A new via ferrata is due to open in May of 2022, just south of Rotary Park, but unlike the course that is opposite the Ice Park, the Gold Mountain Via is privately-owned. On November 12 and 13, Ouray High School’s Outdoor Education classes were allowed to preview the course, guided by Logan Tyler of Basecamp Ouray and outdoor ed teacher Jimmy Chiang.
The school was allowed to take students on the via because of Mr. Chiang’s relationship with Mr. Tyler and Basecamp. Mr. Tyler agreed with Rick Wilson, the owner of Gold Mountain Ranch, that no specific information about the route would be shared with the public, including pictures.
The class found the difficulty level far more intense than the Ouray Via’s. There are more treacherous climbs and more strenuous places to make maneuvers. Though there are many things I am not allowed to say about the Gold Mountain Via, due to it not being open to the public yet, many students described their exhilaration, fear, and exhaustion. They loved it.
As one of the students who had the amazing chance to navigate the Gold Mountain Via, I liked that the climbs are much more difficult and longer than the Ouray Via Ferrata. There were parts where my arm would start to shake as I switched the carabiners attached to my safety device from one section of wire to the next.
Even on sections that scared some students, we still found ways to have fun. As one adventurous student, senior Rock Gibbs, frolicked on a bridge, classmate Aynsleigh Wood yelled to him that he should “stop bouncing up and down.” She took the course a bit more cautiously, with a more composed and focused attitude.
Unlike the Ouray Via, the Gold Mountain Via’s difficulty and danger level will necessitate a qualified guide for all tours. Though the route was difficult and, in some moments, scary, however, there was never a time when I felt unsafe or felt that there was a section that my friends and I thought we could not get through.
The official opening for the new via is planned for May, according to operations manager Keller Herrin. The fee structure for tourists is not built yet, but Mr. Heller speculated that there would be certain days specified for locals, with the goal of making it accessible to climbing groups and available to fundraising efforts by non-profit organizations.