Check out this video of what is hailed as the world's hardest via ferrata in the Austrian foothills. The guy (who is using our Easy Rider via ferrata set) is basically batmanning up the cable on an overhanging wall, his feet smearing on basically nothing. Be sure to check out the action at the 2 minute mark—this rig is so burly that the guy has to do inverted toe hooks on the cable to rest!
Tags for this Article:
easy-rider, austria, via-ferrata, pcp-via-ferrata, climb, video
Recent Talk (1)
Darren Smalls 15 Aug 2012, 9:49AM
First of all nothing beats the AWESOME German commentary and music. I just makes them seem badass! I might use climbing shoes myself - a bit crazy I know. Well, I'm going to start doing pull-ups, head to Telluride for some Sick Bird VF Kroegeratta style training (yeah we got via ferrattas in the US too), then grab the bolt gun and head to Austria and try my hand at the ultimate F Grade VF. Boo Ya VF Haters! Who needs a rack?
Because it goes to 11 bitches!
Chris 7 Aug 2012, 12:28PM
Relax - via ferrata was originally established during WWI, to access forward observation posts to call in artillery strikes over mountain ridges. Following the war, it made logical sense to continue using these cable-ways for tourism. Today, via ferrata typically crosses terrain that's too poor/chossy to attract rock climbing. And its not as unattractive as a gondola or a tram, so what's the harm?
Its just another way to move through the mountains, which is what I think BD is all about.
mw 6 Aug 2012, 8:02AM
to all you rockclimbers out there , why do you have to be so up your own arses , i think it looks fun , i climb to a high standerd and that looks like a bit of fun , why do you need to make climbers look so up your own arses , i really pity your small mindedness , what a shame . keep up the good vids and fun guys , its all about having fun , it doesnt matter in what sport , each to there own ,
whocares? 29 Jun 2012, 10:48PM
I have had some awesome rambles through Chamonix on via ferrata. Some of the huts there are only accessible with it. You would have to be crazy to go to the Envers d'Aiguille hut and bitch about via ferrata. It shouldn't really be a sport, but a mode of travelling safely and quickly through inacessible terrain.
Steven Sadler 28 Jun 2012, 1:42PM
This is horrible. They are drilling huge holes and leaving tons of hardware up on the rock. talk about no respect for nature. How ugly would it be to see huge cables hanging all over the mountains. What a disgrace!!!
martin 22 Jun 2012, 9:12AM
guys, come on. Have a little more respect for other sports. Just because you do it differently, doesn't mean you do it better or you are entitled to slander other's activities.
I do both rock climbing and ferratas and they are both great activities, although different types. You usually climb ferrata alone (even in groups, everybody is on it's own), which is very nice when you don't have a stable 24/7 climbing partner. Also, it makes mountains more accessible to people outside standard rock climbing community.
I have a high regard of whole climbing community and camaradership within, and reactions here are probably mostly from teen kids with low egos. At least I hope it's like that...
John Stales 17 May 2012, 4:26AM
Absolutely awful. This has nothing to with climbing and i can't see why black diamond would be interested in promoting (or being associated with) this kind of 'climbing'.
Felix D. 15 May 2012, 2:41PM
This is appaling. Bad enough BD makes gear for this, leave us alone with videos on Ferratas.
roman 1 May 2012, 3:33AM
Diese Video hat ja nichts mit klettern zu tun-sich am Seil hochziehen.Lasst den Seil am Gebäude hängen und die Leute können sich da hochziehen.
Franken 19 Jan 2012, 11:06PM
It's not about being "hard" we all know we climb when we want to climb, wether it's trad or sport. This is more about alpinism and it came about purely through the Italian Military in the Dolomites needing pathways for large amounts of gear being moved up steep terrain. It IS dangerous IF you're not careful such as Kurt Albert (http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web10f/newswire-kurt-albert-dies) While not technically challenging these routes can still injure and those people who harp on about their14 year old rock climbing perhaps should be a bit more aware about the inherent dangers of climbing in general. YES Kurt Albert started climbing at 14 also!!
Randy 8 Oct 2011, 9:37PM
I think this video belongs as next weekends Winger. What a joke!
dave fialko 1 Oct 2011, 7:26PM
Why is this even on a page that has anything to do with mtn or rock climbing. My 14 year old nephew could do this blinfolded. he "climbs 5.11d in the gym" lol .....says it all right there!
Ed McCord 27 Sep 2011, 3:24PM
Are you kidding me??? They actually attach a serious grade to this? Buy a rope and place protection!
Eric 24 Sep 2011, 11:40AM
Totally lame and stupid. Cable climbers. These guys are dorks.
Fabio 22 Aug 2011, 10:40AM
Oh, come on. They are using the cable to PROGRESS, since the very first moments of the video, not only for safety. Boring!
Mark 17 Apr 2011, 8:35AM
Outstanding!
