kurthicks Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Here is comes... http://www2.standard.net/standard/news/61559/ European-style climbing course making 'iron way' to Ogden Thursday, September 8, 2005 By John Wright Standard-Examiner staff OGDEN -- A rock-climbing attraction under construction in Waterfall Canyon would be one of the first of its kind in the U.S., according to a local climbing expert. The via ferrata, or "iron way," consists of metal rungs and cables attached to rock faces. Wearing harnesses that are attached to the cables, people will be able to climb the rock faces using the rungs. The courses are popular in the Alps, but there are only a handful in the U.S., according to climbing expert and Ogden native Jeff Lowe, who is helpingconstruct the via ferrata. Via ferrata courses were first used in the 1920s or 1930s as a way for people to access remote huts in the Alps, Lowe said. They later were used by troops in World War II to traverse high mountain terrain. "Then they started to just do this for fun, to establish trails in some pretty exciting places," Lowe said. "It's kind of like the most basic, easy form of mountaineering, the safest form of mountaineering and climbing. ... It's like a ladder." Lowe said he is helping build the via ferrata for landowner Chris Peterson. Peterson could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He said one 450-foot-long via ferrata course, which gains 350 feet in elevation, is complete near the waterfall in the canyon, but it will not be open to the public until more testing is done. Two more courses are planned for construction this fall. In his many years of rock climbing and ice climbing around the world, Lowe said, via ferrata courses had never interested him. But then he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. "It's really restricted my mobility, so it's a little bit more meaningful to me," he said. "I start to see the benefit to people who are not hard-core climbers, who are somehow limited in what they can do." Lowe said the goal is for people to be able to use the via ferrata at no charge. However, they will have to pay for an instructor to show them how to use it their first time. The via ferrata will be part of a climbing park that already includes traditional rock climbing and may eventually include ice climbing, Lowe said. The plan is to divert some water from Malan's Basin over north-facing rock to the west of Malan's Falls. "The park, when it's done, should have climbing of all sorts available," Lowe said. He said he may manage the park under his nonprofit group, Ogden's Hollowgraphic Ice Tower. He created the group when he brought an ice tower he designed for the X-Games to Ogden earlier this year. Lowe tentatively plans to erect the tower in Big Dee Sports Park. --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 sounds risky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Is that the Jeff Lowe? Because the history lesson they attribute to him is off by a couple decades. They were big in WW1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pope Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Wow. Pope is a prophet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pope Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 In his many years of rock climbing and ice climbing around the world, Lowe said, via ferrata courses had never interested him. But then he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. "It's really restricted my mobility, so it's a little bit more meaningful to me," he said. "I start to see the benefit to people who are not hard-core climbers, who are somehow limited in what they can do." You know, that is precisely the consideration that makes me in favor of building that gondola up the Squamish Chief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pope Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 OGDEN -- A rock-climbing attraction under construction in Waterfall Canyon would be one of the first of its kind in the U.S., according to a local climbing expert. Shabby research. Such a creation already exists on Condor Buttress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pope Posted September 24, 2005 Share Posted September 24, 2005 I've been accused of pasting this photo in threads where it doesn't belong. WELL IT BELONGS HERE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted September 24, 2005 Share Posted September 24, 2005 The occasional bolt on a sport route seems tame in comparison, eh, Pope? NOW BACK OFF! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pope Posted September 24, 2005 Share Posted September 24, 2005 The occasional bolt on a sport route..... Dude. DUDE! Don't use that word....."the Man" is doing string searches for that word. We write "b_lts" when we want to discuss the topic. And to answer your question, I don't see an enormous difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted September 24, 2005 Share Posted September 24, 2005 I've been accused of pasting this photo in threads where it doesn't belong. WELL IT BELONGS HERE! Thanks. I was just wondering what this guy was doing. Apparently its still "via ferrata and getting caught in the rain".... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottP Posted September 24, 2005 Share Posted September 24, 2005 A rock-climbing attraction under construction in Waterfall Canyon would be one of the first of its kind in the U.S., according to a local climbing expert. First? Maybe, but certainly not the only... Kentucky West Virginia And soon to a mountain range near you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted September 24, 2005 Share Posted September 24, 2005 Of course you don't see much of a difference. How silly of me. I'm off to grid-bolt the North Cascades now. Ta-Ta! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korup Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 from one of ScottP's websites, oh damn, stop the plague... >Suddenly, you are out there, alone, halfway up an overhang, tethered to a >well constructed safety system, in the middle of a 200 foot cliff. You are up >where the "real climbers go". This is sport climbing. This is Via Ferrata! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layton Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 that guy looks kinda like Camilo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirp Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Hey! Thats my bandwidth! Just got this developed from last spring. RUMR, MattP, and Snugtop kicking some butt!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layton Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 wow, they've all lost some weight. good for you guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pope Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 You are up where the "real climbers go". This is sport climbing. This is Via Ferrata! That's an equation that holds water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirp Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Everything equals nothing. As the world turns and we all adapt to our personal spheres, that which we know, slowly morphs into that which we are unfamiliar. We, as an army of one, strive to mold our ideals on an ever changing state. The new replace the old and we can only savor our values in memories of the past. A past that is fast becoming irrelevent in the process of today. Adapt or die embittered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek_the_Greek Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Well, it is on private land. That guy really looks like he's having fun. He must be the best via ferrata-ist in the world! Otherwise, what Chirp said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Plus how many sportclimbers have this piece of gear on their rack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Just got this developed from last spring. RUMR, MattP, and Snugtop kicking some butt!! RuMR's gotten taller, too! Has anyone ever actually been ON one of these things? Gotta admit, this looks pretty fun! Let's do a poll! Depending on your place in the climbing arena, would you like to try a via ferrata? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 that second picture looks like p2 of Canary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 thats what i was thinking dru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 that second picture looks like p2 of Canary I was thinking it was a hell of a photoshop job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra_Commander Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 I thought the guy on the right was snake-charming that rope straight up and somehow standing on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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