UKC

Via Ferrata near Chamonix... is there such a thing? Asking for a mate.

I've told him about the MdG ladders but he's not interested, he says he wants something more 'mountain feel' than descent onto a glacier, and ideally a loop rather than linear (This came after I mentioned the multiple ladders up to the Couvercle Hut - no pleasing some folk haha

Any road, anyone know of a half decent VF area local to Cham valley? I've checked the Chamonix.net site and there is some basic info, but thought I'd ask you lot as well.

Cheers, Tony

In reply to Tony the Blade:

New Via Ferrata (VF des-Evettes) accessed from the Flegere telepherique; opened in the Autumn last year:

http://www.chamonix.net/english/news/via-ferrata-route-la-via-des-evettes

The book "Chamonix Mountain Adventures" mentions a couple:

- La Curalla, Passey. A half hour drive from Chamonix. I checked it out last year, but it was too rainy to contemplate.
- le Mont, Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval. Which is further to get too

There appears to be some info on the internet but probably in French.

The same book mentions the Mer de Glace Balcony Trail a loop which would be more involved than a trundle onto the Mer de Glace.

In reply to tomredfern:

Do you know if the Evettes via ferrata is free to use and the price shown here http://www.chamonix-guides.com/Produit/343/Categorie/88/3-activites-ete-cha... is just if you want a guide but you don't have to do it with one?

In reply to Tony the Blade:

The VF at Passy is worth doing and it goes in a loop.
https://www.montagne-cool.com/184-topo-Via_Ferrata_de_Passy_Massif_du_Mont_...
It might not have exactly a 'mountain feel' though, but it is fairly high up above the valley.

In reply to Peter Milner:

Yeah, I think it's looking like Passy might be my recommendation. Never having done VF I may go along as well.

I think the Evettes one might be too high therefore still too much snow on it. The trip is during half term (Saturday week).

In reply to tomredfern:


Is there still snow in them there hills? Or is it doable now?

Cheers, Tony

Thought I’d try to restart this one rather than making a new message thread

Just wondering if anyone in these parts has done the new “Evettes via Ferrata”? There’s quite scant information online; particularly so for the second part which apparently is a Via Corda but probably worth knowing how well bolted it is (as sometimes these things can be very spaced apart), what the pitches/abseils are and whether axe/crampons are needed for the snow at the end (which is in the pictures but I wonder at what time of year that was taken)

I'd guess perhaps that information on the Evettes may be limited to keep the numbers down in preference to guided parties

Also worth noting that it was mentioned that with the Via Corda on the other side of the valley Via Corda Alpina (PD+ 3+) that “someone has removed most of the hangers from the bolts”. Not sure if that was for maintenance or the route is no longer equipped

Anyway if anyone knows more about either route please enlighten us

Best regards,

Peter