Franz Scheikl via Ferrata

It rarely happens that someone will give up the first time they try something new. For me, the first via ferrata was not exactly great. I realized I am afraid of falling while on a via ferrata, because I cannot imagine what you are supposed to do, hang there until someone rescues you? Or try to climb back by yourself? And while I was doing the first via ferrata, I often asked myself, why do I want to put my life in danger?

But, of course, like any other person, I did not give up and tried a different via ferrata. We planned to do it with Irma, but unfortunately, she was busy preparing something else, so instead Noah, a friend of Irma’s brother, who was visiting Europe, joined D. and me. He never tried via ferrata, and I was a bit worried whether he will be fine or not. But he did great.

Our second via ferrata was Franz Scheikl path which leads to Hochlantsch. This via ferrata is often recommended for beginners, although there is a part which is marked with D (meaning hard). But, you have the possibility to choose between the hard path or an easier one, depending if  you are up for a challenge or not.

The path starts nicely through the forest, and after around 30-45 min, you finally see the information board about the via ferrata.

The climbing path is mixed, you have parts where you use the via ferrata and parts where you just hike, which is nice because it gives you the possibility to take some photos.

The climbing path was crowded, for the last part, we had to wait a bit. For this part, I went first, and when I reached the hard part, before me, there was a lady with her partner. She was struggling to climb, and she almost fell twice, but she managed in the end. Seeing her try and failing a couple of times, I was starting to question if I made the correct decision to take the hard path up, but it was too late to turn around. On top of that, I was worried for D., because he is afraid of heights, and I knew he was having a harder time than me for the climbing parts. This part, the D marked part, has two options, you are either tall enough to manage on the left side where you have a smooth wall and somewhere a place where to put your hand and pull yourself up or you hope that the right side is better. The lady before me tried the left side and had a hard time, so of course, I went for the right side. However, you are basically on the edge of the cliff. Still, I managed and was happy to finish as quickly as possible.

If I would have to rate the two climbing paths I did via ferrata, this one was better and more accessible for beginners as the one in Riegersburg.

After climbing, we hiked all the way to Hochlantsch and enjoyed the view.

The way back was different than the one I am used to hiking back. I’ve hiked Hochlantsch so many times, but always through Bärenschutzklamm and back on the route parallel to Bärenschutzklamm, but never on the other side of the mountain.

I was excited to finally see the small church close up, which I often saw on my previous hikes there. Behind the church, there is a small cave in the rock where you can light candles. I was very eager to take photos of the candles, and when I got back up, I misjudged how close the upper ceiling was and hit my head pretty hard …I almost started crying. As a child, I used to fall a lot or always hit something, but now as an adult, I totally don’t enjoy hitting myself or injuring myself.

On our path back, we met a little bug and tried to move him out of the way so others will not step on him. And then we were wondering what if the bug got lost now that we moved him somewhere else? What if people who think they save a bug from being stepped on, actually kidnaps the poor bug from his neighbourhood and therefore causing the bug to be forever lost?

I will end this long post with a lovely photo of our dragons. We shall never forget you.