40 ms·

indeed a lot of them are "free" but they clearly state the correct equipment must be worn (which is of course available for rent at various approved outlets) ,

indeed a lot of them are "free" but they clearly state the correct equipment must be worn (which is of course available for rent at various approved outlets) , or else any accident will get you into a world of financial trouble

sebtron 3y ago
What do you mean by "financial trouble"? You certainly risk getting hurt or killed without the right equipment, but I don't see how this is related to "financial trouble".
- DebtDeflation 3y ago
  I assume they mean that you will be billed for any rescue costs incurred.
  - hgomersall 3y ago
    I always assume that's the case when I'm in the Alps. That's why it's important to have proper insurance.
  - dfadsadsf 3y ago
    Most US medical insurances (definitely the one I have from work) will cover rescue (including helicopter) if it was medically necessary. There is nothing specific about via ferrata in Europe that changes financial situation compared to for example hiking and breaking the leg or something like that.
  - sebtron 3y ago
    Yeah, that's true. But I always assumed you need to be really inconsiderate with your equipment to get fined. At least this is what the local stories about tourists getting fined told :) Never heard about this being a tourist trap.
- namdnay 3y ago
  the big risk is third party risk - if you fall on someone else, or bring down a power line, or drop a rock on someone below you. not having paid for the session means you won't have paid the 2-3 euros for the third-party insurance
  - seattle_spring 3y ago
    We must be talking about completely different things, because in no way shape or form is a "power line" associated with any via ferrata I've done in Italy or Austria. Further, equipment depends on difficulty. Some via ferratas are really just some metal cables to help keep your balance over small crossings, while others are traversing sheer cliffs and peaks with obviously fatal safety implications. It would be silly to require safety equipment for the former, while it'd be silly not to for the latter.
lm28469 3y ago
Oh yes for sure, I just meant there is no one to physically stop you at any point (neither for money nor gear check). The equipment rental was very often in the closest city, a ~10 min drive away I assume the US experience would be quite different
- hammock 3y ago
  Yeah, we did caminito del rey near Malaga Spain back when it was closed to the public, people were still doing it but I think officially you weren’t supposed to, this was years before they recently fixed it up and officially reopened it to the public

sebtron 3y ago

What do you mean by "financial trouble"? You certainly risk getting hurt or killed without the right equipment, but I don't see how this is related to "financial trouble".

DebtDeflation 3y ago
I assume they mean that you will be billed for any rescue costs incurred.
- hgomersall 3y ago
  I always assume that's the case when I'm in the Alps. That's why it's important to have proper insurance.
- dfadsadsf 3y ago
  Most US medical insurances (definitely the one I have from work) will cover rescue (including helicopter) if it was medically necessary. There is nothing specific about via ferrata in Europe that changes financial situation compared to for example hiking and breaking the leg or something like that.
- sebtron 3y ago
  Yeah, that's true. But I always assumed you need to be really inconsiderate with your equipment to get fined. At least this is what the local stories about tourists getting fined told :) Never heard about this being a tourist trap.
namdnay 3y ago
the big risk is third party risk - if you fall on someone else, or bring down a power line, or drop a rock on someone below you. not having paid for the session means you won't have paid the 2-3 euros for the third-party insurance
- seattle_spring 3y ago
  We must be talking about completely different things, because in no way shape or form is a "power line" associated with any via ferrata I've done in Italy or Austria. Further, equipment depends on difficulty. Some via ferratas are really just some metal cables to help keep your balance over small crossings, while others are traversing sheer cliffs and peaks with obviously fatal safety implications. It would be silly to require safety equipment for the former, while it'd be silly not to for the latter.

lm28469 3y ago

Oh yes for sure, I just meant there is no one to physically stop you at any point (neither for money nor gear check). The equipment rental was very often in the closest city, a ~10 min drive away I assume the US experience would be quite different

hammock 3y ago
Yeah, we did caminito del rey near Malaga Spain back when it was closed to the public, people were still doing it but I think officially you weren’t supposed to, this was years before they recently fixed it up and officially reopened it to the public