Via Ferrata

If you're brave enough to look around, the views
are breathtaking!

When most people think of mountains, they envision rugged snow-capped peaks like the majestic Rockies in western Canada.  By contrast, the Laurentian mountains are gentle and rolling, but if you're after a challenging mountain climbing experience, the Via Ferrata is your best bet.  Via Ferrata is loosely translated from Italian as "iron road", and the Laurentian version is located in the Mont Tremblant National Park (it's actually a provincial park, but in Quebec it's called a "national" park!)  The Via Ferrata is a series of ladders, wire bridges and rock-embedded iron rings that scale and traverse rock faces, fissures and deep chasms.  All excursions are led by a park-certified guide, and all safety equipment is provided.

Our guide demonstrates the technique
of safely clipping in.

We did the Via Ferrata in the summer of 2011 with a friend, not really knowing what to expect.  Of the different packages available, we chose Le Grande Viree, an adult-only trip of five hours.  We met at the park entrance, connected with our guide, and picked up our safety gear (helmet, harness, and carabiner clips).  Before long we ventured through the Via Ferrata gates, crossed the Diable river by way of a rope bridge, and arrived at the training area.  This is where the guide showed us how to put on our harness and stay safely clipped in throughout our climbing.  Not hard to learn, and generally very easy to climb on the iron rings and footholds.

Karen had no problem with the 2x4. 
Rui had reservations...

After the training, the path led straight up and our group of approximately eight made its way from checkpoint to checkpoint under the watchful eye of our guide.  There were a few tricky spots along the way - shimmying across a 2x4 bridge over a gaping fissure, or reaching around a corner to a distant foothold.  If you're afraid of heights (like I am) there are definitely some scary moments, but nothing that doesn't pass quickly and nothing I look back on with regret.  If you're TERRIFIED of heights, then think twice about Via Ferrata because once the excursion begins and you're on the mountain, there's really no turning back.  All you can do is finish the course.

To sign up, the official Mont Tremblant site provides some info in terms of times and prices, but if you want to get a good sense of the whole experience, have a look at this video.  You can sign up for the excursions at the activity centre in the Mont Tremblant ski village, and the trip to the National Park is approximately 30 minutes from the village.  A couple of you have asked if you can do the Via Ferrata without a guide...you can't.  The guides are mandatory.

Overall, a recommended activity for those that love the outdoors.

June 23, 2011 Update: The Via Ferrata had a brief writeup in the June 2012  edition of the Tremblant Express, the local bilingual newspaper.

July 20, 2012 Update: Some additional photos as requested by my adoring public:

First step - climb the ladder

Then, cross the river

Kayakers below...that's the next
activity we want to do!

Climbers at various levels

This shot shows the sheer cliff and the iron steps