No need to go paragliding to spend a day in the clouds. Just go to the Rocher du Midi on a day when the weather is forecast to be fine!
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| The Rocher du Midi shortcut |
A decidedly capricious weather this summer takes Amélie and me away from Switzerland and our project in Wendenstock. We don't let ourselves be discouraged and we redo our plans to visit the classics above the house. For us it will be De Charybde en Scylla, a good appetizer before tackling harder in this style.
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| Frozen preparation |
That weekend, we also motivated Théo to come and visit our walls. He will take Raphaëlle to Balle de Clown. For a first on multi-pitch for her, it's pretty good! As far as Jérôme and Hugo are concerned, you don't have to tell them a lot to get them to join us, in Bille de Clown too. And let's go for a collective at the Rocher du Midi!
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| Raph and Théo finish with L1 |
The approach is surprisingly engulfed in an hour (thank you poles!) and we start the first lengths in an opaque fog. It will rise! Obviously, we catch nails. For the month of August at this altitude, this is a first! We are quickly called to order and Amélie gratifies us with a nice little fall at the second point. Alright, we're in now!
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| Amélie at the nasty start of L1 |
Once we are warmed up, the lengths unfold more. The third length, in 7a, quite bouldering, knocked me down once and I went straight back down to the belay, a bit despite myself, to set off again and take full advantage of the trip knowing the twisted little step.
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| End of L3 |
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| Amélie arrives at R3 |
The suite, L5, L6 and L7, is grandiose. At this game, we do not envy the walls of the Verdon and with this mist the atmosphere is quite different. Amélie will also keep fond memories of the fifth length. In L6 and L7, you reach the famous pillar riddled with holes and you have a magnificent view of the friends in Bille de Clown. There is a great atmosphere and the quality of the pebble enchants us.
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| L4 |
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| End of L4 |
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| The beautiful pillar of L6 |
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| End of L6 |
All along the way, we observe through our clouds, the takeoff of Saint Hilaire which is always full. You have to believe that there are great conditions! A paraglider even comes to taunt us a few meters from our pillar. But at that moment we say to ourselves that if he was a climber, he would miss something from where he is!
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| Friends hanging from R6 |
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| Stalled at R6! |
The last two lengths are much less pleasant. The rock is not excellent there and the distant equipment helping, we appreciate the climb less and we think more about potential falls. But the summit is approaching and these two lengths do not spoil our enthusiasm for the route. We grit our teeth so as not to fall and we arrive at the top!
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| The Charterhouse |
The arrival on the set is rewarded by a ray of sunshine and even more by the chocolate bar patiently taken and preserved! We find Hugo and Jérôme at the top of Bille de Clown to share it and we wait, wait, wait for Théo and Raph to join us to finish the last tile!
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| Happy Chocolate! |
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| The top |
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