you know with confidence you can handle) you should be fine. Be advised of theong approach, long Via Ferrata and long and maybe dangerous exists. If you twist your ankle while exiting and it takes two to four hours to exit and you are alone you might get into trouble. Being alone is mostly about injury and the inability to get out of the situation if you don't have with you what you need or the injury incapacitates you severely. You can do it but make sure to go prepare for emergency situations.

[@ViaFerrataCH]

Easy ones yes but difficult ones are better in groups

[@JetSetYourself]

@@ViaFerrataCH Agreed. Better in groups but groups of people that a) will have the ability to aid you and b) they will carry with them the aiding equipment. Otherwise, to go in groups will only helps through peer pressure. Believe it or not (I know you know, I say it for the readers of the comment in case they don't) peer pressure does wanders. If you are alone, the psychological toll on you is huge. If you go on group, it becomes psychologically and then implicitly physically easier.

[@ViaFerrataCH]

@@JetSetYourself True on my 2nd route I was with a strong group & after the first pitch they let me lead. I was fine after a while but it might not be for everybody ;-)

[@D0T2A3Y9A2Y5L]

@JetSetYourself Which shoe brands models ‘stick to rock’? Which gloves to buy? Who sells VF equipment? Thank you