The final section of our trip was a few days in Font. Its over 10 years since I'd been to this magical area and I'd either forgotten how cosmopolitan the town is, or didn't notice previously. I nearly went shopping for pastel coloured trousers to enter the spirit of the place, but alas didn't have time.
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| Rounded pleasure.... |
The unique sandstone 'blocs' lie scattered in forests, in an area of 1200 square kilometres. Its thought that the area was discovered/first climbed in by the members of the French Alpine Club around 1874, and they used the boulders as training for alpine routes.
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| Felt high... |
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| Abi stuck on a rock |
This is why they painted/marked out a series of problems so that they could complete a circuit of say 40 boulder problems and it would equate to a much bigger climb. The painted circuits/rocks still stand today, which is very unique and for example would never be allowed in the UK. I have to admit it was fun trying to follow a circuit, looking for the next numbered orange arrow.
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| Lovely problem |
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| With classic finish... |
We had a couple of sessions bouldering in the forest and it quickly became apparent how magical and unique the place and climbing is, even though I was following a circuit, you forget that and become absorbed in the beauty of the forest and rocks.
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| Orange 32, there you are.... |
I knew the grades/problems are harder/trickier than there grade may indicate and happily spent an afternoon climbing the whole orange circuit of 37 problems at Bois-Rond. The following day we went back to the same spot to climb some of the slightly harder blue problems. Abi did a great job of taking some pictures while I enjoyed the rounded sandstone, and I'm already thinking when I can return to this magical place.....
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| Now where is blue 23.... |
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