ROCK CLIMBING
May - October

My love of French rock climbing is well over twenty years old. In France there is a multitude of superb granite and limestone cliffs. I offer introductory courses on single pitch routes, and guided ascents of multi pitch climbs. Here are a few of my favourite areas to climb - I can arrange airport pickups and accomodation for all of these areas

Chamonix and la Haute Savoie
Chamonix is a great place to be based to take advantage of the local rock climbing. Chamonix and the region offer a selection of Granite, Limestone, Gneiss and Schist rock. In and around an hour drive from Chamonix, there is a multitude of great limestone crags, where the rock is as good as any in the south of France.
In case of bad weather, when the wind is coming from NW, which can be the case in Chamonix, there is Italy. In a little over one hour drive from Chamonix, just south of Aosta in the area around Arnad, Italy, there are numerous great climbing cliffs with a sunny dry option!


Chateauvert
This quiet little valley was not climbed up to 20 years ago. It is a Jurassic superior limestone rock formed in pockets. I find it is the perfect place for an introduction to rock climbing. It offers a fantastic selection of routes from beginner to top level (4a to 8c). We park very close to most of the routes (the road is very quiet and it is used mainly by cyclists). The climbing is undisturbed, except occasionally by birds and other wildlife. At lunchtime, we can cool down in the river and climb again in the shade after a pleasant break.

Briançonnais
Vercors

Verdon gorge The «Grand Canyon of France», with its unforgettable ambience and stunning views, is full of beautiful and impressive routes of up to 300m. Even with a minimum of climbing experience, a near novice with guidance and instruction can enjoy a climbing adventure in this vertical playground. When climbing in the Verdon, we can stay at a local gite, owned by Patrick Edlinger (famous French free climber), which has really good food and caters well to vegetarian needs. The ideal period to climb in the Verdon is in the spring and autumn.

Les Calanques The beautiful Calanques are situated on the French Mediterranean coast between Marseilles and Cassis. The climbing in the Calanques is very varied from single pitch bolted climbs off the beach to multi pitch trad climbs accessed by sea level traverses. It is a great place to have a climbing vacation! The ideal period is spring and autumn.

Technical Alpine climbs From June - september I offer guided ascents of long, technical and potentially quite committing granite and mixed climbs in the Mont Blanc Massif.. In all courses, the stated guided fee covers the guiding services of an I F M G A certified mountain guide only. The following is not included: accommodation, any form of transport, meals and drinks. At the clients charge also is the guide's living costs when not based in the Chamonix valley.

In all courses, the stated guided fee covers the guiding services of an I F M G A certified mountain guide only.
The following is not included: accommodation, any form of transport, meals and drinks. At the clients charge also is the guide's living costs when not based in the Chamonix valley.

INSURANCE:
It is essential to be adequately insured by a specialist company, which must cover all mountaineering activities. Also consider travel insurance.
You can consult: The Austrian Alpine Club or The British Mountaineering Council.