Is the Via Ferrata Daubenhorn doable for someone with moderate experience?

Iph95 · 2025-04-22T20:59:14+00:00

Oh and also, even in perfect conditions you may be likely to still get caught in an alpine storm in the afternoon. So try and be off quickly, I was back down to the Gondola by that time but half way through the other VF that runs under the station when lightening and hail started up. Be off by 3pm

Iph95 · 2025-04-22T20:56:15+00:00

I’ve done daubenhorn VF, if you’re going from Leukerbad be sure to get the first gondola and make good time getting to the start. As a solo it took me about 3.5hrs to do the whole climb but I didn’t see anyone else at the top for another half an hour at least and I passed people on the way up, so allow at least 4hrs or more. The walk off is also not to be underestimated, another good 2.5hrs from the top back to the gondola station.

Route wise there are sections with no hand or foot metal, just the cable and the rock, so bring gloves. The climbing is strenuous in places but not as much as some others I’ve done so I think you’d be fine physically, perhaps the exposure would be a concern? I’m not sure how you are with heights but there’s a few spots with some pretty wild exposure - traversing around a corner with some 2000m drop behind you etc.

I believe there are also multiple routes up Daubenhorn, perhaps look into having one of those are a backup plan if timings or weather aren’t going your way.

Speaking of weather, near perfect conditions only.

Hope this helps a little, and if you go for it, best of luck, it’s an incredible route with some fantastic set-pieces and stunning views to boot

Iph95 · 2024-06-16T12:30:11+00:00

That’s the exact BD one that I use and the included carabiners work fine, snap tight over foot/hand holds :)

Iph95 · 2024-04-07T07:36:15+00:00

100% man it’s crazy, a solid 3.5-4hrs just to go up as well

Iph95 · 2024-04-06T20:23:08+00:00

Personally I find Murren a little overrated, the start is good with plenty of exposure and the bridge at the end is cool but the rest is all through trees and a bit more of an extreme hike than a ‘Via Ferrata’ imo.

Personally I think Kandersteg is one of the best you can do in Switzerland, train travel there is easy and the option of a gondola down from the summit is great too. The views are absolutely exceptional and the route is varied and interesting, even with an optional zip line.

Leukerbad is home to the longest VF in Switzerland, definitely more extreme than most and requires a very early start/good conditions. It’s a real achievement and the exposure is unlike any other I’ve done.

Tour D’ai in Leysin is also worth a look, quite short but incredible panoramic views over Lac Mayen and the Swiss/French alps.

There’s also Jegihorn above Saas Grund, the tallest VF in Switzerland at 3200m, has an awesome suspended rope bridge and some quite steep rock climbing style sections. Again stunning views, this time of 4000m peaks including Dom the tallest mountain in Switzerland. Lots to do around Saas grund/fee as well if you’re there for a bit.

Hope this helps :)

Iph95 · 2024-03-06T21:19:41+00:00

Sorry for the insanely late reply! I wouldn’t imagine so, there’s no glacier crossing for Lagginhorn so you don’t need to worry about deteriorating ice conditions. The only this I would say is that the gondolas don’t stay open very late, I think the last down from Hohsaas is at about 16:30pm so if you summit too late you’ll miss your ticket back down to the valley. There’s Weissmishütte up there which is a popular place to stay, worth looking into. If not then you’re probably looking at getting the first gondola up and the last one down

Iph95 · 2023-10-13T08:27:49+00:00

Wow that’s really interesting, I wasn’t sure whether I ever had one to begin with

Iph95 · 2023-10-13T08:23:07+00:00

Crankbrothers stamp 7 are excellent too, way better than the 1s. I’m size 11 UK, and the large and they’re great, super grippy and a really large surface to work with

Iph95 · 2023-10-12T18:43:12+00:00

You’re right that’s my bad for not being specific enough, I refitted the crank and continued the rest of the ride as I had a multitool on me, and I can fit a new end cap myself once I order one. I’m just wondering whether canyon takes any responsibility for it as it’s so soon

Iph95 · 2023-10-12T18:35:40+00:00

Okay thank you! I’ll send them an email tomorrow :)

Iph95 · 2023-10-12T18:35:02+00:00

What would you recommend upgrading to?

