Via Ferrata: The Sweet Spot Between Hiking and Climbing

Every mountain range has a unique vibe. In the US, the Sierra Mountains have my heart. In Europe, it's the Dolomites. 

There is a unique activity to explore here, a step beyond traditional hiking. Maybe you'd like to do something more adventurous, but you're not quite ready for the gear requirements and learning curve of rock climbing. Well, as often happens in history, one person's misery becomes another's boon. 

There are heaps of metal cables strewn throughout this mountain range that were laid back when the Italians and Austro-Hungarians met in high altitude battle. Today, you can take a small amount of gear and use those cables to traverse routes that would be way too dangerous without the saftely of being hooked in. This is via ferrata (The "iron way")

Have you tried this? What's your favorite route?