5280 What It’s Like to Climb North America’s Highest Via Ferrata One writer details her experience on the extreme “iron path,” which opened at Arapahoe Basin on June 25.Shauna Farnell • July 5, 2021 I figured a via ferrata at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area would be no walk in the park—nothing is at the resort, which is famous for its steep ski runs and extreme winter sports competitions. Still, it turned out that A-Basin’s new climbing experience—the highest via ferrata in North America—is far more rugged and thrilling than I imagined. The adventure involves a guided, 800-foot vertical (I mean, truly vertical) climb up the granite cliffs of the Basin’s East Wall. After summiting above 13,000 feet, you get to enjoy a gourmet picnic at the top, before turning around to down climb a similar route to the starting point below.