Human Error on Via Ferrata - How to avoid falls on Via Ferrata - Learn how to protect yourself

Human error is one of the main cause of Via Ferrata incidents and in general mountaineering activities.
In this video I make comments on sample videos with various incidents that happened to me in the past two years while climbing Via Ferrata

[@Pulsar_Gaming]

Good job at catching yourself on that fall! It's clear you were ready for that! As a beginner climber i can say to other people that climbing a via ferrata feel much more risky than normal rock climbing. Used to rock climbing systems it's clear that via ferrata is not designed to "try and fail", so i recommend to think twice before rock climbing not using the cable as an help, not just try to rock climb because your friends said that you should not use the cable to help you.. be safe! And if you really want to try rock climbing do that in an appropriate place or if you want to do that in via ferrata, do that at a level that is lower than your actual via ferrata level

[@hulskof]

Great video. Wish more people would talk about the dangers of via ferrata and how to minimalize them. Keep up the good work!

[@NewEnglandHiker]

Truly great video. Thanks so much for the thoughtful advice.

[@JetSetYourself]

Thank you for the appreciation and time to text about it. Highly positive and helpful!

[@Nachtwind7]

Another observation with the first fall of the beginner: He set his foot perfectly sideways, which I was taught is a big no no. Always use a step with your toes towards the rock. Using the side of your shoes is instable and slips easily..

[@BBK96]

Thank you for making a video on this important subject! Its so easy to neglect our bodies when we are doing a sport we love.

[@JetSetYourself]

I many times push it to the limit and I end up going exhausted. I love it, I go like this out of love for it but unfortunately this is also the time when we become more prone to error

[@chrisk7693]

i was also on the way to the mountain with the motorcycle, it was a long journey and the day was great, the trip, the paths, the mountain, the summit...everything was perfect...but when i went home again with the motorcycle i was very tired and then had a microsleep on the highway, that was really scarry, dramatic and bad...i was glad that nothing happened but you should always avoid something like that...better take more breaks, sleep well, eat well...and take more care of yourself!

[@cgpsj2194]

Thank you for this video, keep the coming. Will be going for my first via Ferrara trip in September

[@treyklein5290]

Excellent video. I appreciate you discussing, with video examples, possible dangers and how to recover from them--and ideally not experience them in the first place! Looking forward to my first Via Ferrata (possibly Telluride, in Colorado) this summer. Thank you!

[@ViaFerrataCH]

Wise move to make sure you are properly rested and prepared when your life may depend on it. Early on I used a complex but light climbing belt but in my hurry to get started I didn't check it so when on a long upward climb with no rest points the belt came loose and I was very scared but no choice but to carry on saying don't fall, don't fall ... Ever after I always check the equipment before hand and any doubts about weather or anything else I just walk away even if I'm right at the start - I did this twice on Furenwald and still haven't climbed it

[@JetSetYourself]

I feel your emotions. It is why I always check the equipment at the beginning. If at the climbing gym I don't test the auto-belay system then when I get to the top and tired I feel fear. Why? Because I didn't tested the system and now I'm about to drop (or I should drop) and I have no clue if the system will work as expected. If you refer to me using the elbow yes I do it to preserve energy, strength and force when I go on E Level Via Ferrata I know nothing about. I can always do it differently next time (what I plan to do this year with Schlossberg Via Ferrata).

[@chrisk7693]

did you figure out your mistakes while you were climbing or did you just watch the video afterwards and then figure out your mistakes?

[@JetSetYourself]

If I commit errors I don't realise while climb or after one or some repetitions it means I'm blind to them and someone should raise the flags for me. It is normal to not see things. It comes with awareness through experiences, stories you hear, shift in know how, peer pressure or influence. I'm not at the point of checking a video and figuring out how I could improve my technique. Also, is hundreds of hours (not all of them make it on KZbin). Will be hard for me to divide my energy between checking back the footage, job, etc. Overwhelming. This being said. When I edit I see what I could do better (in case I already don't know about it) but in general I'm self aware and wide awake on the mountain. I most of the times know the errors because they get me into trouble or frustrate me. I was last winter climbing (winter mountaineering) a high peak and at a point I approached a sharp ridge from too high and I started to slide. A guy from behind attacked it from lower and he was then the one opening the way for everyone else coming from behind. I made the error of misrreading the terrain and badly calculation the optimal curve. It happenes. We cannot be perfect. Recently in a place I well know but never seen during winter I missed the entry on the descent. It was snowing, I could not find the little turn to the right. I kept searching for it for a couple of minutes and eventually I ventured into a heuristics descent (quite dangerous). These things happen. Most of the times I realise the errors right away because it will be too late if I don't (I will be dead) or they get me into trouble, they require adjusting and getting out of it and if you don't you risk dying. If you don't pay attention out there and are not lucky enough (luck is not all luck but also extensive training and going out prepared) you don't make it back home.

[@ViaFerrataCH]

Funny, I have two pairs of La Sportva TX4s

[@JetSetYourself]

Funny story, I have two pairs of La Sportiva TX4 as well. I bought the first one because everyone was speaking about them and I wanted to test them and the second because I already almost exhausted the first pair 😂. I don't know if I'm ready go try something else. They just work (and they do very well for hiking, summer mountaineering on easy trails or even city breaks). For this type of usage I always used Salomon Mid Ultra 4 GTX but La Sportiva TX4 has something extra; they do very well on Via Ferrata and better on wet rock.

[@JonathanFisherS]

What is the "Via Faratta block?" 28:15

[@JetSetYourself]

Ferrata.Bloc is an aiding device (not safety item) for vertical segments on Via Ferrata built German style (with tensioned safety steel cable). Here is the link to the official web page: www.austrialpin.at/en/products/via-ferrata-sets/detail/as00fb-ferratabloc-third-arm/

[@m.hoffman2889]

@@JetSetYourself didnt even know about this thing

[@dirlenelopez6033]

19:37 - was it a K6?

[@JetSetYourself]

This is a difficult question. On paper is a K5 (Level D). On that section, if you pull yourself up against the safety steel cable will make it feel like a K6 (Level E) for a brief moment (towards the end). If you try to rock climb it it is a 6A+ maybe 6B.

[@StudioBoosterPack]

Im very confident in clibing both on rope and boulder and I would not mess with a Ferrata like that without a helmet. Guy is asking for a heli ride.