Extreme thrillseekers adventure! Dare to cross this swinging bridge, straight out of a movie and reached by rock climbing in West Virginia.
In West Virginia at Nelson Rocks, I was guided on a rock climbing adventure with NRocks Outdoor Adventures. The typical route helps climbers gain almost 2000 feet in elevation, reaching a spot in the North Fork Valley that is truly worth the climb.
We climbed using a Via Ferrata, Italian for Iron Road. This method of rock climbing uses fixed anchor rungs and a steel cable system, allowing climbers to ascend or descend, reaching new heights in dramatic settings.
Developed during World War I to move supplies through the rugged Dolomites in Italy, in the 1940’s, the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army used Nelson Rocks to train mountain troops in assault climbing in preparation for action in the mountains of Italy. Each 6-foot interval at this via ferrata, you reach an eyebolt, detaching one carabiner from the cable and clipping it above the eyebolt and then the next, keeping you securely by the rocks.
It typically takes from three and a half to five hours to do the entire route at Nelson Rocks, but it can certainly take longer, especially if you stop to enjoy the scenery.
And don’t forget what can be the best or worst part of the adventure, crossing the surreal 200 foot long suspension bridge 150 feet high up in the air in a setting straight out of a movie.
Watch this Travels with Darley West Virginia Adventures episode on Amazon Prime and PBS.
