Via ferrata (Klettersteig) adventures

During the summer we had a few weekends "empty" without anything planned.

Obviously we couldn't leave it that way, so we had two unforgettable last-minute-planned via ferratas (if you don't know what that is you haven't really paid attention to our blog...)

Since we were already confident in our skills after a few climbs, we decided to climb a K4 difficulty, 700m high wall, the amazing Fürenwand:

From Engelberg, the eldorado of via ferrata

As the photos taken show, it was quite a challenging climb, most of it being one vertical wall:

From Engelberg, the eldorado of via ferrata

while just so that we don't get bored during an easy climb, mother nature decided to treat us with some water effects:



as we climbed higher and higher the view down below got scarier and scarier
and just before reaching the top, the route had another great surprise, a pretty high and pretty swinging ladder


However, the joy of the last steps to the top:


and the view made up for our efforts:


And finally, as a surprise present, we were rewarded with an amazing lake or rather pond (unfortunately it was too cold to take a plunge):


which offered us one of the best photo spots ever:



The next of those blank calendar weekends, we went for a climb of  only "K3 -K4" difficulty that was supposed to be "like a walk in the park" compared to the previous climb...well it wasn't a walk in the park (but more on that later).

So this climb was inbetween two "branches" of the Steingletscher (black rock in the middle):

From Steingletscher

The overall climb was again about 700m in altitude split into:

• an "easy" K3 section:

with views on the western "branch" of the Steingletscher:

• a middle section of a short walk towards the eastern branch of the Steingletscher, 

where Krisztina decided to take matters -sorry mountains - into her own hands - sorry between her legs:

• and a surprisingly technical K4 section:

But the big surprise awaited us on top of the climb: the Steingletscher in all its beauty:



Some lucky bastards were lucky enough to have a place to sleep overnight (on the left side of the photo):


but not us, we had a painful descent ahead of us...one of those spots down there being our car we had to get to:



and this was the part we underestimated a bit, as the descent was almost as difficult - at least for our knees - as the climb.
But overall it was just another wonderful day in the alps.... highly recommend to everyone.

The two albums:

Fürenwand:

Steingletscher: 

Via ferrata (Klettersteig) in Braunwald

sLast weekend we went rock climbing (Via ferrata) to Braunwald with some friends, namely Gabi, Salo + Ioana and us (unfortunately Gulliver was left out this time, but we are working on some climbing harness for him to be able to join us next time).
The group posing in front of the TARGET


The climb comprised 2 stages:
- An "easy" first stage to "Leiteregg" at 2310m altitude

Salo's @ss on the way to the first peak on the "easy" climb:


which was just a great warm-up for what was about to be

- Stage 2 to the "Vorder Eggstock"at 2449m


me f@rting on the way to the "Vorder Eggstock"...


completing the construction on the peak:


"highway" between two peaks:


finally taking off our helmets for a shot on said further peak "Mittler Eggstock"


after which we had to go down (the worst part, I don't like to go down!!)


all pictures on picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/gulliver.gyenge/Braunwald#

Via Ferrata Brunnistöckli - our trial run

There are several fixed rope routes in Engelberg, the so called climber's paradise in Switzerland. We chose the via ferrata over the Brunnistöckli as a trial run, which is recommended mainly for beginners and families ;-)

The route starts from the top station of the Brunni chairlift at 1860m and offers a 200-metre rise in height, which we didn't find very difficult to handle. As you can see, it was a truly spectacular climb -



with two hanging bridges which offered a special experience:


It was certainly just an introduction to this sport for us ... fortunately there are many exciting fixed rope routes waiting for climbing fans all over Switzerland!
Here you can see our entire album on Via Ferrata Brunnistöckli.