LES GENTIANES (EIDELWEISS)
VALAIS, SWITZERLAND
VIA FERRATA (AD) K3
PHYSICAL RATING: 2
VERTIGO RATING: 3
TECHNICAL RATING: 2
SUMMIT RATING: 3
STYLE: ALPINE > CLIMB
SATISFACTION: 3
STATISTICS
Departure Altitude: 2925m
Arrival Altitude: 3048mÂ
Climb (or descent): 123m
Length: 300m
Time: 1.5 hour VF (2 hour hike)
SPECIAL FEATURES
Footbridge: 0
Monkey Bridge: 0
Ladder: 0
Zip Line: 0
Net: 0
ACCESSIBILITY
Open: July to September
Parking:
By car, at Le Chable cable car station, or Tortin cable car station.
By rail, take train from Matigny to Le Châble VS, every hour.  Then take the 4 cable cars up to Col des Gentianes station.
COMMENTARY
This is a really enjoyable via ferrata, but more to the eye that it may first appear. There are 2 varients, a K3 and a K5. The K5 is pretty technical and needs good arm strength for a tricky overhang. Both routes converge to the same summit. You reach the via ferrata following clear light blue signposts from the cable car station, there is a bit of scree to climb but nothing too technical.
in respect to the eidelweiss route (the k3, AD), the climb is pretty straightforward and not challenging technically, even beginners will find it all possible. Clipping points are nicely placed and all the rungs are well located. The climb will take around 30-45 mins. The summit is fantastic with 360* views around many mountains, including Mont Blanc, Then
the unique part of this via ferrata, the descent. The entire climb is then done in reverse on a fully clipped descent which at points is pretty tricky and quite vertiginous. You will need to look down and really feel ok on a ferrata descent.
At the end, I really enjoyed the course, it is high altitude, so bring suitable layers and check carefully the weather and wind, as the rockface is very exposed.