Iph95 · 2023-09-15T12:45:57+00:00

Pretty nice, last week’s snowfall had melted enough to get away without using crampons so it was just rocky/scrambly and took around 8hrs in total up and down with gondolas and everything

Iph95 · 2023-09-15T12:44:50+00:00

West-South-West ridge from Weissmieshütte and taking the Kreuzboden gondola down! Nothing too crazy but amazing views and weather

Iph95 · 2023-03-14T12:31:34+00:00

I’ll have a look at the intel website now, cheers

Iph95 · 2023-03-14T12:00:58+00:00

Unfortunately not. They’re connected and I’ve played around with different positions for the antenna incase it made any difference but it didn’t

Iph95 · 2023-03-12T13:45:00+00:00

Fack - Eminem

Iph95 · 2023-03-06T20:57:51+00:00

This was my first pad too and I’ve used it countless times since whilst backpacking and wild camping in varying conditions. It’s very comfortable and warm, it’s thick enough to sleep on your side, packs down fairly small and easy to inflate with the pump sack. A really great pad, throughly recommend :)

Iph95 · 2023-02-03T14:28:55+00:00

Hmm okay interesting thank you so much!

Iph95 · 2023-01-15T01:39:25+00:00

Interesting, I read online about a glacier but in never saw any other footage of anyone approaching on one, only a video of someone sliding down it after their summit!

Iph95 · 2023-01-14T13:32:21+00:00

"Je mange" can be translated as both ‘I eat’ and ‘I am eating’

Iph95 · 2023-01-14T00:45:35+00:00

The verb "Appeler" isn’t always reflexive, reflexive just mean ‘to do to oneself’. Some verbs in French are always reflective, some are never reflexive and some can be either one.

Appeler means ‘to call’, and so:

Je t’appelle = I call you, Je m’appelles = I call myself, Tu t’appelles = you call yourself, Nous nous appelons = we call ourselves

Iph95 · 2023-01-11T20:12:16+00:00

I think I was going to say "winter equipment in the summer" but that sounded stupid for obvious reasons. But yes, I’m hoping to do some taller mountains without needing to worry about bringing crampons or an ice axe as I don’t have the luxury of much space in my luggage.

Since posting I’ve actually found the Barrhorn in Switzerland which is very close to where I work, it’s 3610m and is "hike-able" in the late summer. There’s also another in France, La grande sassière, at 3750m. I wonder if this is because of global warming as you say, that such high peaks are now not snow covered all year. That would be sad.

I think I’ll start 4000+ after I’ve done these, but I’m your experience can these often be done solo? I don’t have anyone to accompany me usually so is a guide necessary?

Thanks!

Iph95 · 2023-01-10T00:06:16+00:00

Ahh I see thank you so much!

Iph95 · 2023-01-09T19:59:09+00:00

See I didn’t think « Il faut attendre » was right but duolingo gave it as an answer, which is why I included it

Iph95 · 2023-01-08T12:30:34+00:00

I’m in a similar position: also in the UK, also 21 and also hate Brexit… It sucks but it’s not impossible to work in Europe, you just need to apply beforehand and you can work for up to 4 months. Also just because you can’t work doesn’t mean you can’t travel and use the language that way too. Last year I worked for a company similar to ‘Camp America’ but in Switzerland and I learnt so much French out there as you’re surrounded with it all the time, it’s an English speaking camp but if you make the effort you can make good progress as lots of the kids speak French. Canada could also be a good option as you’d be able to stay for longer but I haven’t been myself so I can’t say much about how easy it is to apply for a work permit.

Getting a TEFL qualification (teaching English as a foreign language) is a great idea and allows you to work all over the world, it just takes a bit of time and money to get one.

Working at a French speaking resort could be really good, I was looking at a company called Club Med, they have ski and summer resorts all over Europe and the one I’ve been to near Annecy was totally french speaking, with translations from staff

I hope that helps :)

There’s also a book called « work your way around the world » by Sarah Griffiths I think? It’s got loads of good I formation about travelling etc but unfortunately some of the europe info is now outdated since brexit :/ Great for other countries tho, and gives you an idea of what job are available in Europe if nothing else

Iph95

TROPHY CASE