Matt DK 14 Feb 2011, 8:25PM
I live for via. These guys are pushin the limit- keep it up
Randy Hankins 29 Jul 2009, 10:17AM
Whoa...
Sylvester Stallone 29 Jul 2009, 6:32AM
Yeah dudes! This is the best I`ve ever seen!!
He might make it to the new Cliffhanger movie if he goes on like that!
Keep on posting sick stuff like that!!!
Build My Own Feed
United States / English 
15 Aug 2012, 9:49AM
First of all nothing beats the AWESOME German commentary and music. I just makes them seem badass! I might use climbing shoes myself - a bit crazy I know. Well, I'm going to start doing pull-ups, head to Telluride for some Sick Bird VF Kroegeratta style training (yeah we got via ferrattas in the US too), then grab the bolt gun and head to Austria and try my hand at the ultimate F Grade VF. Boo Ya VF Haters! Who needs a rack?
Because it goes to 11 bitches!
7 Aug 2012, 12:28PM
Relax - via ferrata was originally established during WWI, to access forward observation posts to call in artillery strikes over mountain ridges. Following the war, it made logical sense to continue using these cable-ways for tourism. Today, via ferrata typically crosses terrain that's too poor/chossy to attract rock climbing. And its not as unattractive as a gondola or a tram, so what's the harm?
Its just another way to move through the mountains, which is what I think BD is all about.
6 Aug 2012, 8:02AM
to all you rockclimbers out there , why do you have to be so up your own arses , i think it looks fun , i climb to a high standerd and that looks like a bit of fun , why do you need to make climbers look so up your own arses , i really pity your small mindedness , what a shame . keep up the good vids and fun guys , its all about having fun , it doesnt matter in what sport , each to there own ,
29 Jun 2012, 10:48PM
I have had some awesome rambles through Chamonix on via ferrata. Some of the huts there are only accessible with it. You would have to be crazy to go to the Envers d'Aiguille hut and bitch about via ferrata. It shouldn't really be a sport, but a mode of travelling safely and quickly through inacessible terrain.
28 Jun 2012, 1:42PM
This is horrible. They are drilling huge holes and leaving tons of hardware up on the rock. talk about no respect for nature. How ugly would it be to see huge cables hanging all over the mountains. What a disgrace!!!
22 Jun 2012, 9:12AM
guys, come on. Have a little more respect for other sports. Just because you do it differently, doesn't mean you do it better or you are entitled to slander other's activities.
I do both rock climbing and ferratas and they are both great activities, although different types. You usually climb ferrata alone (even in groups, everybody is on it's own), which is very nice when you don't have a stable 24/7 climbing partner. Also, it makes mountains more accessible to people outside standard rock climbing community.
I have a high regard of whole climbing community and camaradership within, and reactions here are probably mostly from teen kids with low egos. At least I hope it's like that...
17 May 2012, 4:26AM
Absolutely awful. This has nothing to with climbing and i can't see why black diamond would be interested in promoting (or being associated with) this kind of 'climbing'.
15 May 2012, 2:41PM
This is appaling. Bad enough BD makes gear for this, leave us alone with videos on Ferratas.
1 May 2012, 3:33AM
Diese Video hat ja nichts mit klettern zu tun-sich am Seil hochziehen.Lasst den Seil am Gebäude hängen und die Leute können sich da hochziehen.
19 Jan 2012, 11:06PM
It's not about being "hard" we all know we climb when we want to climb, wether it's trad or sport. This is more about alpinism and it came about purely through the Italian Military in the Dolomites needing pathways for large amounts of gear being moved up steep terrain. It IS dangerous IF you're not careful such as Kurt Albert (http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web10f/newswire-kurt-albert-dies) While not technically challenging these routes can still injure and those people who harp on about their14 year old rock climbing perhaps should be a bit more aware about the inherent dangers of climbing in general. YES Kurt Albert started climbing at 14 also!!
8 Oct 2011, 9:37PM
I think this video belongs as next weekends Winger. What a joke!
1 Oct 2011, 7:26PM
Why is this even on a page that has anything to do with mtn or rock climbing. My 14 year old nephew could do this blinfolded. he "climbs 5.11d in the gym" lol .....says it all right there!
27 Sep 2011, 3:24PM
Are you kidding me??? They actually attach a serious grade to this? Buy a rope and place protection!
24 Sep 2011, 11:40AM
Totally lame and stupid. Cable climbers. These guys are dorks.
22 Aug 2011, 10:40AM
Oh, come on. They are using the cable to PROGRESS, since the very first moments of the video, not only for safety. Boring!
17 Apr 2011, 8:35AM
Outstanding!
14 Feb 2011, 8:25PM
I live for via. These guys are pushin the limit- keep it up
29 Jul 2009, 10:17AM
Whoa...
29 Jul 2009, 6:32AM
Yeah dudes! This is the best I`ve ever seen!!
He might make it to the new Cliffhanger movie if he goes on like that!
Keep on posting sick stuff like that!!!
Sly*