Smugglers' Notch Vermont - Press Releases

Summer 2008

The Via Ferrata or "Iron Way" Highlights Smugglers' Summer Adventure Programs


•	Smugglers' offers Via Ferrata fixed-protection climbing path for visitors
•	Family groups and adult groups select separate adventurous Via Ferrata routes
•	Smugglers' Via Ferrata was designed to showcase the wooded and rocky terrain of the local area

The scoop:
The Via Ferrata was born of necessity during WWII in the Dolomites mountain range in northern Italy and the Austrian Tyrol when troops needed to cross the Alps easily and developed climbing routes with permanently fixed cables, steel rungs, bridges and ladders. Today Via climbing has become a popular sport in Europe with dozens of the old routes being used and more being built. In the United States Smugglers' Notch is only the third location to adopt the sport.

Smugglers' version of the Via Ferrata will combine hiking along the Brewster River Gorge area with challenging encounters into steeper, narrower and more closed-in terrain, just a couple of miles north of Smugglers' Notch Resort. Groups of eight or fewer will be guided over four or five challenges such as a Burma Bridge and Tyrolean Traverse along the chosen path. Handrails with a foot rope, harness and self-belay create the secure pathway over the Bridge. A harness and pulley system assist climbers with the Traverse. Most of the Smugglers' Via challenges will employ a cable and rope combination.

The challenges are not high above the water or riverbed; adept youngsters as young as ten may participate. The Via challenges represent a range of difficulty with options to go around them.

The Via Ferrata program at Smugglers' includes some hiking, safety discussions and practice with safety equipment such as use of harnesses in the two and one half hour session. Sessions are held on Tuesdays for adults and Tuesdays and Fridays for families.

Smugglers' Via Ferrata was developed by Austin Paulson, who has been guiding international mountaineering expeditions since 1988. He is a member of the American Mountain Guides Association and runs his own guiding company called Peak Expeditions from his home base in Jeffersonville, Vermont.

The buzz:
"The idea of the Via Ferrata is to combine the popularity of Smugglers' winter walking program with summer hiking and encounters with challenging areas of terrain." –Marge McIntosh, activities director

"By using a cable and rope combination we will be able to anchor the challenges in the terrain of the chosen area near Smugglers'. Wire rope is strong and inspires confidence. The experience affords a perspective that few usually see." –Austin Paulson, guide and vendor of the Via Ferrata at Smugglers' Notch

"No rock climbing or special experience is necessary. A Via Ferrata is a 'fixed-protection' climbing path. I think our guests will be thrilled with the challenges of the Smugglers' version of Via Ferrata."–Bob Mulcahy, Smugglers’ president