Dabbling with the via ferrata

Today was a day of firsts for many of the group: first via ferrata experience, first time abseiling, first multi-pitching climb. No time like the present, and all that!

The team, about to don packs and start the twenty minute walk to the base of the via ferrata route. The route is the pale ridge directly above Andrew's head (blue top).

Nearly there. The route is now the main skyline. It involves about ninety minutes of continuous climbing up ladders made from rungs in the rock.

That's the giant staple-shaped rung. Excellent for hands, feet and hooking the entire arm through for a short break! The cable is clipped in to for safety. And then, that's Callum following up behind me.

The whole team now relaxed enough to wave.

Douglas looking uncannily like he's hanging from that one hand on the rung. Nails.

 And Dom tootling along.

 And Dom.

Via ferrata is great for getting in to the most amazing landscape and scenery beneath us, and very quickly. It's fairly physical, but it's not technical - anyone can do it

 Douglas cruising along on some typically steep ground.

 Trees are looking smaller.

We've reached the end of the via ferrata, but rather than descending, we continue up to the top. The ground is too steep and so we climb pitch after pitch of rock in two teams. Our van now looks like a tiny toy.

And Callum looks pretty relaxed all things considered (such as him having never been on this sort of ground!).

Finally it's time to descend. The team do a long abseil, learning to use a prussic. Then there's a scree run, executed particularly beautifully by the girls, can-can style! And then, one last lower down on the ropes. We arrive back at the bus, ready for a sit down!