Projects
Rescue Access Route Unterstell Tram
Naturnser Sonnenberg - Vinschgau Valley - South Tyrol - Italy
Completion: September 2024
Planning, project management, and construction: Via Ferrata Experts
Route design: the course of the line was predetermined
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Since a rescue with the rescue gondola of the Unterstell cable car is not possible in high wind conditions below tower number 1, the mountain rescue service must conduct the evacuation when this occurs, and the passengers must get lowered from the gondola. The area below the first tower, more precisely, the 200-meter-long section between two hiking trails, is partly very steep and riddled with small rock faces. Therefore, a safe procedure is only possible with a permanent lifeline that is also operable at night and in bad weather.
Since the climb along the lifeline must be easy to manage – the passengers lowered from the gondola by the rescue team must be able to climb up or down – as an exception, many stepping aids have been installed on the steep rock sections.
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The short distance of 200 meters uses a relatively large amount of material. Transporting the tools and the required material by helicopter was impossible because of the cable car cables. So, we resorted to the tram gondola. With the help of the cable car engineer, we first lowered one of our specialists into the steep terrain, who then received all the material that was also lowered down from the gondola. After completing the work, we hoisted the tools and the remaining material back into the gondola with the help of our handy electric winch, which we affectionately call “Wilma."
Raci children via ferrata
Pulverer Felsen - Stubai Alps - South Tyrol - Italy
Completion: July 2024
Planning, project management, and construction: Via Ferrata Experts
Route designed by Mauro Tumler
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Raci, the Children Via Ferrata begins for the little mountaineers near the start of the Ibex via ferrata at the end of the Ratschings valley, only a couple of minutes above the Pulverer farm. One hundred meters of steel cable runs relatively steeply at the beginning up to a tricky crossing before descending to the start of the Ibex via ferrata. The route climbs 45 meters in altitude, and the difficulty rating is B, with short C sections. The distances between the stanchions are intentionally extremely short to provide an additional safety factor for the little climbers.
The climb is ideal for active, climbing-loving children accompanied by a parent, although children need good movement techniques to master some sections. The children's via ferrata runs through relatively steep rock, with a nice rest bench halfway along. The mascot “Raci” accompanies the young mountaineers along the route and teaches, on display boards, the correct climbing technique, talks about the appropriate equipment, and the importance of treating nature and animals with respect.
Ibex via ferrata
Pulverer Felsen - Stubai Alps - South Tyrol - Italy
Completion: May 2024
​Planning, project management, and construction: Via Ferrata Experts
Route designed by Ivo Rabanser and Josef Hilpold
Near the head of the Ratschings valley, a rather inconspicuous rock face rises above the Pulverer farm. The rock faces south, dries quickly after rainfall, and is free of snow very early in the year.
Our original idea was to build a via ferrata with two variants on the Pulverer Rock for the Ratschings, Ridnaun, and Jaufental tourist association, with the simpler main variant running over the exposed primary pillar embedded in the forest in the lower part. We planned a second, challenging route on the right, very steep section of the wall.
Since the adjacent landowner did not grant permission to exit onto the existing hiking trail, Via Ferrata Experts presented a new concept after several surveys of possible routes.
The easier main route now runs over the striking pillar until just before the exit, then winds its way to the right over a system of ledges and extremely exposed edges to the compact steep wall, through which the via ferrata leads to the summit register and the descent. The variant with difficulty level D/E, which runs in a direct line over the steep face, and the variant with difficulty level E, which branches off at the photo point of the main route and leads up over the expansive rock roofs, meet the main course at the right end of the steep face. A short, steep via ferrata section then leads down to the exit on the existing hiking trail.
At the end of almost three weeks of intensive work, an 800-meter-long via ferrata exists with two variants that fit seamlessly into the main route. The difficulty of the main routes never exceeds difficulty level C, and although the Pulvere Rock looks rather inconspicuous from below, the route is very exposed.
The required materials and all machines were dropped off by helicopter at various points on the steep face and then moved down again during construction.
Once again, we have proven that a successful via ferrata project does not require a great wall. Solid planning and a well-coordinated team resulted in a via ferrata for all requirements, which is accessible for two-thirds of the year and also has a short ascent and descent.
