Via Ferrata Gabi Simplon

Introduction:

The Gabi Simplon via Ferrata is a via ferrata located in Switzerland just beyond the Simplon pass along the road connecting Italy and Switzerland. The Ferrata is short, athletic and full of artificial grips. There are some athletic steps not to be underestimated.

Starting location:

The starting point of the itinerary is in Switzerland past the border following the Simplon Road. Going down on the Swiss side you will cross 8 galleries (some of them are short). At the exit of the eighth on the left side of the road there is a quarry with an access road. We will be able to park near the quarry on holidays or along a parking lot along the state road and then go down the road.

Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

From the car park, descend for a few meters, immediately attaching the via ferrata.

Via Ferrata:

Go up a short wall and go past a bridge of monkeys of about ten meters. It immediately attaches a comfortable vertical wall in which many brackets help us to climb. Follow a traverse to the right with many pegs for the feet and then break the cable and take a short stretch of path. We then reach another straight wall full of pegs for the feet. We then come to a traverse under a roof initially with artificial supports for the feet, then on a wider aerial.

We now reach a vertical wall where we often give the right side to the rock in strong exposure reaching a box for donations. You tackle an oblique traverse that is challenging for your arms, you go around a corner and go up a long and exposed vertical wall that requires good physicality. We go up again with the cable that sometimes zigzags us. Thus we find ourselves facing the last two vertical walls, less difficult than the last, a last slab and thus complete the via ferrata (1h 30 'from the start - 1h 35' total).

Descent:

We go down on a paved road until we reach a yellow sign that shows us the path along the wood that leads us back to the state road below (20 'from the end of the ferrata - 1h 30' total).

Notes:

If you wanted to avoid the suspension bridge, you can proceed along the main road towards the tunnel where a yellow sign indicates the short path that leads to the start of the via ferrata.

Opportunities:

Returning to Italy, the nearest via ferratas are the Ferrata del Lago, the Ferrata of the Macugnaga Guides and the Ferrata Picasass on Lake Maggiore.