Iron paths built for World War I soldiers now allow non-climbers to scale cliffs
Originally engineered for World War I mountain warfare, specialized iron paths called via ferratas now enable modern adventurers to scale vertical cliffs using a sophisticated system of steel cables and rungs.
In 1915, soldiers in the Dolomites developed via ferratas, or 'iron paths,' to move troops and heavy equipment across treacherous mountain peaks. These routes utilize 12mm-diameter steel cables, rungs, and pegs bolted directly into the rock faces. This engineering allows non-professional climbers to traverse sheer 1,000-meter drops by remaining permanently clipped into a continuous safety lifeline.
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