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I talian for “iron road,” a via ferrata consists of a serpen- “I saw my first ferrata about 15 years ago in Italy, but Michael Friedman
tine-like path of metal rungs, cables and other features didn’t get to experience one until several years later, the
such as ladders and bridges, all firmly anchored into the Tofana di Rozes near Cortina…a great ferrata,” Kemmerer
geographic contours of the mountain. With special carabin- said. “After that I was hooked. I thought right away that the
ers, dynamic tethers, and a harness, users secure themselves ferrata experience would fit well with Jackson Hole.”
to these metal “walkways” so they can safely scale thousands
of feet along sheer rock faces, stone buttresses, chimneys, After her European ferrata experiences, Kemmerer
and spires. And while a via ferrata doesn’t require the skills started to look around the US to see if there were any ferra-
of rock climbing—and you are attached to the cable system tas here. “I learned that Jeff Lowe, the famous climber, had
at all times—you do need to know what you’re doing, and be built a ferrata on private land in Waterfall Canyon outside
a little gutsy. Ogden. I immediately contacted him, and took a group from
the resort to meet him and try the ferrata,” she said.
Originating in Europe, modest fixed-protection routes
have been in the Alps for hundreds of years, connecting vil- With mountain resorts striving to maintain a year-round
lages, towns, and mountain farmland. Italy took the idea to competitive edge in the outdoor industry, Kemmerer saw the
heart during Word War I, erecting the long permanent steel value in creating an authentic summer experience for visi-
and wooden walkways to gain access to the high Dolomites tors to augment Jackson Hole’s viability in all seasons. While
for better control of the peaks when observing their foes and Jackson has a burgeoning mountain biking and hiking trail
moving troops to fight the neighboring Austrians. system, ropes course, and drop tower, the via ferrata best rep-
resents the resort’s loyalty to outdoor adventuring in its true
In the 1970s and 80s, recreational ferratas gained pop- and raw sense.
ularity in many countries in the Alps, providing a unique
dimension of mountain exploration by using routes to tra- The via ferrata at Amangiri Resort in Utah—one
verse high alpine cirques, ridges, and skylines. While ferratas of a handful of ferratas on private land in the US.
have become a staple for Euro summer adventure, they hav-
en’t really taken off in the United States…yet.

This is partly because strict rules in the US have pre-
cluded legal ferratas on Forest Service land, though some do
exist on private land (as well as a few illegal projects). But in
2011 Congress passed SAROEA and amended the 1986 Ski
Area Permit Act, allowing additional recreational uses of NFS
land within ski area permits. This provided ski areas latitude
to develop summer recreation opportunities synonymous
with mountain-oriented enthusiasms, like mountain biking,
ropes courses, and zip lines. While via ferrata isn’t mentioned
specifically by name, the USFS has decided that such a fea-
ture is consistent with the Enhancement Act, and recently
awarded Jackson Hole the first permit to produce at least two
more ferrata systems, or “pods,” within its permit area.

B oth the resort and the surrounding community
are excited about the new venture, according to
Ray Spencer, Jackson’s USFS district ranger, who
played a key role in overseeing the environmental assessment,
design, and structural engineering plans for the resort’s via
ferrata pods. “Lots of ski resorts are sleepy during the sum-
mertime. This allows them to tap into the summer [and fall]
use component activities,” Spencer said.

The energy center for bringing via ferrata to Jackson
rests with JHMR owner Connie Kemmerer, who fell in love
with the idea years ago, and has returned to Europe many
times for ferrata adventures.

28 | NSAA JOURNAL | FALL 2016