via-ferrata Intersport - Donnerkogel, Austria Sky Ladder

via-ferrata Intersport - Donnerkogel, Austria Sky Ladder
Gosausee, West Dachstein, Austria
July 2020

[wolfgangschwarz]

It should be clear to all via ferrata climbers on this route that a climbing route by Paul Preuß (1913) existed 110 years ago on exactly these rocks on the Donnerkogel, where free climbing was also possible WITHOUT steel ropes and WITHOUT iron steps and ladders! Old hooks bear witness to this visit.
Everyone should think about this if they get into trouble here despite ropes and artificial kicks. Actually, it has always been taboo to lay via ferratas over existing climbable routes.
But perhaps people who don't want to train that much should also be given the opportunity to reach alpine terrain that they would never be able to reach without artificial help. Accident numbers or actually numbers of exhausted via ferrata climbers (they are not climbers) speak for themselves...
In any case, it's a shame about the beautiful rock, which is now spoiled with ropes and ladders. It was already clear 110 years ago that we could do without it.
And that should also put the performance of the via ferrata climbers into perspective if they believe they have achieved great things here.
Many of them will probably never know how wonderful it is to climb freely over the rocks without the iron scaffolding. A pity!
LG Wolfgang