1. The kit
Three rules: closed shoes (walking or sports trainers with a grippy sole), clothing that can take a snag (light trousers or long shorts, short or long-sleeved top depending on the season), a light backpack (15-20 litres maximum). Avoid: flip-flops, sandals, skirts, heavy jeans. In summer: a cap or bandana under the helmet, the limestone reflects the sun.
2. Food
In the morning, eat a proper breakfast: slow-release carbs (wholemeal bread, oats) + protein (eggs, yoghurt) + a little fat. Skip the strong coffee (it raises the heart rate and increases anxiety). In the bag: at least 1.5 litres of water per person, a cereal bar, an apple. No alcohol the night before.
3. Managing the fear of heights
This is the question everyone asks. Being afraid of heights is normal, in fact it is a useful reflex. What matters is not letting it freeze you. My tips:
- Breathe deeply: three long breaths when the anxiety rises.
- Look at your feet and the next hold, not the drop below.
- Count: "one, two, three" before each move, it keeps the mind busy.
- Trust the gear: the lanyard is rated for far more than your weight.
- Talk to me: if you get stuck, say so. We breathe together, we wait, we set off again.
4. Route choice
For a first via ferrata, I recommend Liaucous near Millau: gentle, short, panoramic, open year-round. If you are fit and already used to exposure (indoor climbing, mountain hiking), Le Boffi is doable, provided you accept stepping out of your comfort zone.
5. The night before
Go to bed early, get 8 hours of sleep. Pack your bag the night before: it removes the morning stress. Check the detailed weather forecast (I send it to you by phone too). Wear comfortable clothes for the drive: we put the harness on at the meeting point.
A successful via ferrata is 50% correct gear, 30% mindset, 20% technique. The mindset, that is what I help you build along the route.
And after that?
Once you have Liaucous under your belt, several paths open up: move on to the Boffi for the sensations, try sport climbing to step onto pure vertical, or head to a canyon for the water side. Up to you to see what calls.
