{"id":14960,"date":"2023-08-10T07:15:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T13:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.powder7.com\/ski-blog\/?p=14960"},"modified":"2023-08-10T07:15:07","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T13:15:07","slug":"arapahoe-basin-via-ferrata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.powder7.com\/ski-blog\/arapahoe-basin-via-ferrata\/","title":{"rendered":"Tested: Arapahoe Basin’s Via Ferrata"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summer on the A-Basin East Wall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wondering what to do with yourself during Angry August? Well, skiers, we’ve got news for you: Ski areas can be fun during the sweaty months too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin<\/a> has been expanding its summer playground in recent years. We’re talking more mountain bike trails, a Class V disc golf course, and its crown jewel: North America’s highest-elevation via ferrata, located on the East Wall. (Editor’s Note: Yes, they still serve those bacon bloody marys during summer.<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our friends at A-Basin invited our staff to come check out the via ferrata this summer. Maybe we’re just bored skiers, or maybe we’ve been itching to sample A-Basin’s latest project\u2014but either way, the sign-up sheet filled instantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what we learned: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Arapahoe Basin via ferrata is the highest in North America.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is via ferrata?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Via ferrata\u2014like skiing\u2014originated in Europe as a practical means. Trace its roots to World War I, when it served as a way for soldiers in the Italian Dolomites to access strategic high-elevation positions. Following the second World War, the cables and rungs along a slew of routes began attracting climbers for recreation. By the 1990s, via ferrata had become a full-blown mountain activity in its own right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, you can find recreational via ferrata throughout the Alps and Dolomites and other parts of Europe. Canada, too, where winter-first operations like CMH<\/a> build via ferrata into summer programming. Here in Colorado, routes dot cliffsides in Ouray, Telluride, Manitou Springs, the Royal Gorge. And now it’s reached the Continental Divide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The skinny: Via ferrata involves ascending a route on a fixed cable using ladders, rungs, steps, and bridges. It’s one-part high-ropes course, one-part climbing, and one-part adult jungle gym. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Via ferrata involves following pre-set cables, rungs, ladders, steps, and bridges.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Not rock climbing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Good news for non-rock-climbers: Via ferrata is its own thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it does involve scaling vertical faces (in fact, A-Basin’s route stands out for being more straight-up than many others), via ferrata feels different than rock climbing. The pre-placed rungs, steps, and the cable give you holds you can always count on, and there’s no need to carry a rack of bits and biners around your waist. A harness with a straightforward via ferrata device does the trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most, if not all, North American via ferrata routes are guided. But the climber is responsible for moving along the cable and clipping\/re-clipping the carabiners around bolts and onto new sections of cable. So while it’s not as, say, organic <\/em>as top-roping, you’re still doing all the climbing yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Re-live A-Basin’s most epic opening day yet.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s not as scary as rock climbing, but via ferrata provides plenty of exposure to get your heart pumping.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The appeal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

True to form for Arapahoe Basin, the route blasts pretty much straight up the East Wall. You won’t find the the bridges, catwalks, and two-by-four ladders present on lots of other routes. It’s just a raw mountain ascent of around 1,200 feet (800 of which is vertical climbing). You pass a mine, kiss the lichen, get chirped by marmots, and climb to near 13,000 feet. Quintessential Colorado!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our crew of skiers (some with climbing experience, some without) loved the route for its universal appeal. As long as you don’t come with a fear of heights, via ferrata feels accessible enough for casual hiker types while still being plenty engaging for adrenaline junkies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more, and book your tour, here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n