{"id":37855,"date":"2016-12-07T12:00:39","date_gmt":"2016-12-07T20:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/?p=37855"},"modified":"2016-12-07T11:15:33","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T19:15:33","slug":"37855","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/37855\/","title":{"rendered":"Via des Echelles de la Mort (GC32NMB):\u2014Geocache of the Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
Traditional<\/dt>\n
GC32NMB<\/a><\/dd>\n
by Sansecousse<\/a><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Difficulty:<\/dt>\n
2<\/dd>\n
Terrain:<\/dt>\n
5<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Location:<\/dt>\n
Franche-Comt\u00e9, France<\/dd>\n
N 47\u00b0 11.165′ E 006\u00b0 52.276<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

\"gotw-france8\"<\/p>\n

What is Geocaching without adventure, risk-taking, thrill, and a challenge to overcome? GC32NMB<\/a> encompasses every one of those elements, and has its <\/span>own movie trailer<\/span><\/a>. Be prepared to cross narrow monkey bridges that sway over 100 meters of open air, scale rugged rock faces, and climb what the locals refer to as <\/span>des Echelles de la Mort<\/span><\/i>: the ladders of death. After signing the log-book, zip line your way through the Doub Gorges in the Franch-Comt\u00e9 region of France to cap off this epic journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gotw-france\"<\/p>\n

The howling winds that sweep through the gorges have led the locals to refer to the area as \u201cDeath Valley.\u201d Contrary to the name, the region is robust with flowers, colorful meadows, sparkling lakes, and the foothills of the Jura Mountains. The beauty of the Franch-Comt\u00e9 draws a lot of attention and becomes an oasis in the summer time, when other parts of France become dry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gotw-france20\"<\/p>\n

\"gotw-france16\"<\/p>\n

\"gotw-france1\"<\/p>\n

The T5 thrill seekers come to this area to feel alive and experience the adrenaline. The first stage of obstacles include ladders, originally made of wood and used by smugglers in the 18th century to pass over the Swiss border. Today, in place are safer ladders that are reinforced, and hooks in the side of the rock face to help you traverse <\/span>en cours<\/span><\/i> to the geocache.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gotw-france5\"<\/p>\n

Just when you thought you were on solid ground, the wobbly monkey bridge and shaky nerves approach. Harness your inner grit to pass the daunting bridge and grab the cache that lies just ahead. The real challenge is simply getting to ground zero and overcoming that \u2018stomach in your throat\u2019 feeling along the route.<\/p>\n

\"gotw-france12\"<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a good vertical climb and adrenaline to the max . . . \u00a0I agree our first <\/span>T5<\/span><\/a> was a hand trembling experience, and a lot of effort,\u201d say <\/span>CEPITIFLI<\/span><\/a>, creators of the video linked above.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gotw-france14\"
Can you imagine crossing this in the winter time? There are a few brave souls who went after this T5 in the snow!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"gotw-france2\"<\/p>\n

From here you can choose between hiking back, head over another bridge, or going a bit further and taking a zip line across the valley. Don\u2019t forget to BYOP (bring your own pulley), or rent a pulley nearby to add to the adventure. The area is regularly maintained by the land offices of\u00a0la via ferrata des \u00e9chelles de la mort<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gotw-france15\"\"gotw-france17\"<\/p>\n

Thank you for all the great pictures for those who have visited, and thank you <\/span>Sansecousse et Gountard<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for recognizing this brilliant area and maintaining the geocache.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n