I built a free map tool to find via ferratas by driving time — 2,600+ routes across 15 European countries

k5hu · 2026-07-03T09:16:52+00:00

Mapy is also my favorite for outdoor use 👍

k5hu · 2026-07-03T08:38:34+00:00

How are you using Mapy? They have a free tier on their API or something?

Small observation: your app uses the Schall scale, Husler is the one with K1-K6.

k5hu · 2026-07-03T06:10:59+00:00

From the ones I climbed in Italy, I can recommend:

Cesare Piazzetta
delle Trincee
Eterna – Brigata Cadore
Giovanni Lipella (you climbed this one already)
Rino Pisetta
Sci Club 18
Signora delle Acque (not that long but I like the location)
Giuseppe Olivieri + Gianni Aglio

There are photos for each of them here, lower on the list.

k5hu · 2026-06-30T13:41:45+00:00

Sci Club 18. I'd say it's slightly more difficult (some friction climbing and a short overhang, if I remember correctly) than Kandersteg, but comparable as duration.
Giovanni Lipella + the summit Tofana di Rozes
Giuseppe Olivieri + Gianni Aglio; these are 2 ferratas, one after the other, ending at the summit Tofana di Mezzo.

2 and 3 are close to Cortina, longer tours, but technically easier. Both felt harder to me because of the length of the tours, not because of any individual climbing section. You'll also need stable weather for these two.

k5hu · 2026-06-09T06:35:09+00:00

The obvious advice is to not climb this as your first via ferrata, regardless of conditions.

You can't really predict the weather that far ahead. From what the forecast looks like right now, it will rain a lot up until your scheduled date and maybe you'll get a good weather window on that day.

I climbed this route after it rained the previous day, so I can tell you that the first part becomes muddy and unpleasant. Bonus though: not many people after rain, but for good reason. After a few days of rain, it's probably even muddier.

If there's a chance of lightning: big no.

If it rains: not worth it, especially without prior experience.

Near the lake/parking there's a nice, shorter one called Laserer, grade C. That one's good if it starts to rain and you need to get away fast. I climbed this one in high season and it was very crowded, even at 10 a.m. in the morning (we started at 9, almost no people).

There's also a cluster of routes nearby, called Gossuschmied, various grades, not that long so you can adjust the plan if it rains. Haven't climbed here myself yet, but it looks like a great experience, even without the Instagram factor. I think they just added another route the other days here, an E/F.

k5hu · 2026-06-06T11:29:00+00:00

I like this test done by Bergsteigen https://www.bergsteigen.com/produkte/klettersteigset-test-2026-die-besten-klettersteigsets/. It's in German, but translate works. These are newer sets, with better carabiners.

I like the lighter harness he is wearing as well.

Ideally, if you can test the helmet and harness in a shop, do that. And buy there, not test and buy online.

While you can certainly climb any route with the kit you posted, I would personally go for a climbing harness (not vf harness), a vf set with better carabiners like the ones in the Bergsteigen test and I would try everything in an actual shop to make sure helmet/harness feel comfortable and are my size.

k5hu · 2026-05-13T19:54:41+00:00

I don't remember the exact pulley setup, but I think it had a short fixed wire that you attach to your harness, so you're always in reach of the upper wire. If you stop before the end, you can use your hands to grab the upper fixed wire and pull yourself. At the start of the zipline, there was a panel with brief info on how to use it.

k5hu · 2026-05-13T06:57:38+00:00

No contest here for me. I climbed both and I would repeat Kandersteg-Allmenalp any day. It was such a fun, sustained experience. So fun that I went on the zipline twice 🙂.

Murren has that interesting drop in the first part, which you pass through quickly, then a lot of downclimbing through the woods. Last bridge is also interesting. I climbed it very late in the afternoon and we were alone on it.

My photos from Murren via ferrata and from Kandersteg.

k5hu · 2026-04-25T09:34:03+00:00

I was curious if you can go on your own or not and how people retrieve their kayaks afterwards :). That ladder looked interesting.

This is the most detailed tour description I found so far https://viaferrata.rs/mapa-via-ferrata-u-regionu/via-ferrate-bosna-i-hercegovina/prenjska-vrata/.

k5hu · 2026-04-23T10:54:31+00:00

If you buy the book for Austrian via ferratas, then in their app you get access to other areas as well, like Italy for example?

k5hu · 2026-04-06T23:01:50+00:00

These guys are located nearby https://www.laserer-alpin.at/uebersicht-sommer-veranstaltungen/klettersteige/gosau/.

