Christmas Eve - chez Arran's first birthday!

This day last year we were driving down from Calais in an overloaded estate car, heading for hard work and adventure. This time we went climbing!
It's been a tough year getting plenty of accommodation ready, but very satisfying seeing people really enjoy themselves. It's a great buzz to read the complimentary things people have posted on various websites, and we're keener than ever to make as much progress this year as we can, so that even more of you can enjoy this wonderful place.
For my part I still can't quite believe how good it is here virtually every month of the year. I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not just dreaming it all!
Today's climbing was at Calamès, one of the best crags for midwinter as it gets any sun that's going. There wasn't much sun today but it did show its face occasionally and because the day was quite warm it was a great temperature for climbing. The photo is of me on Homo Plombus, probably the best 7b on the crag, even though it's given 7a+!
Back out on Boxing day for more (possibly hungover by then) climbing fun. Have a great Christmas everyone.

Back to chez Arran site

Merry X mas and happy 2010

This year has involved lots of changes since first turning up on my friend Ruth's doorstep in France on Christmas eve last year. The alternative was a warm house with many clashing brown patterned wall paper and no friends. We opted for the basement party in Loubiere :)

This year it will be much the same really except we have the house upstairs and will take along some tasty fish for Christmas dinner. Now sitting in the apartment it feels like a million miles away from the corridor it was last year. Luca, Ruth's son taught me the perfect pronnunciation of 'pere noel' - which was much better than any of the rest of us could muster!

Both of the major ski resorts are now open and our guests are having a great time on the slopes. Here is a Christmas dog present from the Plateau de Beille. Wishing you wonderful x mas and a fun New Year, Anne x

Back to chez Arran site

A little later than usual the winter finally arrived last week ... and did so in spectacular fashion, with plenty of snow and temperatures down to -12.

We took advantage by heading up to the Plateau de Beille, one of France's premier Nordic Skiing resorts and only 20 minutes away by car, for a bit of much needed practice. There was a festival atmosphere there as it was the resort's 20-year anniversary, so access to all the pistes was free for the day, which we weren't about to argue with! There were plenty of other fun things laid on for the day too, like live music and magic shows, excursions on the piste-basher and a huge floating inflatable dragon which was determined to eat the candles from the 4m-wide snow-cake built specially for the resort's birthday.

The husky dogs were out too, seemingly raring to go for another season of haring across the snow-covered plateau with gleeful people in tow.

Then today the sun came out again and with perfect blue skies and dead calm it would have been a great day for climbing, but we missed out this time. Never mind, the forecast for tomorrow is quite good too.

Back to chez Arran site

Genat - winter sun crag focus

One of the finest crags in the area for people climbing grades 7a and 8, although there are some very good easier routes too. The main crag is extremely overhanging in its central section, generally on good but sometimes improved holds and stunning tufas. Notably there are some slab routes which stay dry even after long periods of rain, including routes of 6a-6c. Rock, orange and grey limestone.

Leave the main Tarascon to Vicdessos road (D8) at Niaux. Cross the river, pass through Alliat village and continue a further 5 minutes up zigzags before taking a turnoff to the left shortly before reaching Génat village. 400m later the road ends at a gate where there is parking space for about 6 cars. To the right of the main gate is a footpath; follow this through a smaller gate and up right to the crag. 5 minutes walk.

Back to chez Arran site

Gaz Parry and Kate Mills visit the Grotte de Sabart

We had the pleasure of entertaining Gaz, Kate & Pebbles the horse on their way from their house in Costa Blanca see http://epic-adventures.eu/default.aspxadventures.eu/default.aspx After some warm up cranking or 'that's enough' cranking at Genat we headed to Grotte de Sabart. Kate and I were in the 'that's enough' team & Gaz found la Dame de Sabart not a walk in the park, but polished it off nevertheless the following day. Hat's off to Stevie Haston for his routes there - you certainly need top sequences and a stong core to survive ... Pebbles seemed to enjoy the stay and was intrigued to meet Geri and Panache our neighbours horses. I'm looking forward to having more stamina on 30m roofs and an improved core so that more than 1 or 2 attempts are more worthwhile!

Back to chez Arran site