In October 2025, a woman climbing the via ferrata at Moléson near Gruyere, got into a serious situation!
Her climbing harness slipped and jammed on the safety cable, leaving her hanging upside down high above the ground.
The Rega air rescue service and Swiss Alpine Rescue Team rushed to help and carried out a difficult, dangerous rescue.
She was lucky to survive, and it was a dramatic reminder that even “safe” mountain routes can be risky.
And it leaves many people wondering: are via ferratas really safe?
Via Ferrata Safety
A via ferrata, or “iron path,” is a mountain route with fixed cables, metal rungs, ladders, and sometimes bridges. It allows regular people to climb steep rock faces without being expert climbers. It’s a mix of hiking and climbing and can be a memorable adventure, especially if you don’t have a problem with heights!
But safety depends on more than just the metal cable. It depends on the weather, the condition of the equipment, and how carefully you use it.
In the Moléson rescue, the woman had clipped herself to the cable as she should have. But her harness wasn’t secure enough and slipped while she was moving. That simple mistake left her hanging in a terrifying position. It shows how one small problem can turn into an emergency very quickly.
Most via ferratas in Switzerland are very well built and regularly checked for safety.
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One of the biggest misunderstandings is that via ferratas are just “fun hikes with cables.” They’re not. Even the easier ones can be physically and mentally demanding. You often find yourself standing on tiny metal steps hundreds of meters above the ground.
It’s exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking if you’re not used to heights.
Weather is another big factor. Wet or icy rungs can be dangerously slippery. Thunderstorms can appear fast in the Alps, and being on a metal cable during lightning is the last place you want to be.
Mürren Via Ferrata – Popular but Dangerous?
One of Switzerland’s most famous routes is the via ferrata from Mürren to Gimmelwald. It starts in the car-free mountain village of Mürren and follows the cliff all the way down to Gimmelwald, high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
The route is about two kilometers long and drops roughly 300 meters. There are ladders, tight traverses, and even a narrow suspension bridge that sways above the valley.
It’s rated as K3, which means “difficult.” (See Via Ferrata ratings here)
You don’t need to be a pro climber, but you do need to be steady on your feet and comfortable with heights.
Because it’s so easy to reach, many tourists try it without realizing how exposed it really is.
You can rent equipment or hire a guide in Mürren, and most people who do it correctly say it’s one of the best experiences in the Alps. But if you go when the rock is wet or you don’t clip in correctly, it can quickly become dangerous.
