The Verdon, October 2011
01a Surveiller et Punir f7a+
Image courtesy www.paulbennettphotography.co.uk. This was one of the last days of the trip, it was ridiculously hot and Jim, Alex and myself decided to climb this classic route as a three. It was awesome though and I was very pleased to onsight the hard pitches in such grim conditions!
01b Alex abbing down
to the start of the caving expedition Gueule d'amour.
02 Alex and Adrian
03 The route goes where
The crazy first view of Gueule d'amour f6c. Yes it really does go in there. Head torches obligatoire.
04 Where's he going?
05 Jim getting ready
06 Going in
The caving begins!
07 yuk
Alex wasn't too fond of these- don't blame her really.
08 The way in
It's really caving.
09 What's that?
10 Adrian hanging out.
11 Heading up and in
12 Alex and Jim
on the campsite in La Palud.
13 Font
La Palud is a very pleasant place.
14 Mang Scat
15 Shadow
16 Crux
Just starting up the crux pitxh on Mangoustine Scatophage
17 Amazing views
of the gorge below.
18 Belay
after the crux of Mangoustine Scatophage
19 Mang Scat belay
20 Nice door
21 Rustic
22 Start Gwendal
23 Trav Gwen
Alex on the very airy but deceptively amenable traverse in the middle of the brilliant Les Rideaux de Gwendal f7b
24 Gwendal trav
25 Sign
26 Via ferratta
Fun times on the way to Secter Hulk
27 The hot Abseil down Marches du Temps
28 Alex abbing down Marches du Temps
29 M du Te1
30 M d Te 2
31 Base Jump
32 m du t 3
33 m du t 5
34 Aid pitch
There is no way this pitch is A0, it's hard- wish we'd taken a sky hook!
35 m du t7
36 Nice view
37 Chimay
What a spot of luck that the bar served decent beer!
38 The gang
From Me, Paul, Adrian Jim Nat and Alex.
39 .Jim 1st pitch
Jim in ridiculously hot conditions tackling the very tricky 1st pitch (f6b+) on Surveiller et Punir f7a+
40 Wrong belay
We realised we weren't quite at the right belay- whoops
41 Alex top 1st pitch
42 Vulture chilling
It was amazing to see these birds so close. One advantage of climbing in a three, you can take piccies.
43 Moon
44 Mirror
At the ferry terminal
46 Lake view
46 Sunset
Second trip in 2011 to this beautiful place. Some of the best climbing anywhere, can I keep away?
