Guidebook publishers Cicerone has launched a new title detailing Via Ferrata routes in the French Alps.
Featuring 66 routes between Geneva and Briancon, the 352 page paperback first introduces readers to the geographical area and route grading system of the Via Ferrata – which comprises a technical grade, exposure rating and remoteness factor – before focusing on necessary equipment and mountain safety advice. Routes are split into six regions, with each chapter detailing a location map and individual route details including grades, access instructions, distance, timings and ascent covered. An overview of each route is also given with information on suggested conditions in which to climb, possible rest-spots and route marked photos.
Originating in the Italian Dolomites to help soldiers negotiate the peaks in WWI, a Via Ferrata or Iron Way is a series of metal-protected scrambling routes that allow novice climbers to venture onto exposed technical faces with only minimal climbing skills or specialist equipment.
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www.cicerone.co.uk