General Info

What is Via Prata

Via Ferrata, or VF for short - in Italian, means 'iron road'.

This is a cliff climbing route with pegs and ladders. Its climbers are secured using a harness and an energy absorber, through which they connect to an iron cable installed along the route.

How it all started:

The first route used in this method was built in the Tyrolean region of Austria in 1849. It was designed to help mountain climbers climb one of the peaks. During World War I, between 1914 and 1918, as part of the war with the Austro-Hungarian army, the Italian army built several VF routes in the Dolomites in southern Tyrol - an area that had been under Austrian control until then. The purpose of the routes was to assist soldiers carrying equipment to reach the mountain peaks and to control the peaks and roads in the mountain passes. Around 1930 the mountain climbers of the Italian Alpine Club began to maintain the existing routes and build new routes designed to help them cross the mountain range and reach the peaks. These routes are called classic routes, most of them were renewed by the alpine clubs and can still be climbed today. Until the 1980s, additional routes were built in this style, mainly in Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. And interesting elements as part of the route, instead of the need to climb to the top of the mountain.In these routes you can find various bridges, climbing nets and omegas as part of the route.They are called sports tracks.

To date, about 150 routes have been built in France alone and new routes are added every year.

Across Europe - in Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia and more - there are about 1,400 different VF routes. In the 2000s, routes were opened in Malaysia, China, Mexico, Oman, Canada and more. In 2017, we built the first VF track in Israel, 'Derech Hamelech', in the Ramim ridge.

Equipment and safety at Via Prata

Three safety accessories must be used on the Via Prata routes: helmet, harness and energy absorber. The helmet is designed to prevent injury in the event of stones falling from areas higher than the climber. A standard harness is designed for climbing and gliding, to which the energy absorber will be attached. The energy absorber is a unique accessory developed especially for use on Via Prata routes. Its purpose is to absorb the energy applied to the climber in the event of a fall. The climber connects to the iron cable in the track, using the energy absorber.

Ranking of Via Prata routes

The difficulty rating of VF routes is very subjective and unlike the rating of free climbing routes, the degree of physical difficulty of the route is not the only factor that is taken into account. The ranking method in VF relies on the authors of the track books in Italy. Today it is customary to use the Smith and Fletcher method. Smith and Fletcher have developed a bar for rating technical difficulty and a bar for rating the required professionalism. VF track rating is determined by the two bars, together. The technical difficulty rating is represented in digits 1-5 1. Easy hiking trails with a limited portion of climbing in VF. Suitable for children and inexperienced. 2. Tracks with real climbing sections. Suitable for those with experience in hiking in the mountains. 3. Routes where there is more difficulty. Ability to handle heights without getting dizzy is required. Suitable for hikers who are skilled in safe walking at heights and using self-security in VF. Not recommended for the completely inexperienced in VF 4. Complex and difficult routes that combine climbing on vertical (vertical) rock surfaces and require technical climbing ability. These routes are not suitable for those who are unsure of their abilities in the mountains. 5. Tracks with the highest level of technical difficulty. Suitable only for very experienced in VF

Ranking of required professionalism

Represented in Latin letters - AC

A

Trails in a light and non-dangerous mountainous environment, easy access to clear routes and escape options, stable rock and a small probability of stones falling, relatively safe in case of adverse change in weather during the climb.

B

Routes that require experience and knowledge in a mountainous environment. Access to them is a little more complicated and the escape options are few. On such routes a small malfunction can develop into a rather complicated situation. Awareness of the risk of loose stones that may fall is required. A change in adverse weather can be much more than "unpleasant."

C

Routes for experienced and knowledgeable climbers. There may be no escape option, the route in a remote area and access to it is complex and unsecured. Every small glitch can have serious consequences. Loose stones that may fall should be considered. Adverse change in the weather can add a serious problem to the difficulties on the route.
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