This one was supposedly buit for WWI.

http://www.summitpost.org/cima-payer-via-ferrata-sentiero-dei-fiori/719267

Is that the case for many?

Yes, parts of many of the via ferratas, especially in the Dolomites mountain range, were originally built during WWI to allow for troop movements in the mountain terrain.
On many routres you pass by ruins, trenches and tunnels. On this route:
http://www.summitpost.org/ferrata-lipella/157536
you pass through no less than 500 m of tunnel from WWI!
The routes have been recbables since the war, but often you can still see old wires and ladders.

Today however many new routes are being made, especially in Austria, that have no link to WWI but are made for pure fun. These are often more challenging than the WWI ones.

-jesper

damgaard wrote:The routes have been recbables since the war, but often you can still see old wires and ladders.

Today however many new routes are being made, especially in Austria, that have no link to WWI but are made for pure fun. These are often more challenging than the WWI ones.

-jesper

Thanks Jesper.

Additionally, what are some of the longest and or steepest? Just for curiousity... ANybody know?

I think the Via Ferrata (Klettersteig in German) are just too various in Europe; I imagine many were initiated for pragmatic reasons you pointed; the most recent were designed and built to provide the most fun in what we call nowadays the via-ferrata sport. But meantime many of them were made in order to ease the task for passing few complicated spots that prevented a whole route with medium difficulty to be done by the majority.
It is the case in the Pyrenees for one of the only of this kind, as they are almost not existing in the range, under the Brèche de Roland called "Le pas des isards", to provide access to the East and all the rest of the Monte Perdido routes; just a too stragegic spot.
In the Tatras, all valleys are sharp and end with jagged ridges; many passages provide access to the other side and the other valley but this requires most of the time some III/IV scrambling or rock-climbing. As the range is extremely popular and visited by crowds, chains are there to help and consequently allow a network of trails for all, instead of what would be a star-shaped bunch of valleys in cul-de-sac.
I don't know much the Alps, and the only equipments of this kind I've seen were in Slovenia. On Triglav for example I guess their role is pretty much the same, allow the summit for the majority, however more dedicated to the via-ferrata sport in other routes. Perhaps Borut can tell.

visentin wrote:I think the Via Ferrata (Klettersteig in German) are just too various in Europe; I imagine many were initiated for pragmatic reasons you pointed; the most recent were designed and built to provide the most fun in what we call nowadays the via-ferrata sport. But meantime many of them were made in order to ease the task for passing few complicated spots that prevented a whole route with medium difficulty to be done by the majority.
It is the case in the Pyrenees for one of the only of this kind, as they are almost not existing in the range, under the Brèche de Roland called "Le pas des isards", to provide access to the East and all the rest of the Monte Perdido routes; just a too stragegic spot.
In the Tatras, all valleys are sharp and end with jagged ridges; many passages provide access to the other side and the other valley but this requires most of the time some III/IV scrambling or rock-climbing. As the range is extremely popular and visited by crowds, chains are there to help and consequently allow a network of trails for all, instead of what would be a star-shaped bunch of valleys in cul-de-sac.
I don't know much the Alps, and the only equipments of this kind I've seen were in Slovenia. On Triglav for example I guess their role is pretty much the same, allow the summit for the majority, however more dedicated to the via-ferrata sport in other routes. Perhaps Borut can tell.

Thanks Erico, I"ve always wonder how this form of route 'management' came to be. It seems you are saying that the via ferrata routes origination varies. Some are more historic, some are more modern, some are for pure fun, and others -perhaps- served a purpose other than fun/exploration.

I searched 'via ferrata' here on summitpost and 75 routes came up. There seems to be a lot in the northern italy and Austria. Although they are in a lot of different mountain ranges. I don't know of any here in the US.

I DO recall on crazy one in China. Though can't find it right now.

Thx again. And if someone Else has more info. Please share...

Xue Sheng wrote:I DO recall on crazy one in China. Though can't find it right now.

Mt Huashan

Tell your life insurance broker you're heading out for that peak in 2012...

Sarah

Xue Sheng wrote: I don't know of any here in the US.

Half Dome and Angel Landing tourist path should qualify as Via Ferratas.

Vladislav wrote:

Xue Sheng wrote: I don't know of any here in the US.

Half Dome and Angel Landing tourist path should qualify as Via Ferratas.

Excellent point.

Torrent Falls Ky and Nelson Rocks WV too.

desainme wrote:Torrent Falls Ky and Nelson Rocks WV too.

That is cool:
http://www.nelsonrocks.org/ViaFerrata.html