Does the route require previous climbing experience?
Not at all. The Telluride Via Ferrata was built to allow people with no technical climbing experience the ability access to big, high mountain terrain, even while traversing across sheer cliffs. It is a trail, not a climbing route, although it does have a level of exposure more often associated with rock climbing. As long as you are comfortable with a fair bit of exposure and don’t have an overbearing fear of heights, then you will have a great time on the route and will have no problems.
How long will the Via Ferrata take and how far is it?
The route in its entirety, traversed east to west, will take at least four to five hours round trip from the town of Telluride. We traverse the route from east to west, and hike out on a short section of trail back to Bridal Veil road. The total distance is around two miles.
What should I bring and wear?
You should plan to wear comfortable clothing similar to what you would wear for a half-day hike: athletic shorts or pants, a breathable shirt with an extra layer if the morning is chilly. Pack a bottle of water, a snack, your camera, and sunglasses. Sunscreen is best applied before you head up, so your hands aren’t greasy from lotion. 😉
Is the route appropriate for my young children?
While we used to have an age limit of 13, we’ve had countless youngsters impress us on the route. We do require that families or groups with young children book a private trip. While young children may have challenges with some of the reaches, as long as they are able to pay attention, walk carefully and take coaching from the guide, they’ll probably have a great time.
What is the difference between open and private trips?
On a private trip, you will be just with your group and your guide; the meeting time and pick-up are up to you. With an open trip, you will be joined by other climbers at no more than a 4:1 climber to guide ratio. Total group sizes are generally limited to eight or less guests.
Do you have “open” via ferrata trips scheduled and departing each day?
No. Open trips have to be booked by at least a party of two to be scheduled for a particular day. In other words, there is not an open trip scheduled for a certain date until someone books.
How can I register other members of my group? The online sign-up only takes information for one person.
The way our online registration is organized, we only require information for the “trip leader,” or the person registering on behalf of the rest of the party. If there is anything in particular that you think your guide should know in advance about particular members of your party (ie: medical conditions, prior injuries, fear of heights, apprehension, younger than age 14, etc.), please list that in the notes section or let us know in the office.
Is transportation included? Where can I park?
Yes. We typically provide transportation from our office downtown Telluride to the base of the route and back. For private trips, we will provide pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Telluride or Mountain Village. If you need to park your vehicle somewhere in town, we recommend that you park in either Carhenge or Telluride’s 72-hour lot; both are free and on the west end of town. Otherwise, you are also more than welcome to follow your guide out to the base of Bridal Veil road, where you can park for free below the rough sections of the road.
Is gratuity included?
Guide gratuity is not included. Typically, if you had a good experience, a demonstration of your appreciation (~15-20 percent of trip cost) is greatly appreciated by your guides. Of course we pay them a livable wage, but guiding is typically a tip-augmented profession, like many service industry jobs.
Do you offer a military discount?
You bet! We offer a ten percent discount for active-duty military on all of our Via Ferrata trips, along with our gratitude for your service.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We are in the risk management business, so we carefully assess weather each day to decide if it could create a level of increased risk that is outside of our risk tolerances. If we cancel the trip due to weather, we will refund you in full. In some circumstances, the weather could be less than desirable but does not affect or increase risk. In such cases, we would still launch.
Do you rent via ferrata equipment?
Due to liability, we do not rent any technical climbing equipment, including via ferrata gear. If you would prefer to traverse the route unguided, you can purchase the necessary equipment at the local gear shop, Jagged Edge. Via ferrata lanyards cost about as much as a guided trip across the route.
