Once, again we are back with the motto #DoItScared for today’s blog post.
The Via Ferrata at NRocks in Circleville, West Virginia has been on my bucket list for a while now. However, after seeing pictures of “the bridge” I was always scared off.
Recently, an acquaintance of mine posted a yoga retreat to NRocks through her company Mindful Moments Yoga and Wellness. In an spontaneous mood, I signed up. It was not until my parents asked for an explanation of what I signed up for, that I watched an in-depth video of the Via. (For the record, I do not condone doing no research before signing up for trips) However, I immediately got down to business researching what the Via would be like. Soon, the day of the trip was upon us.
I arrived at NRocks around 1030 after a 2.5 hour drive from Morgantown listening to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Our retreat group met up and had a peaceful yoga practice and lunch in the yard before signing waivers and heading inside to begin orientation.
What to expect from your tour (based on my experience)
The main Nrocks facility is located minutes from Seneca Rocks. In the front yard, there are multiple slack lines set up for guest use. While it is an an acquired skill, it is so fun, so I suggest giving it a try! Also, there are multiple picnic tables which we utilized for our retreat.
After checking in at the front desk and turning in waivers, we got dressed and prepared for our tour. When preparing for your tour, I suggest wearing shorts., a t-shirt, and sneakers with decent tread that are light colors and non-restricting. On the Via, there is minimal shade so it can be easy to overheat if not dressed properly. Sunscreen also goes a long way! Of course, as always, do your own research and check the weather for the area on the date of your trip. My advice would be appropriate for the summer but may not be appropriate for other seasons. This seems like a good time for a list….
What to bring on your trip
- Shorts & T-shirt to wear on the Via
- Sneakers with decent tread
- A small backpack
- At least 2 L of water
- High protein snacks such as a sandwich, trail mix, or granola bars
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- GoPro with your own attachment devices
- Phone or small camera
- A tip for your guides!
- Optional: climbing gloves
Hiking to the Via
After gearing up, we began the hike to the start of the Via Ferrata. We began up the gravel road for about a half mile before beginning a rocky trail to the starting point (pictured below).
Beginning the climb
After a brief instructional period from our guides, we began our ascent on the Via Ferrata. One guide, Maddie was the first on the Via, then about 4 of us went behind her. Then, our other guide, Maya, started up and 4 of us followed her up. I brought up the rear of the group hoping to get some good footage on my gopro. Our guides recommended that anyone who was a little nervous or scared should fall in line directly in front of or behind the guides. Although the order is primarily established at the beginning of the tour, there are a few locations where changing the order is possible.
As we began the ascent, we double clipped into the steel cables and began climbing up the iron rungs. We kept 3 cables length of space between each climber as we ascended. Failure to maintain this could result in injury if the individual above you falls. In this way, there was a nice, steady pace within the group. I did not feel any pressure to rush and keep up with others and often had to intentionally create space between the climber in front of me. Surprisingly, the iron rungs were not hot in the July sun, and there were ridges welded onto the rungs to make them more “anti-slip” for sweaty hands. Personally, I did not find this to be too big of an issue as I would periodically wipe my hand off. However, you may bring climbing gloves to assist you during your climb. This would be optional and not totally necessary in my opinion.
The first section of the via is primarily small spurts of traveling upward and then horizontally to the left. The Via trends in a diagonal direction until reaching a break in the fin. Directly before this, there is a bail out point. This means climbers can choose to leave the Via at this point and hike a trail to the road where they will be picked up by staff and taken back to the main facility. There are no refunds for leaving the Via early from my understanding.
Climbing onward from this point, we finished one last vertical section before traversing the break in the fin. As each person reached the break in the fin, we heard gasps as they caught a glimpse of the view of the valley and fin beyond. In the picture above, our group had just crossed over the break and onto the back side of the first fin. I can be seen in the orange helmet and shorts traversing the break.
For me, this was the most challenging portion of the Via. The traverse required slightly more upper body strength and was a bit more technical. However, I was definitely gawking at the sights more than paying attention to hand placement. Still, I think this is manageable for anyone who is regularly active. Our guides, Maddie and Maya, were eager to help us and knowledgeable and empathetic when explaining the traverse to us.
After the break in the fin, we continued in a diagonal direction up the back side of the fin. However, on this side, we were walking up a narrow path along the side of the fin. At this point, we were primarily relying on walking up the fin using the rock as occasional hand holds. There weren’t as many iron rungs in this section. Of course, we were still clipped off and safe during this section.
Finally, we finished by walking from the end of the Via on Pierson’s Trail to this overlook of both fins and the valley below. Following this, we hiked down the trial to the cabin area where we were picked up by a side-by-side and taken back to the NROCKS headquarters.
After our tour was over, our guides were kind enough to direct us to the hidden gem swimming hole below Seneca Rocks to cool off. It was the perfect end to the evening.
Ratings
Family Friendly: No, children must be over the age of 13 and accompanied by an adult.
Pet Friendly: No, pets are not permitted on the Via
Solo Friendly: Yes
Female Friendly: Yes
SEE WV 
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