Just a quick post to wish everyone a happy New Year. Safe climbing and hope to see you in 2008.

Ollie Ryall. Climbfrance. http://www.climbfrance.com/

Climbing or crawling?

To clear up the 'climbing vs crawling' debate currently raging across Australia (see comments below), I have added another picture which shows the route from a different angle!

Although it's not the steepest route in the world I would like to see someone try to crawl up that without loosing a lot of skin.

Best wishes to all our friends down under and have a great Christmas.

Ollie Ryall.

Aussie Diane.

Diane from Australia recently got in touch to ask why this photo I took of her hadn't been used on our website. To make amends I have included it here and will be using it on our main site when I make the final changes to the pictures.

Diane travelled to France to attend our Sport climbing in Provence course before heading to the UK and climbing in the Peak District.

Since getting back home Diane has climbed in the Grampian Mountains and at Arapiles and she is looking forward to her next trip to Europe.

Details of all our courses and holidays can be found at: http://www.climbfrance.com/

Thanks for getting back in touch, Ollie Ryall.

ClimbFrance Gift Certificates.

ClimbFrance now have gift certificates for you to give to friends or relatives as presents.

The certificates are available for the amount of your choice and are redeemable against any of our courses, holidays, private guiding or self-catering holiday accommodation.

For more details or to order ClimbFrance gift certificates please contact us at: climbing@climbfrance.com

Ollie Ryall.

New courses and holidays for 2008.

For 2008 we will be offering some new courses, holidays and options for private guiding.

• Sport climbing + - an intensive performance coaching course designed for climbers leading in the 5c - 6b range who want to move up through the grades.



• Road Trip - a ten day tour of many of Southern France's best climbing venues in the company of some of the UK's top climbers.



• Family & Small group holidays - 2 new destinations, Sardinia and Fontainebleau.



• Big wall bivi skills - spend the night on our portaledge!

For details of all these as well as other courses and holidays please visit: http://www.climbfrance.com/

Self-catering holiday accommodation for climbers.

ClimbFrance has a holiday cottage available to let, situated 5km from Buis Les Baronnies in SE France. It is ideally suited to families or groups of climbers and comfortably sleeps up to six people.

'Thank you for making us feel so welcome. Over the years we have stayed in many Gites throughout France and yours is definitely one of the best ever! It has a view to die for from the terrace and we loved the variety of rock climbing and the beautiful surroundings. We will spread the word about this little paradise and we'll be back soon. Many Thanks.' Andy and Elaine Cave, Sheffield.

More information about the accommodation, surrounding area and fantastic climbing can be found at: http://www.climbfrance.com/climbing_holiday.html

If you would like more information or have any questions, please get in touch. Ollie Ryall.

Fantastic Autumn weather!

I made the most of the great weather we are having at the moment and managed to climb some of the routes on the newly developed crag just outside Buis les Baronnies (see below). Although it was -3 degrees when I left home this morning, by 10am it was possible to climb in t-shirts! Not bad for the 30th of November.

If any one fancies getting away for a long weekends climbing around Buis Les Baronnies get in touch. I can check the long range weather forecast and let you know what it will be like. We can also organise accommodation and transfers if required (free from Avignon TGV).

For more details visit: http://www.climbfrance.com/guiding.html

All the best and hope to see you soon, Ollie Ryall. ClimbFrance.

Alan Carne climbs Verdon 8b.

ClimbFrance instructor Alan Carne recently red-pointed Les Brave Gens (8b). This very exposed and difficult route, first climbed by JB Tribout in 1986 is situated high on the Verdon Gorge.

Alan spent 8 days working the moves spread out over 2 weeks before the successful red-point. In his own words 'not bad for an old fart pushing 50'

The picture shows Alan warming up with an ascent of Graphique (8a+). More about Alan's achievements and what he brings to the ClimbFrance team can be found at: http://www.climbfrance.com/team.html

Nice one Alan, this should be an inspiration to all of us. Ollie Ryall

Buis Les Baronnies - New Crag.

I spent yesterday helping the local climbing club equip this newly developed crag just outside Buis Les Baronnies.

When finished it will have about twenty routes up to 60m in length from 4+ to around 7c. Both single and multi-pitch routes are possible and there is a sector without bolts for practising trad climbing.

Ollie Ryall.

Climbing in Sardinia.

Thanks to Scott and Monika for sending us a copy of their holiday photos from our recent trip to Sardinia.

The picture shows them on the second belay ledge of the famous Deutsch Wall at Poltrona.

Scott and Monika booked five days private guiding with ClimbFrance and after a few days technical instruction were happy leading both single and multi-pitch climbs.

Full details of our private guiding service can be found at: http://www.climbfrance.com/guiding.html

Lucy Creamer climbs Curbar E8.

Congratulations to Lucy for becoming the first British women (and second ever female) to climb E8. Lucy head-pointed (lead after working out the moves on a top-rope) Slab and Crack, Johnny Dawes's 1986 test piece on Curbar Edge.

Lucy has joined the ClimbFrance coaching team for 2008 and her experience and ability will enhance our programme of courses and holidays greatly.

More information about Lucy's achievements and what she will bring to ClimbFrance can be found at : http://www.climbfrance.com/team.html

Well done, Ollie.

New ClimbFrance Office.

Work starts today on the new office at the ClimbFrance base, just outside Buis Les Baronnies.

When completed this will give Wi-Fi internet access to our accommodation, provide storage for all our equipment and contain a small shop selling climbing equipment, topos and guidebooks, clothing as well as other useful things.

The photo shows the view from outside the office first thing this morning! Hopefully work will be completed by Christmas.

ClimbFrance and Scarpa

ClimbFrance are now supported by Scarpa and we will have a range of their climbing shoes for our customers to use next season. This is in addition to the support we already receive from Beal, Metolius and prAna.

We never compromise on safety and are pleased to be supported by these companies making equipment of the highest quality.

For details on all of these companies, please visit our links section:

http://www.climbfrance.com/climb-links.html

Environmental Policy and Special Offers for 2008.

As part of our environmental policy we would like to encourage as many people as possible to travel to France by train.

Planes produce over ten times as much CO2 as trains for the same journey and France is easily accessible from London via high speed modern trains. In addition it is a stress free and comfortable way to travel. Details of travelling to France by train can be found in the Booking section of the website.

We will be offering free transfers to many locations in France for Private Guiding and a discount of £25 off all our courses if you come by train.

We will also be giving away prAna t shirts to to people booking 4 or more days Private Guiding.

If you have any questions or require further information please get in touch.

All the best and safe climbing, Ollie Ryall.

Welcome to the new ClimbFrance blog. Here we will be able to keep you up to date with our latest news and special offers as well letting you know what we have been up to.

Updates to the website for 2008 are almost complete - your feedback and comments are always appreciated. We aim to make the website clear, informative and easy to navigate around. Please let us know if you experience any problems or don't understand anything on the site.

Best wishes, Ollie Ryall.