Yesterday, my wife and I had the opportunity to experience our first via ferrata climb on the slopes of Mt. Grappa. The term “via ferrata” is Italian for “road of iron,” which is a mountain trail or route that is scaled with fixed cables, ladders, or bridges. We ascended the slope with seasoned guide Jimmy Rappert, husband of CIMBA Marketing Professor Molly Rappert (University of Arkansas). The route that we climbed yesterday was reached after a steep hike from the trailhead and involved 15 cable sections and one bridge crossing. Our route was originally constructed during World War I to aid the movement of the Italian mountain infantry. The hike and climb gained nearly 2,950 feet of elevation in less than 1.75 miles. Although at times the skies threatened rain, we ultimately could not have asked for better weather. It was a fantastic experience. A huge thank you to Jimmy for escorting us safely up and down the mountain.
Our vantage point after the 13th cable right before crossing the "bridge."
