The first of its kind was created in Austria in 1843 in the Hocher Daschein, and the next in 1869 in the Studii. This connected the two peaks of the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain. In 1914, during World War I, Italian troops built Via Ferrata routes in northern Italy as supply lines to haul gear and artillery, and to enable allied soldiers to ascend the steep mountain surface. Made up of a permanent network of iron rungs, rails and cables, this made it accessible to anyone and not just experienced climbers.  After the war, these routes were abandoned and the local Italian Alpine Club took over the maintenance of the Via Ferrate and created new ones to attract tourists. Views for the select few The Via Ferrata provides you access to scenic parts of the mountains that are typically available only to rock climbers and mountaineers. Around the world, there are more than 300 Via Ferrata routes which are mostly found in Europe – namely Austria, France, Germany Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.  A few can also be found in North America including Canada and the United States, as well as in the Pacific region of New Zealand. Ever since 1936, recreational climbers have been given the opportunity to travel up hard-to-reach mountain surfaces with the help of the Via Ferrata.  Steel cables and metal rungs have replaced ropes, iron ladders and wooden structures for a secure climb.  The pride of Asia Situated on Mt Kinabalu in East Malaysia, Mountain Torq is proud to be verified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s highest Via Ferrata. Our routes at Mountain Torq are designed with beginner and intermediate climbers in mind.  Beginners can take their first experience along the granite walls of Mt Kinabalu while Intermediate climbers embark on 3 to 4 hour journeys to experience the challenge of mountaineering and the lesser seen side of the mountain. Young or old.  Serious mountaineer or just someone out to have fun, Mountain Torq has something for everyone.