Grande Fistoire via ferrata (Le Caire)

Description

Both splendid and demanding, this via ferrata on the Grande Fistoire offers a multitude of captivating obstacles, ranging from acrobatic passages to more technical challenges, not forgetting of course the three impressive zip lines 130, 150 and 220 meters long, which will take you soaring over the landscape.

Two routes are available:

Small loop:

• Price: 55€ / person.
• Duration: around 2 hours.
• Difficulty: difficult.
• The little loop begins on the Grange Fistoire rock face, with a ladder leading to a long, left-hand ascending ledge. It then straightens out and becomes more athletic, overcoming a dihedral and then a pillar, to reach the large 58-meter footbridge leading to the Petite Fistoire rock. What follows is pure pleasure, with 3 long zip lines in quick succession, leading back to the parking lot.

Full route:

• Price: 65€ / person.
• Duration: 3 to 5 hours.
• Difficulty: very difficult.
• The full route begins with the small loop, but rather than taking the footbridge directly, it branches off to the left to become steeper and more vertiginous. The overhang of the Bombu requires a little concentration and energy to reach the top of the Grande Fistoire rock. The rest of the climb is downhill to the large footbridge. Once you have crossed the bridge, you reach the section rated as very difficult, with the 32-meter Nepalese bridge to give you a thrill, and the ascent to the Grande Muraille. The return to the parking lot is also made possible by the 3 long zip lines.

Due to constraints of the construction of the via and the norms of the gear, children must be at least 1m40 tall and weigh 40kg.
Minimum group size: 4 people. But if your group is between one and three people, a privatized outing is possible at the price of four people.

Note: This via ferrata has an access fee of 7€ per person, payable on-site.

If you are in the mood for more vertical adventures in the region, you can follow me on the via ferrata of Rocher de Neuf Heures overlooking Digne-les-Bains and the via ferrata of the Meichira cliff in the Bléone valley.

And if this via has given you a taste for the vertical, why not try a half-day session or full-day introductory rock-climbing course around Digne-les-Bains?

Program

Summertime (end of spring, summer, beginning of fall):

• Meeting spot: early afternoon at the parking lot of the Office of Tourism of La Motte du Caire.
  I will send you the exact GPS point by SMS after our first contact by telephone.
• To bring:
  • Good walking shoes that you are comfortable in (ankle support is not necessarily needed).
  • A backpack containing:
    • A water bottle with at least 1,5 liter / person.
    • A snack.
    • Extra layers adapted to the weather (ex. wind shell, sun shirt, etc.).
  • If you have biking or gardening gloves, these help protect your hands. I have some that I can lend, but not all sizes.

Wintertime (end of fall, winter, beginning of spring):

• Meeting spot: 9am at the parking lot of the Office of Tourism of La Motte du Caire.
  I will send you the exact GPS point by SMS after our first contact by telephone.
• To bring:
  • Good walking shoes that you are comfortable in (ankle support is not necessarily needed).
  • A backpack containing:
    • A water bottle with at least 1,5 liter / person.
    • A snack.
    • Extra layers adapted to the weather (ex. puffy jacket, thin hat to wear under the helmet, etc.).
  • If you have biking or gardening gloves, these help protect your hands. I have some that I can lend, but not all sizes.

Then, whatever the period:

• 15-minut walk to reach the start of the via.
• Depending on the chosen itinerary, 2 to 5 hours to climb the via ferrata.
• About 5 minutes' walk back to the parking lot.

The price includes

• Supervision by the climbing instructor.
• All safety equipment necessary for the activity (harness, helmet, via ferrata lanyard with energy absorber, zipline pulley).
  All equipment is new, regularly checked, and complies with French and European standards.

The price does not include

• Transport to and from the Tourisme Office in La Motte-du-Caire, 45 minutes drive from Gap and one hour from Digne-les-Bains.
• The access fee of 7€ per person.
• Snacks.
• Drinks.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

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