Via Ferrata

Stephen,

My wife was late 40's and I was early 50's when we did the via ferrata. It is spectacular and isn't any more physically difficult than climbing ladders. Assuming, of course, you don't have issues with heights. I was a bit shaky on the suspension bridge at the end of the hike and my wife laughed at me. She had no issues with it or any other section.
The via ferrata isn't so much about the hiking, it is about being exposed on a rock face, standing on rebar with nothing below your feet for hundreds of feet. You are always clipped to a steel cable with two substantial carabiners on the harness. You need to be able to unclip and reclip the carabiners at every cable anchor point.

We had a guide that supplied us with the via ferrata harness and helmet. You should bring gloves. They give a better grip on the steel cable and rebar. Our guide was one of the builders of the via ferrata, I'd recommend using a guide. Hotel Bellevue called and arranged the guide for us since we were staying at the hotel.

Note that base jumpers use the start of the via ferrata trail to access one of their jumping off locations.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the via ferrata again now in my late 50's. My wife and I don't shy away from adventure. We also did tandem paragliding on the same trip. The take off point was a field a bit past the Murren cable car that was visible from Hotel Bellevue's wonderful deck.

Search Youtube for Murren via ferrata videos, there are a few that will show you details that words can't describe.

The views are incredible. The suspension bridge, even though safely hooked in, was mentally challenging at first and was progressively easier the further I went across. Physically, it wasn't too difficult.

Only you can decide if you are able to do the via ferrata.
None of us are not getting any younger!

Jay

Jay, I’m almost breathless after your description of the via Ferrata experience. It certainly will help anyone considering doing it. Although I might have gone for it long ago when I was 50, it most assuredly won’t be included on my trip in June. :-). But my hat’s off to anyone who completes it.

A work colleague trekked the Dolomities in Italy with his dad. His farther was not keen oh height exposure so the had planned on alternative routes to the via ferreta routes. That said, when faced with short but high angle via ferrata vs longer less exposed routes, his dad went to the iron and survived.

My husband did the Mürren Via Ferrata when we were there for a week with our grandchildren in 2018. He was 75 at the time.

I suffer from occasional vertigo and while a strong hiker, I could not join him. I walked down to Gimmelwald with another cautious wife, and we met our husbands there.

After Mürren, we went to Chamonix and joined our guides to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc.