What to do after falling on a Via Ferrata bridge - How to avoid falls from Via Ferrata bridges

Recently a subscriber to the channel asked in a comment about the best practices in case of a fall on a Via Ferrata bridge.
To avoid falling you should always connect also your resting system. This will help avoid falls under the arm length imaginary line. In case you don't to that, you risk falling way bellow your arm length imaginary line and from there, pulling yourself up will be quite difficult.
Trying to recover by just using your arms is not an option. You will need strength and even if you have it your arms will not be enough to pull yourself back up.
In this Via Ferrata tutorial, I will showcase a recovery example in case you fall on a Via Ferrata bridge.

[@michaelhorwarter374]

And here I wonder why people that do such videos don't get more subscribers. Simple, short videos with no cuts and really good explanations. I like how the personal experience in your videos get mentioned. THIS is what people really expect from a via ferrata video. Great work! Keep it up you're basically helping if not saving people with your content.

[@JetSetYourself]

Thank you @Michael Hörwarter. Working on it. Not an easy task. But I hope to succeed and deliver as much educational content possible.

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Agreed.

[@e.solano3963]

Thank you for this... Trying to understand the redundancy in via ferreta as it sketches me out as a climber. It's like a mix between rope walker / swinging and climbing - and the fact so many tourists love it is mind blowing. Lots of trust. I like setting up my own ropes and knowing my anchors - I assume highly unlikely any issues happen but still, this tightens up my sphincter 😂

[@JetSetYourself]

No redundancy. If something happens you are in big trouble. What I see is people grabbing the cable with fear for their lives. They don't fall, they get to the end but their pants are wet (mine as well sometimes).

[@EpicTimeV7]

Great short video, no bullshit that you need click through. Respect for others time, thanks

[@asitaliano1]

Great video. Very informative and critical skills for beginners and really all Via Ferrata enthusiasts....

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Great advice thank you once again!

[@chksix6]

Excellent! Thank you! Looking forward to my first via ferrata!

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Excellent video, you really show what this would look like. Great job, we will all have this third, (shorter line) on us while crossing.

[@Dorakai]

Thank you! Very Helpfull Im learning a lot from you!

[@ViaFerrataCH]

Happened to me once but on a traverse not on a bridge, luckily the VF set did not deploy but still very difficult to recover from when your arms are tired

[@JetSetYourself]

Yes, you are correct. This, what happened to you usually occurs on vertical or overhanging Via Ferrata. From my experience, everything that is a strong D(K4) or an E(K5) or above will make your arms sore and there is a chance of dropping. I see at the climbing gym when I auto-belay. When I get tired no matter how resilient I am, eventually my body loses control and with it goes my grip. From there, very difficult to recover on everything that is 6A+ (I still am working at progressing to 6B). The issue on Via Ferrata can also be how low you fall bellow the safety still cable and if there is any holds to help yourself recover plus, the risk in case you fall back again. Via Ferrata is fun and games until you get tired or you fall. After that, it gets fast serious and dangeorus.

[@mayfieldcourt]

Excellent advice - thank you!

[@easygoer1234]

Your the only one that gives real useful advice to climbers and don't just show us (YOU ) climbing. Even though we love watching you take us on a climbing adventure.

[@JetSetYourself]

I'm working on that. I have some climbs recorded in such a way that I can post them as a sort of story telling. I will make sure to record them like this next (this fall).

[@JetSetYourself]

Check out this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foXUgGecfsqDfKs A video with the journey up the Via Ferrata. I hope you will like it!

[@serg12344321]

Excellent and handy video, many thanks!!! Could you please explain, if there are any tips for the case when a set has been deployed? Could you grab a bottom cable in this case and use your arms to move? I have a small experience on via ferrata, but not at all with such bridges

[@JetSetYourself]

You are correct! Based on your situation you can pull the lower cable or use arms and legs to hug the lower cable and pull yourself to the end. It really depends on circumstances (obviously this will only work with this type of bridge). I recently was in Austria on a wood bridge with the lifeline accros the middle. It kept pushing me to the outside. I lost my equilibrium twice. In case of a fall on that type oc bridge you can pull (or push) the edge of the bridge but the wood boards will make it difficult (you will have to manually pass the lanyards after each board). Ideally on these bridges you will figure out how to get up instead of pulling yourself out of them.

