***IMPORTANT SPRING VAR INFO****Susan Burr of the Blue Ridge Grotto just posted this to the VARListserv. Note the deadline...APRIL 20! There will NOT be a sign-up at the VAR...if you are even considering going on this trip, contact Mike Frazier immediately!
From Susan:
Well folks, the VAR weekend is quickly approaching. Plan to attend this Spring VAR, April 24 - 26, 2009 at Grand Caverns, in Grottoes, VA. We have many above ground activities planned one of which is a trip to Nelson Rock Preserve to do the Via Ferrata.
What is the Via Ferrata you ask? Good question, which I didn't know the answer too until I looked it up. To me it's a real scary rock climbing adventure, but I'm going to try it! Below is more information from one of the leaders.
Susan Burr
I have a non-caving trip planned for VAR on Saturday, April 25th. We are going to climb the Via Ferrata at the Nelson Rocks Preserve in Judy Gap, West Virginia which is approximately an hour and a half drive from Grand Caverns. Here is a short article about this beautiful climbing course using excerpts from their web site.
"A Via Ferrata (Italian for "iron way") is a type of mountain climbing route which has a safety system permanently installed, making the climb suitable for persons without prior training and using minimal equipment. The climber is attached at all times to a steel cable which runs along the entire route. No climbing rope is generally required. Steel rungs, ladders, bridges and similar installations are used. This helps keep the physical difficulty of the climbing well within the ability of reasonably fit first time climbers, while providing access to high, vertical faces and extreme mountain terrain which would otherwise be accessible only to experienced, roped climbing parties.
Built in 2002, the Nelson Rocks Via Ferrata was only the second of it's kind to be established in the United States. The route gains hundreds of vertical feet of elevation over half a mile of climbing, leading up to a thrilling, exposed summit with unforgettable views of the Allegheny Mountains.".
I have personally done the course a dozen times, and Matt Lair who is co-leading this trip has done it many times as well. The climb consists of two huge parallel rock fins that run from the base to the summit of the mountain. We will climb on all four faces, which will require us to cross a cable suspension bridge that is 200 feet long and 150 feet off the ground. There is a lot of extreme exposure on the course, but you will be safely clipped in at all times. This climb is truly one of the most exciting adventures you will ever have, and the sense of personal accomplishment will be immeasurable.
The trip is limited to 12 participants, and we already have 7 confirmed, so if you are interested, contact me ASAP. The deadline to sign up is Monday April 20th. We have to confirm our numbers with the Nelson Rock Preserve at that point. We will leave the VAR site at approximately 8 AM and will return in plenty of time for a shower and dinner.
If you are interested, please click on the Via Ferrata tab on the neslonrocks.org web site for more information including the fees. You can contact me to get your name on the list at:
Cell # (434)609-3423 or email me at
director37429@aol.comHope to see you all at VAR.
Mike Frazier