Pack these essentials before your next snowy adventure.
Snow lovers adore the quiet of a white-blanketed landscape and the glisten of sunlight on ice crystals. So beautiful. So serene. Until an avalanche hits. Hopefully, it will never happen to you. But if you participate in winter sports, avalanche intel is essential. Protect yourself with the right avalanche safety gear and a few helpful tips.
First, don’t try to outrun an avalanche. Instead, run perpendicular to its path to try to avoid the middle of it. If you’re stuck in its way, grab onto a tree or something else solid and hold on. Clench your teeth, and keep your mouth closed. If the avalanche does catch you, try to stay on top with a swimming motion.
We know. It’s terrifying. But you can prepare for the worst by bringing some of this avalanche safety gear on your winter expeditions.
Thrillseekers, Via Ferrata Delle Aquile might be your new favorite hiking route. Also known as the Eagles’ Via Ferrata, this suspended iron path in Trento, Italy, welcomes expert hikers for the challenge of a lifetime. Located on Paganella Mountain’s eastern face in the Brenta Dolomites, the Eagles’ Via Ferrata consists of a narrow footpath that overlooks the nearby Adige Valley. Those experienced and brave enough to travel the route earn bragging rights for tackling one of Europe’s most extreme hiking locations.
Cable cars and chair lifts from Andalo and Fai della Paganella, comunes in northern Italy, help adventurers reach the area. After a drop-off at Cima Paganella, hikers walk along Eagles’ Track (Sentiero delle Aquile) to arrive at the Eagles’ Via Ferrata. Here, “expert alpinists” will don harnesses, a fall damper, carabiners, and a helmet before taking on the via ferrata.
All of this preparation leads hikers to the real challenge. Adventurers beginning their Eagles’ Via Ferrata journey will find themselves balancing on a slim, foot-shaped path. This incredible video from @tripotocommunity on Instagram shows just how gorgeous and nerve-wracking the trip can be. Of course, if one adrenaline-pumping isn’t enough, visitors can also ascend Il Volo dell’Aquila (The Flight of the Eagle), a rope stair path that twists 360 degrees.
Tricky pathways and a high point of 2,092 meters (6863.5 feet) earn Eagles’ Via Ferrata a high difficulty rating on Outdoor Active. Still, the unmatched views and experience have past guests raving about the attraction. As a final reward for hikers who explore the area, an eagle sign reading “benvenuti nel trono dell’aquila” (“welcome to the throne of the eagle”) invites visitors to take a photo to remember their trip.
Shake up your rock climbing routine by scaling peaks at breathtaking locations from all over the world. With climbers mainly enjoying the sight of the rocks in front of them during a trek, spectacular landscapes serve as a prize for completing a climb. After a strenuous scrabble up the rock face, adventurers can enjoy gazing out across the environment below them. Forested mountains and frosty ridges from Maine to Spain welcome climbers to explore the world’s natural beauty. Next time you and your belayer make plans for a rock climbing trip, consider these gorgeous routes with views you’ll remember for a lifetime.
