While looking up the name of the pass that lay below the via ferrata we did today, we discovered that the via ferrata happens to be ‘Temporarily closed’… oops! Sort of explains why many sections had the cable dismantled and we had to free climb these.
Despite the ‘inconvenience’ of a lack of protection we enjoyed our day above the Gotthardstrasse.
Via Ferrata Diavolo starts close to a Russian War Memorial (Suworow Denkmal) with the Reuss river thundering past immediately below.
The somewhat contrived ferrata, consisting of metal staples fixed to the rocks serving as hand and footsteps, ends 470 vertical meters higher. The stunning views across the adjacent mountains and surrounding rock walls more than make up for the less than natural feel of the ferrata!
After a late lunch we started our descent. Walking through a pine forest Barbara remarked how the smell of these woods made them one of her favourite places to be.
An ice cold panachè at the station cafe before we jumped on the train back home brought to end another great mountain day!
Barbara on the first cabled section 
Gotthardstrasse and the Reuss river below us Nearly on top View across Andermatt Ready for a pint…
That is truly a stunning spot! The climb, the view – and best of all: a great-looking river to paddle below!
I wonder if the le Tour or the Giro has ever done that amazing zigzag road down there? If not, they should!
Apparently not. It’s probably a bit too far away from France… It features in some spectacular cycling routes: https://www.andermatt.ch/en/discover/Holidays-for-nature-lovers/cycling/road-bike