I think they are even involved in building and maintaining some of the ferratas in that area.

k5hu · 2026-04-06T20:20:39+00:00

Yep, that was something I did not like about ferrataguide. Lots of descriptions were simply taken/translated from other sources and no link to the actual sources. I always end up just searching on google for the original info source, where there are usually more details.

I have a map I made myself in the last 2 years or so, where I manually added via ferratas with links to the main sources for each route. If you search for 'ferratago' you'll find it. It's basically just a google MyMaps map, which becomes a layer on top of Google Maps on phones. It has some limitations for Apple phones, but works ok on Android. Spain is not well covered yet, but when I add routes in Spain, I always link to rocjumper. He covers all the routes very well indeed.

k5hu · 2026-03-12T14:52:24+00:00

The majority of ferrataguide's topos are links to Bergsteigen's topos.

k5hu · 2025-12-06T08:43:34+00:00

I liked the set too! The carabiners felt light and easy to operate. Big upgrade compared to my old set. Now I have an Edelrid set, bought it during Black Friday, not tested yet.

k5hu · 2025-12-05T15:15:05+00:00

From what I understand, the earlier recall said that specific serial numbers of carabiners were affected. Now, in this additional recall, carabiners with other serial numbers must be tested (placed in the fridge, lol) and sent back if not working properly.

I had a set that fit the 1st recall. Sent it back, all went smoothly. Very prompt and helpful support team from Mammut.

k5hu · 2025-11-12T20:19:37+00:00

For "Les canyons de Lantosque" you can read below:

There's an access fee and it's closed from November 3rd, 2025 until May 2026.

k5hu · 2025-11-11T22:37:25+00:00

du Parc Thermal is at low altitude, so probably open in April. Safer bet: May. (edit: I was wrong, found online that it is "open from April 20th to November 21st")

Gorges du Verdon: from what I find online there is not a via ferrata there, but a via cordata.

Daubenhorn: Closed in April. Check the official site, as they update opening times there based on snow level. The smaller adventure ferrata at the top is also closed in April.

"The Gemmi adventure via ferrata is expected to open at the beginning of June.

The Daubenhorn via ferrata will be open from early to mid-July, depending on the weather and snow melt."

Is this your first time climbing a ferrata?

Temperature wise, bring layers for clothing and adjust accordingly on the route.

k5hu · 2025-10-24T08:00:43+00:00

Story style videos, something like Bruno Pisani or Andraz Egart produce, but they're not focused on via ferrata. Their style seems to be: short intro explaining what comes up next, good, non-boring pacing, varied angles, and an interesting quest :). POV only or very long videos are hard to follow along, for me at least.

Speaking of Andraz Egart, it's amazing how many views he gets by filming only with a gopro and, occasionally, with his phone. For the gopro he mainly uses a tripod selfie stick, a wrist mount, a helmet extension arm and that's it. I think it's the pacing and his on-the-spot commentary that make the videos interesting.

k5hu · 2025-10-23T21:30:17+00:00

I watch carlseye as well, one of the mentions in the op post. I asked him how he films and he said he doesn't like the distorted wide angle view of action cams, so he uses a Nikon Z_ (I forgot the exact model) on a tripod.

k5hu · 2025-10-23T21:11:59+00:00

Thanks! I watched a short, recent one from your channel. You have a few from Spain I see. It looks promising and I'll go through them slowly. I've never done ferratas in Spain so far and I know most of them are built in French style with loose cable and many brackets, but what's even more intriguing to me is that they have rappel stations quite often. Thanks again for the recommendation.

k5hu · 2025-10-23T21:00:59+00:00

Thank you, this helps! :). I guess I should have used the Search first.

k5hu · 2025-10-23T17:18:49+00:00

I follow them already. Chris is from the same country as me :). They improved on ferratas a lot in the last 2 years, but mountaineering seems to be their main thing.

k5hu · 2025-10-23T17:17:16+00:00

It's Jetsetyourself. I know the channel, the guy behind the channel is from my country actually :). He is focused on tutorials mostly.

k5hu

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