MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I am going to be Best Man for my best mate in exactly 12 months time.
We have been on a via ferratta weekend before, a few years ago, and both loved it, so think it would be good to do something similar.
So, it will be end of August / September, for about 9 guys in their 30s, all of whom I will assume to be capable of walking for a couple of full days, on 'assisted scrambles' over highly exposed mountain, but not necessarily capable of actual technical climbing.
Does anyone out there know of any good places to be based, and of any Guides that could sort out equipment hire and accompany us on suitable routes. Would like to avoid expensive adventure travel companies really as it will need to be affordable for all. Would ideally like good (cheap) access from Leeds / Manchester and Stanstead.
Thanks
Hardcore via ferrata is in the dolomites. Mountaineering territory really.
If you want a few days in the alps the the Haute Alpes area is fantastic. Briancon.
Get some accomodation via helen here [url= http://www.alpsun.com/contact_en.htm ]Alpsun[/url]
Book a guide to sort out every detail on the technicality aspect so everyone is safe you get to the best spots and has a great time.
[url= http://www.murrayhamilton.com/contact.aspx ]Murray the Guide[/url]
The area is cracking. Fly into Italy Turin or milan via very cheap ryanair options. get a couple of cars 2 hours 45 and your there..
1) Dolomites
2) Dolomites
3) Dolomites
There is a huge variety of grades, from scrambles with cable protection to cables and metal steps up overhanging and very scary rock faces. The wonderful thing in the Dolomites is that you can summit on nice mountains with stunning views.
And Italian food and wine takes some beating when you are partying in the valley.
Flying to Venice/Verona is good - only a few hours drive to Cortina/Selva.
Cheers Bonfield, his website looks good. I will have a detailed look at that tonight.
I just spent my lunch hour searching the web.
Thinking of 3 nights with 2 days of walking...
flights to venice with Ryanair (£100pp)
minibus hire for 3 days (£300tot)
diesel (£300 tot)
kit hire (£15pppd)
Cortina hotel (£40pppn)
Guide - no idea, but maybe £600 for 2 days?
so for 10 people, looking at around £400 each.
What am I missing?
Anyone know any guides based in Cortina?
Cheers
Plenty of decent Sport Via Ferrata in France - more accessible and group friendly. Have done a load in Les Ecrins (as well as the real stuff in the Dolomites).
Selva is beautiful with some easily accessible via ferrata. I'd go back there in a heart-beat...
...but will avoid your Stag do if you let me know when you'll be there 🙂
Have a look here: http://www.roc-aventure.com/en/les-gorges-de-la-durance-site.html
+1 Dolomites. Stunning place to go and climb. There are mixed grades where ever you go so just check ahead of time. We went some years ago now, sorted it out ourselves and bought a guide book (Cicerone). Stayed in Arrabba and would recommend the area highly. [url= http://www.colletts.co.uk/ ]Colletts[/url] were running out of there, we talked to them quite a bit - good bunch.
Make sure you know (and preferably assess) the capabilities of everyone going, we took one non-climber with us who was fine for the most part but we took him on a grade F and it was a mistake. Too technical for him so he ended up exhausted before we'd even begun. He got round with some help and goading, and enjoyed it retrospectively, but at the time he wanted to be anywhere but there.
Be careful which time of year you go - we went September and were OK (one big storm aside), IIRC August is very bad for lightning storms which you'd do well to avoid.
If any of you have done much walking and have even basic nav skills you won't need a guide. Just buy a guide book and off you go - all of the routes we did were pretty obvious, especially the harder ones. Basically follow the iron work as without climbing gear there is no other route!
Spain, cheap from Stansted with Ryanair or easyjet.
Ponoch VF behind Benidorm, cheap beer (1.5e-2e a pint), autumn sunshine, beach, mtn biking.
A few other VFs in the area but that one is tops.
Other staggy stuff avail - plane charter (100e 40 mins, 4 seater), cable water ski, boat charter to Ibiza (getting expensive), fishing trips, quad bike hire.
Hope it helps, Benidorm itself is actually q nice if you avoid the english area.
Thanks for all the replies. Some great info, v. interesting regarding Benidorm.
Was informed last night that one of the lads who works with the groom (a fellow biker; I think he comes here too) lost it big time on Crib Goch earlier this year, and froze. May need a change of plans (or two stag dos).
Honister?
Aye, Honister pass in the Lakes. Plenty of other stuff to do and the Via Ferrata there is pretty fun.
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Using a blindfold ups the ante, and you develop a real sense of trust in your mates...