[@alastairmacdonald-pb9ki]

Another option that could work is how highliners recover. Simply put you use a foot as a pivot point on the leash will work with about a six foot leash

[@koenbeeckman87]

i take with me a green and blue petzl sling to prusik myself up in case i fal on a via ferrata

[@MonsieurBlue]

Other really important information, thank you!

[@kristinrokos5483]

Thank you so much for this! I have looked for videos like this for a long time, doing via ferratas solo, and have not found information until your video. Thank you! So important! Question about falling on a vertical ladder section where you don’t want a static line to stop your fall, but may end up hanging below an arm reach hold. Please make a video for this. Thank you again!!!

[@JetSetYourself]

Thank you Kristin for making the time to leave you comment. I will work on a video about fall recovery from a vertical ladder. The only limitation is not having a Via Ferrata with a ladder around to go do the video this weekend or the next. I will soon travel to Italy and if all goes well I shall be able to post it before mid June.

[@koenbeeckman87]

if i dont feel secure i clip in the ladder steps with my resting line or even the viaferrate carabiners

[@koenbeeckman87]

if i solo via ferrata i take with my a green and blue petzl sling and a carabiner so i can prusik up with that

[@kristinrokos5483]

@@koenbeeckman87 video of this please! 😊😊

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

One thing you can (should) do, is keep a shorter line on the ladder rungs, and each time you move, you clip the third point into another rung. This takes a lot more time and effort, but if you slip, you will ride both of the cable carabiners down to the next hard anchor, and most of these are about ten feet. If you fall ten feet and then slam stopped, you are gonna be in a world of hurt. New people get belayed down on a Grillon from above.

[@wkurzuiblocie]

Great video thank you.

[@lugospod]

You do have to note that resting system almost always are not intended for any kind of drop. Nylon 120 cm sling, on 120 cm drop could generate >11kN force...which hurts. Asking because I never heard anyone using nylon slings for drops... Ok, in this specific scenario, the "bridge cable" provides also some shock absorption so I think it would work. And Y on the other cable is used as a "safety" if one out of two bridge cables breaks on your fall? Tnx

[@JetSetYourself]

Hello Luka. Thank you for taking the time to let me know your thought. It means a lot. You are right about slings/lanyards/static rope. I don't know exactly to what you refer. First I will agree with you (one should avoid falling on a Nylon/static sling) and next I will explain what happens in the video. Via Ferrata requires climbing with a Via Ferrata Set (it is what makes the fall - elastic). In case you fall on a bridge there has to be a way to recover. In this video I speak about that. To be able to reproduce the scenario of a fall, I use a static sling as long as the Via Ferrata Set extended once dropped from the bridge rope. I only use the sling to simulate the scenario after the fall. I don't use that to protect me during a fall because as you say, will not work (never and at all). One thing that I propose is to use a short sling that will prevent you from falling when crossing bridges. If the sling is less than the length of your arm and properly connected when you fall (loose control) the whole thing is almost static so, no big forces involved, When crossing bridges that look like this (two top life line ropes) I always propose climbers that one one rope connect the Via Ferrata Set and on the other the resting system lanyard (sling). In this case, if something happens with one cable, you have the other to hold you. Hopefully this makes it a bit more clear.

[@marekholub8668]

I personally carry two prusiks so I could ascend the long lanyards if needed.

[@JetSetYourself]

Yes, about this. I now plan to climb a Level E Via Ferrata in Slovenia that everyone speaks crazy scary things about it. I will take with me two prusiks as well because the cable is thinner than normal (devices like Ferrata.Bloc will not work) and in case I wail to properly rock climb it I will most probably need some aiding if I want to get out of it eventually. We will soon find out.

[@gonzo153a]

That is the only correct advice! Particularly if your set actually deploys, the technique proposed here won't work. Prusik is the only solution if you're climbing alone. And of course just the Prusik slings won't help, you should have practiced it beforehand.

[@CraigandJoan]

Thank you!

[@JohnJohn-fm3dx]

great videos. I just found your channel. One dump question. Are these kind of bridge expected to have this much tension if something happens? Do they decay over time? Are there people to do maintenance or replace them?

[@JetSetYourself]

Thank you. The rope diameter used for building the bridges should be enough to gold a baby elefant easily (maybe more). The material usually doesn't rust. Does it lose elasticity? Yes but hard to see with the plain eye. In theory someone checks the Via Ferrata routes form time to time. In practice you never know when if something will fail (many natural factors influence this). Be concerned where you have the safety line cut at both ends. With the safety steel cable of a Via Ferrata you usually are not getting concerned because if the bolt before or ahead gives up the cable will still be hold by the other bolts. On bridges based on what cable might theoretically give up you can be exposed less or more but more than on the Via Ferrata itself. Overall we should trust the route equipment but always be mindful and visually inspect, check and test what goes ahead of us.

