It doesn't always have to be a wall: many via ferratas wind elegantly up the course of ridges and have an unbeatable advantage: the view can be enjoyed wonderfully on both sides! We present 5 via ferratas over long ridges. 1st "Innsbruck via ferrata" (C/D), Innsbruck
Above the rope, below the city: the Innsbruck via ferrata, photo: Tirol Werbung / Stolle Frank
There is a reason why this via ferrata is also known as the "panoramic via ferrata": on one side is urban Innsbruck, on the other the wild Karwendel mountains, and in the middle is yourself. From the Seegrube to the Frau-Hitt saddle - the Innsbruck via ferrata offers a ridge crossing in a class of its own. If the whole climb is too long for you, you can also descend back to the Höttinger Alm via the Langen Sattel in the middle. The cheese dumpling there is a must!
The whole ridge: the Nordkette above Innsbruck. Photo: Tirol Werbung / Stolle Frank
Topo & info: "Innsbruck via ferrata", Innsbruck
2nd "Arlberg via ferrata" (D), St. Anton am Arlberg
Dancing with the ridge: on the Arlberg via ferrata, photo: Bernd Ritschel / TVB St. Anton am Arlberg
Almost always along the ridge and always far, far above the Stanzer Tal valley: the Arlberg via ferrata was the first iron path in Tyrol alongside the Martinswand via ferrata. Its route is correspondingly spectacular and logical, and accordingly alpine, demanding and strenuous: you dance along the ridge from Knoppenjochspitze to Weißschrofenspitze for almost three kilometers. The descent from the Weißschrofenspitze is also strenuous. If you are up to the difficulties: ridge climbing at its finest!
Topo & info: "Arlberg via ferrata", St. Anton
3rd "Goldweg Nauders" (D), Tyrolean Oberland
Golden ridge climb in Nauders, topo: Climbers-Paradise
Here the Reschensee, there the gold lakes: the Goldweg really does offer the most golden views. And also perfect rock. This via ferrata has long been a classic and leads almost always along the ridge directly to the Bergkastelspitze (2,912 m). Alpine experience and surefootedness are required as well as a good dose of strength.
Topo & info: "Goldweg Nauders", Tyrolean Oberland
4th "Marokka via ferrata" (C), Fieberbrunn
Ridge walk: The Marokka via ferrata, photo: Robert Pupeter / Tirol Werbung
The via ferrata to the Marokka (2,001 m) - a pre-summit of the Henne (2,078 m), so the mountains here all have such beautiful names - is a small but beautiful climb in a magnificent setting. Beautiful ridge in the upper part, the Henne inspires another summit. The descent then leads past the wonderfully situated Wildseeloderhaus, altogether a mountain day in a class of its own!
Topo & info: "Marokka via ferrata", Fieberbrunn
5th "Flimspitz via ferrata" (C), Ischgl
On the exposed ridge on the Flimspitz, photo: TVB Ischgl
2,929 meters: The Flimspitz only just misses the 3,000-meter mark and yet is the highest elevation around Ischgl. The new via ferrata to the summit is easily accessible from the Flimjochbahn mountain station (Idjochbahn mountain station) and for the most part quite easy (difficulty A). However, the exposed south ridge still provides plenty of adrenaline! Experienced via ferrata climbers can also combine this route with the Greitspitz via ferrata.
Topo & info: "Flimspitz via ferrata", Ischgl
