When it opened in June, we added the new Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay to our summer bucket list. Why? 1) An adventure with a high fun factor. 2) A new experience for us. 3) It looked like an ideal way to push the limits of my gradually developing ability to cope with my long-standing fear of heights.

In early August, with the unofficial end of summer looming at the bottom of the calendar page, we booked the 4 hour Ridgewalker experience online. NOTE: There’s also a 2 hour Explorer option, appealing if you’re pressed for time (but likely to leave you wanting more). The Ridgewalker and the Explorer are both guided excursions.

As suggested in the online booking confirmation, we arrived 15 minutes before our scheduled 8:30 start time, so we had more than enough time to read, sign and hand back the liability waivers…and peruse the maps and guidebooks available for use in the North American Lodge…and meet the other member of our group who arrived by private vehicle…and meet our guide for the morning, Carl.

The other four members of our group arrived right around 8:30 on Norquay’s free shuttle bus service from the Banff townsite, so it was about 8:45 when we all followed Carl to the equipment and briefing room where each of us selected a helmet (I picked #25 in honour of our silver wedding anniversary coming up later this month), a climbing harness, a leash with 2 clips and a pair of gloves (we brought our own gloves to ensure a good fit, but there’s a good range of styles and sizes available for those who don’t bring their own). The helmets, harnesses and leashes are carefully checked after each use and before they are returned to the equipment room for someone else to use, the usage log for each piece of gear is updated. Carl’s first briefing covered the basics: how to fit the helmets and harnesses, basic operation of the leash clips and the need to follow his instructions at all times. With that, we all headed to the chairlift.

The North American chairlift ride takes 15 minutes to transport visitors about 1 km and 400 meters, ending at a viewing platform, boardwalk and the Cliffhouse Bistro. I was really hoping to catch a glimpse of the mother brown bear and her two cubs that have been ranging across the slope all summer, but had to content myself with spotting a lone mule deer.

A practice wall installed at the base of the Cliffhouse Bistro was the location for our second briefing from Carl. Then we watched each of us work our way across the few cable spans, using footholds, handholds and metal rungs as necessary. He made a particular point of providing feedback whenever someone forgot the paramount rule – at least one clip on the cable at all times!!

From there, we followed Carl a short distance up the sub-alpine trail to the start of the Via Ferrata course. Our group of eight took almost 2 hours to travel the ascent portion of the iron road, gaining 210 meters over 1.1 km (according to the track on my Garmin GPS receiver). We gained about 70 meters on our way to the high point along the ridge walk, for a total elevation gain of about 300 meters from the top of the chairlift.

Approach to Suspension Bridge

Our guide, Carl, at the start of the Via Ferrata. Behind him, the well-anchored cable angles slowly up and across Mt. Norquay. So far this season, there have been two instances where people have clipped on and then opted out before they moved on to the second cable span. Better to find out at the start, I guess!

This is the steepest part of the approach to the suspension bridge. There are lots of well-placed hand and footholds, so I just took my time and soon realized that – despite my long-standing fear of heights – it was fun!

Suspension Bridge

K followed me across the 30 m suspension bridge. I was glad he waited until I was all the way across before he took his turn. Next time, I think I’d be OK sharing the bridge with at least one more.

K waits patiently for me to cross the suspension bridge. It’s about 30 meters long, and you walk along boards maybe 30 cm (12 inches) wide. Both clips are fastened to the high centre wire (one long span) and you can hold on to the side wires as you walk across.

With me safely across and trying to take a photo from the far end, K makes quick progress across the suspension bridge.

Memorial Ledges

On my way up one of the steepest sections

Mr. GeoK and I both took advantage of the safety cable as we crossed the balance beam.

Look ma! No hands!!

One of two great spots for “money shots” on the Via Ferrata. No smile from K. He’s fourteen…need I say more?!

Mr. GeoK reaches the top of the Memorial Ledges section of the course.

Soul Slab

Vista Buttress

The Vista Buttress is the “crux” of the matter. Not only is it the steepest section, but you have to work your way up and around a bit of jutting, slightly reverse overhanging rock – a good challenge if you haven’t climbed before. That’s also the location of the second “money shot” on the route.

Getting a great photo here is harder than you might imagine. For one thing, your shooting directly into the sun. For another, you’re perched on a thin rock ledge and although you’re clipped to the cable if your feet slip you’ll probably end up with some kind of injury. So who wants to risk a an expensive camera? Mr. GeoK brought along a pretty decent camera body but it’s already been pretty banged up, so a couple more dints and/or cracks in the live view LCD screen wouldn’t be the end of the world.

I had so much fun on this outing that I mostly forgot about my fear of heights. I only had to give myself a little pep talk a couple of times along the route and there was only one short section where I had to deliberately ignore my peripheral vision (which is what seems to get my vertigo going).

Ridge Walk

We had a short snack break as soon as everyone in the group was safely up the Vista Buttress. Mr. GeoK took full advantage of the opportunity to make some panorama photographs, but the haze in the air and position of the sun made conditions quite challenging, even using a couple of filters that are usually helpful in those circumstances. After about 10 minutes, Carl led us along the start of the ridge walk, to its highest point. Along the way he pointed out several examples of endangered whitebark pine. The ridge walk offers a less well-known perspective on Cascade Mountain and also a clear sight line to the summit of Mt. Norquay.

Descent

Our group took about an hour to work its way down from the ridge high point to the top of the chairlift. The trail is quite steep. For several sections, we clipped in to cable runs – I’d say maybe 35 – 40% of the total descent you’re clipped in. A couple of sections were steep enough that we clipped in and descended backwards, feet on the ground and leaning back and out for stability. Along other sections, Norquay staff have been hard at work building stone steps. Their work isn’t yet up to the Lawrence Grassi/Tommy Links standard that we observed while hiking at Lake O’Hara, but it does make the going somewhat easier than slipping and sliding on loose gravel. The descent section of the trip might be a bit tricky in the rain or snow.

Gear is returned at the top of the chairlift, so if you want to grab a bit of a snack and a cool drink at the Cliffhouse Bistro, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of your set of equipment. When you’re ready, the chairlift ride down provides one last opportunity to get a photo or two of Banff from way up on high.

SUMMARY:
Total distance = 2.3 km plus chairlift
Total elevation = about 700 meters (400 meters on the chairlift + 210 meters on the Via Ferrata + 70 meters on the ridge walk)

This activity gets a big two thumbs up from the GeoKs. We’ve already talked two other families into giving it a try. And the Norquay Via Ferrata is already at the top of our “must do” list for the summer of 2015.

For rates, departure times, age and weight limits, group sizes and all kinds of other pertinent information, visit the Mt. Norquay website.