Ouray's NEW Via Ferrata - Gold Mountain Expedition

Ouray's NEW Via Ferrata - Gold Mountain Expedition

To book, contact Basecamp Ouray:

https://basecampouray.com/gold-mounta...

To build, contact Gravity Line:

https://www.thegravityline.com/

About a year ago, Tina and I were in Ouray, Colorado and decided we wanted an adventure. We heard there was a new via ferrata in town, so we looked up guiding services and booked a guide. We used Basecamp Ouray, a local company owned by Logan Tyler. Our guide, Xander, was fantastic. Here's a link to that trip:

   • The Ouray Via Ferrata  

During the trip, Xander mentioned that he and some people were looking into making a new via ferrata. Fast forward to 2021, and my phone rings. On the other end was Logan, explaining that they were nearly complete with a brand new via ferrata in Ouray, called Gold Mountain Expedition. He wanted to know if we would like to check it out. For the record, if you ask me if I want to check out a via ferrata, the answer is always yes.

Anyway, Tina and I accepted and within a few weeks, we were back in Ouray, geared up for another adventure.

I want to take a second to say that we are not affiliated with Basecamp Ouray and we were not paid to make this video. They're just really cool people who created an incredible via ferrata....so I was happy to make this video.

Anyway, Gold Mountain Expedition. Seems like a strange name for a via ferrata. Well, that's because it's more than a via ferrata. First, Gold Mountain is home to hundreds of historic mines. And the Gold Mountain Expedition route goes right through one of those mines (the Memphis Mine)! So you get a walk through the mining history of Ouray as a bonus. But it doesn't stop there. Once at the top, there is a full bar where you can hang out with your family and friends and have a well earned beverage or snack. When you're ready, you hop into your shuttle (a 6 wheeled piece of history in itself) and head further up the mountain for some incredible views and your own private waterfall, because....well, why not?

And of course there is the via ferrata itself. The route is definitely the longest and most physical that I've experienced, climbing nearly 1,500 vertical feet from the starting point. There is an optional Hard Man's Pitch...A challenging overhanging pitch that was one of the high points for us....but it lives up to it's name. According to Logan and the people he has brought on it, it is the toughest via ferrata pitch in North America. If you aren't feeling that adventurous, you can skirt around this using a much more straightforward route. (But why would you do that?)

Then there is the bridge. If I remember correctly, Logan said it was around 230 feet long. I'm not sure but it was REALLY long and EXTREMELY high off the ground. (My favorite part, even if it was a little bit scary.)

Overall, this is more than a via ferrata, which is why they named it an 'expedition'. And it lives up to the hype.

We really enjoyed ourselves on this trip. And it was amazing to hear the history of how a few people saw the vision and made it a reality simply by believing in a dream...and putting in a ton of hard work.

So is it better than the Ouray or Telluride Via Ferrata? I'd argue it has all of the features of both, plus a mine, a bar, a trip in a Pinzeauer to the top of a mountain to hang out at your own private waterfall. So yeah. I enjoyed it.

Go check it out for yourself. You won't regret it.

Music by Epidemic Sound
Blues or Something Like That - Tigerblood Jewel
BUSTED - Northside
Koko Arrest Me - Blacktop Banks
Trouble Deep - River Sam
Thoughts in the Rain - Elm Lake
Every Single Day - Pearce Roswell
High and Dry - Wellmess
Waterslide - Loving Caliber

If you click on the links below - and especially if you buy from these links - I'll get compensation. So that would be cool. No, I'm not sponsored by them, but I love the products.

Filmed on:

GoPro Hero 9 Black:

https://amzn.to/2JDd7YZ

Canon EOS R:

https://amzn.to/2JsCGLB