Headed Downstream - Ouray Via Ferrata

The best way to start your day is being greeted by happy people and a happy dog. That is what we got when entering San Juan Mountain Guides. It was a happy place to be on this fine morning. We met our guide Ryan as we prepared for our morning adventure in Ouray, Colorado.

We drove up to the parking spot located on HWY 361 (Camp Bird Rd). From there we double-checked we had all our gear, waters, and if we needed to leave anything in the car prior to making the trek into the canyon area. Walking up the gravel road, we had stunning views of the town of Ouray. Crossing the road bridge, you could look to the east facing wall to find the via ferrata course and the notorious sky bridge! Seeing that quickened the pace of my heart rate as excitement built up inside. We turned to head south on the Perimeter Trail off of HWY 361. Hiking this trail to the practice area was only about 5-10 minutes of an easy walk.

Small practice area for the Via Ferrata

This area is a great place to get your gear on and test it out. Ryan took us here to demonstrate and talk about the special via ferrata lanyard. What makes this different than normal climbing webbings and carabiners, is how it is designed. The clips to this device are locking, but with a quick release to be able to open and close them easily. The lanyard goes into a pouch that contains a bungee like rope. In the case that you do fall, it is a shock absorber, this pouch unzips/ rips open to allow a cushion for your fall to decrease the impact to you and the equipment.

This practice area has a small section of the rock that replicates what you will be doing on the routes in the Uncompahgre River Gorge. Ryan took the time to show us how to properly do the movements, clipping, and how to take rests.

Here is what we learned:

1) Clip into the cable

2) Move across the staple like beams with your hands and feet

3) Unclip one carabiner to lock onto the next set, then repeat with the second

4) If you need a rest, use the third non-locking carabiner closest to your harness to clip into one of the handles of the route

NEVER HAVE BOTH CLIPS OFF THE CABLE

Making our way down to the start of both routes, we found the ranger. This person is vital to this operation! Every climber who comes must check in. Why? Because this ranger checks your equipment to make sure you are as safe as possible, give you tips, and tricks on upstream and downstream routes. If you have any questions about it, ask them!

The downstream route was to the right of the ranger station. The first obstacle we came to face was the suspension bridge. This bridge went across the river to the east facing wall.

Once to the other side, the route goes to the left. The first bit took some getting used to with the flow of clipping, unclipping, moving, and repeat. Thankfully it was a lot of horizontal movement versus actual climbing. The view of the gorge is absolutely magnificent. Almost like being transported to a different place in the world. The sound of rushing water below muffles the sound of the birds and chipmunks, the rock and beams cool you as the sun heats up.

Along the way, there are many spots that are more like hiking trails that you walk alongside the canyon walls. This is super nice because it gave the biceps and triceps a break.

Along the way, there are sections that allow people to pass by safely. Or for you to pass by someone. You will see yellow signs that say, “Passing Zone.” There is an additional cable that will take you safely off course to that you can pass and let someone else go by you. When we went, it wasn’t too busy. We were only passed by one person.

There were some steep vertical climbs that led to epic views. On these sections, we were told to keep a two cable section apart from each other. This allowed us to keep a safe distance if the person in front falls.

About half way through we took a small rest and drank some water and had some snacks. Of course, we packed out the trash. Make sure you do the same!

Towards the end, there are two routes to pick from. One is the sky bridge, which is recommended because it is easier. The second option is another long vertical climb. We chose to do the vertical climb because of the adventure. This really worked at the arm muscles. As you start your ascent, it is a normal straight up route. About half way, it gets tricky. The way the rock leans, there is a bit of an undercut. This section called for me to use the back of my heels to hold my body up, readjust my grip, then stretch as far as possible to reach the next hold. This was the most technical section of the entire route. Coming to the apex, there was a small section that called for a break before the decent on the other side.

Coming down took longer than going up. That is based on the climbers preference. I tend to hesitate going down. Making sure I have all my footing situated before putting weight on it.

Once at the bottom, we only had a little ways till the end. The rest of it was an easy breeze. You’ll know you are at the end after going underneath the bridge that you hiked over on the way to the start. You exit through the gate to complete the downstream via ferrata!

Special thanks to San Juan Mountain Guides for taking us on the via ferrata and showing us the way to do it. We loved it so much, we bought our special lanyards from them and some t-shirts to commemorate the day.

Check out our video!

Exploring the downstream route of the Ouray Via Ferrata. Something fun for friends and family to explore on their bucket list adventures, the via is a place where memories are made to last a lifetime.