August 24, 2014
Just one of those new trends the leaders need to try out first to see if it would be a good activities for the boys.
First heard about it on a radio show: CBC Eye-Opener and checked out the link at http://summer.banffnorquay.com/. These were first used in the Alps back as early as 1843. It supported the growth of alpine exploration and tourism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_ferrata
We talked with the staff and scout age boys are old enough to make the cut. They indicated we may be able to work a deal if we trade some service work for a better deal on the price. They did need some help making the trails for the additionally planned expansion to their via ferrata.
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Karl Burndorfer, Celeste Gambill - my daughter |
These are your paired safety connectors. Every time you reach an anchor,
you unclip 1 carabiner and hook it up on the other side of the anchor.
Then do the same for the other one. |
Still need to use your judgment on the foot and hand holds. |
and when there are no features on the rocks, they will put in iron
holds for you. |
Scary, but we can make it look easy too. |
Up we go. |
No shortage of holds to step on and grab. |
Transitioning past another anchor. |
You can move along pretty quick. |
Even straight up isn't that hard. |
Just one carabiner at a time. |
No loose rocks up here, right? |
This is pretty tricky here. |
Bit more of a slope here to hang out on. |
Almost out of this one. |
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| Coming up to the suspension bridge... | |||
You just knew those gym classes on the balance been would pay off. |
At the gym the beam isn't usually wet though. |
Quite the bounce to this bridge. |
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| Some video action of Celeste |  |
Video action with me... |  |
Coming down into the trees again. |
Nothing like the fresh smell of pines and moss. |
Back to more accents... |
Getting a little steep again. |
No fear here... |
Get around the anchor... |
They usually keep it to 1 person between anchors so you don't shake up the
climber on the same cable. |
Just clearing off the loose rocks. I'm the last guy, so it's OK to do
that. |
Last anchor before the top of this pitch. |
Here is where they let us pick various paths on how to scale to the top of
this pitch. |
We took the more advanced route. |
No holds here. You just need to find the natural rock features yourself. |
The cable it still there though. |
So in a pinch, you can still use it. |
Does get tricky getting around the anchors though. |
Good foot hold there. |
My turn up now. |
Lots to step on here. |
Not quite as easy as the bouldering walls in town. |
More moss on the holds here. |
Working on the descent part of the loop now. |
Still staying on top of the photo ops. |
That was great Dad! |
2 pairs of happy feet zooming back down to Banff. |
Happy foot pointing to my wife's favorite mountain. |
PS: No bears up here. Just another thing you don't have to worry about. |