VIA FERRATA MAKING OF – WEEK 4
By Lisa Roddick
The Via Ferrata at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is really coming along! We started our week off this week with anchor testing for the suspension bridge. It was a very finicky process and took all day long. After testing the anchors we were ready to string 3 cables across Glory, this was also a slow process but we all learned a lot and were introduced to some new tools.
Installing ropes
Installing ropes
Next we had to build the bridge, laying one board at a time and walking out onto it in order to place the next board. This process required a lot of creativity and a few boards before we got our system down. The final step is to level and balance the bridge, again, a tricky thing to do. We will get pretty dialed at this bridge thing seeing as it has to come down each winter and then go back up for the summer and Via Ferrata adventures!
The first anchors!
Installing ropes
The bridge taking shape
Drilling rocks
The bridge was not the only thing we achieved this week, but it was a big part of it. We also, cleaned debris off of rock shelves to make fewer hazards for walking over them when on route.
We also started learning how to work behind a driller and clean the rock dust of the hole they drill in order to fill it with glue and insert the Life Line and climbing aids along the routes. This week is where we were really able to see the most progress. The days fly by when every moment is a new experience.
The first plank!
Each day is filled with learning experiences, new challenges and high physical demand which is keeping us on our toes, fully engaged and just burning through the chocolate covered almonds!
