Scouts Tackle ‘Via Ferrata’ Climbing Route in West Virginia
Yuanqin Tang reaches for an iron rung.
When climbing on natural rock, you seek small ledges to cling onto. In a gym, you grip artificial handholds. On a via ferrata route, you grab iron rungs embedded into the rock. It’s like climbing a ladder — and Troops 55 of Great Falls, Virginia, climbed this way to spectacular views.
“Via ferrata” is Italian for “by way of iron.” At NROCKS, an outdoor climbing center in eastern West Virginia, the Scouts latched onto a belay cable and climbed a series of paths up vertical rock faces. After a few hours, they gained more than 1,000 feet in elevation.
NROCKS Outdoor Adventures manager Bryan Williams gives a safety briefing to Samuel and Kyle Shadid. Before going on any climbing adventure, review and follow the safety rules. You can read Scouting America’s guidelines in the Climb On Safely and Belay On guides.
“It mimics bouldering,” says Joy He, 16, a Star Scout. “It was less climbing up and more climbing a distance.”
It’s an intimidating challenge, but it was one the Scouts were up to.
After a safety briefing, they geared up, hooked their carabiners to the cable and began their ascent. Some paths had 200-foot drops. It’s not a race to the top; every movement required focus to safely complete the journey.
Samuel Shadid advances up the via ferrata route at NROCKS. It was an intimidating ascent, but climbing with his troop encouraged him.
“I ignored the height,” says Life Scout Thomas Ye, 16. “I just pretended the ground wasn’t as far as it appeared to be.”
The Scouts had moments to rest and take in beautiful views of the Allegheny Mountains. They even got to cross a suspension bridge that hung 150 feet above the ground. When they reached the top, any nervousness was replaced by a feeling of accomplishment.
Eli Johnson attaches his carabiners to the belay cable. “It was one of the most intense experiences I’ve ever had,” he says of the climb. “It was challenging, but reaching the top made me feel like I could conquer anything.”
“I thought it was really exciting how our troops tried something new and challenging,” says Samuel Shadid, 13, a Second Class Scout. “We do really cool outings, and I think via ferrata was adventurous and challenged people’s fear of heights. Overall, I thought it was really fun.”
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