[@JohnJohn-fm3dx]

@@JetSetYourself thank you very much. Ofc one should always keep in mind that anything can fail. I understand that It is highly unlikely for one of the two cables fail and use proper equipment.Didn't knew that it could hold that much weight though 😅

[@JetSetYourself]

Let's say it differently. Any bridge should easily hold 1000kg statically loaded and cope with dynamic loads of at least 400kg (bounce, slightly jump)

[@JohnJohn-fm3dx]

@@JetSetYourself thank you very much. I find it useful knowing such information

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

It seems like you would need to use a static line on ccrossing any kind of traverse as evn if your on a cliff face you will need to pull yourself up to the cable.

[@andrzejfabianski4948]

This is exactly wat I was looking for,Thank You for great explanation. And a question - Is it allowed to use katroll on upper line ?

[@JetSetYourself]

Nothing wrong about using it (by katroll I understand zipline pulleys like Petzl Tandem for example). The only thing is that they are an overkill plus, sometimes you want friction (let's support the lifeline is inclined in the opposite your intended direction)

[@andrzejfabianski4948]

@@JetSetYourself thank You 👌

[@SpitefulAZ]

I'm going to do this in October!

[@JetSetYourself]

I was climbing it even on December 24th. Lucky us, it doesn't always snow 🌨

[@SpitefulAZ]

@@JetSetYourself so October must be a good month. Wundebar!

[@ClaudiaSchneider-sp9uv]

Please make a video about fear of crossing this brdges. I like via ferrata so much, but i cant do a single step on this bridges, i panic. How I could learn this? Thank you so much.

[@JetSetYourself]

I replied to your other comment. I explained step by step how to do it. How to cross bridges safely I can make a video of it (will take a while because what I already have recorded maybe is not enough). But what I sent you already is very good starting points. If you need more let me know.

[@WayIntoAdventures]

That seems scary.

[@JetSetYourself]

It is 😂😁😊

[@m.hoffman2889]

if on a three rope bridge connecting one piece of the via ferrata set to one your left cable and one on your right cable, you also dont fall far

[@JetSetYourself]

You don't fall far if the shock absorber will jot deploy. If it deploys you can end up way below the bridge

[@milena14791]

I always wondered what I would do in this situation and now I feel much better. Thank you for your video. :) I tried via ferrata for the first time last Sunday and it was fun and a little bit scarry. 😆🤭

[@JetSetYourself]

Make sure on bridges to never end in a difficult situation. What will help you be always better off? The resting system. Plug that as well and there is no chance to fall way bellow the safety steel cable (life line of the bridge). Don't worry, on bridges, connecting the resting system is not a danger in case you lose control and fall. The fall will be static enough to not put stress on your back or equipment. But, remember to unplug the resting system once you exit the bridge. Thank you! It makes me smile knowing that I could help. And thank you for you taking the time to write your thoughts. Via Ferrata is not the usual hike anyone can do. It takes a lot 9f courage and enthusiasm. Also, to be scared by it but make it to the end strong and unstoppable makes you so strong and incredible. I admire you!

[@milena14791]

@@JetSetYourself Thank you very much! 😊🤗

[@lajosrofusz5826]

Think! What would an arborist do.

[@JetSetYourself]

Well, this implies having a lot of gear with you. People usually go on a Via Ferrata with nothing.

[@phaphua2022]

I don't think using a sling (which is static) for the simulation is a good idea. Both your via ferrata set and the sling are tied onto your belay loop, so if you fall during the simulation, the sling could break the belay loop and you will fall all the way down to ground.

[@JetSetYourself]

I agree with you. If you check by zooming you will see that actually I have a backup to the belay loop (it is a full body harness I keep under the clothes and if you check you will see it in all my videos). Also, let's admit that to break the belay loop takes a lot. Also let's mention that the belay loop is maybe the weakest in a climbing system and that a) this is why sport climbing recommends using the loops from the harness and leg loops and b) there is a general acceptance of this limitation.

[@privateer0561]

...And then you change your underwear.

[@boredmurse3432]

So, is there like a guided tour for this or am I supposed to risk my life all by myself? 😂

[@JetSetYourself]

For Baia de Fier for sure I can keep you company. For somewhere else in Romania or Europe probably we can plan and sync