AVOID rock climbing on Via Ferrata - Big risk of falling - Keep a hand on the safety steel cable

I love rock climbing Via Ferrata but unfortunatelly, this can be deadly even for the experienced climbers. While I am to set the right example while also taking personal risk for what I enjoy doing, I think the cautious approach to climbing a Via Ferrata is to wear the right shoes and try to hold with one hand the safety steel cable at any time. This does not ensure absolute safety and at times it can do more harm than good. Still, it appears that overall this is a good practice and it might be that the risk of falling decreases by a lot.
#jetsetyourself #viaferrata #klettersteig

[@mitchmusicCH]

General rule on any ferrata: Falling is not an option! The forces when falling on a ferrata are much higher than even hard sport climbing falls, which almost always involves severe injuries. An often overseen fact as ferrata seem objectively safer because of the connection to cables. So always know your abilities before trying „challenging stuff“ on a ferrata.

[@florianfanderl6674]

Via ferratas are just not built to be climbed on rock. I get especially angry, when there are a lot of people on the via ferrata and people decide to go rock climbing only. They are so slow and it takes FOREVER, plus it's super dangerous. Please go sport or alpine climbing, if you want to climb on rock.

[@angrybirder9983]

"Free" climbing (only using the cable for protection, not for progress): I've done it on VF Piz da Lech (except the rungs/ladder sections obviously). I was in my comfort zone the entire time and was also not holding up any people behind me. You can do it if you're comfortable and don't hold up anyone, but do not let your pride get in the way of being safe. I wouldn't say that holding onto the cable is necessary to be safe. Climb however it feels the easiest for you and if that big jug is genuinely better than the cable, go for that jug. I have never worn climbing shoes on a via ferrata (I have however tried my mountaineering boots at the sport crag), but I can very much imagine that they make a difference. But walking in climbing shoes is awkward and, even worse, they have zero grip on loose and soft ground. Walking on grass with climbing shoes is *scary*.

[@CsabaLitkei]

The Black Diamond is a good approach shoe for rock climbing, because it is designed for fast and easy shoe exchange and also it can be used as slippers when the heel is folded in. But for Ferrata it is not recommended.

[@stumftim]

Good video. Some routes where i live have specifically stated to take climbing shoes for E+ sections.

[@JetSetYourself]

Totally agreed. I've seen myself some crossings where you can fit only the tip of your toes. Without climbing shoes you end up hanging on the safety steel cable and pulling yourself as firefighters do

[@chrisk7693]

good video...i use the scarpa mescalito and i love this shoe

[@JetSetYourself]

I needed and extra pair and this one was a perfect balance between performance and cost. I think I paid less than half of the listing price. A very good deal. I only use it indoors. For outdoor rock climbing I have another pair that I find stiffer and more aggressive.

[@vanleen]

Just slipped on one, trying to use rock instead of using the cable. The problem was, it was extremely slippery due to an often used ferrata... luckily the Skylotec Rider catched me but still got some bruises.

[@JetSetYourself]

And the issue is that the rock climbing systems are made for you to take frequent falls. On Via Ferrata as you confirm, a simple fall and here you are with some bruises. Imagine a harder fall. The issue with pulling the cable always is that sometimes it just burns my arms and once arms pumped it gets quite hard to continue

[@vanleen]

@@JetSetYourself You also carry a backpack, which makes it quite different to sportclimbing in terms of body balance... it just makes not much sense to avoid the steel cable for all these reasons.