[Palomides]

I posted this just before the server crash, as "Trouble at the crag", but now I've seen some closeup photos...

St Bauzille de Montmel, Herault, France.

Before it looked like this or this:


Then... (photos from http://www.midilibre.com)







And now it looks like this (photos from http://loicfossard.blogspot.com/2010/09/je-verse-une-larme.html)










Don't think I'll be climbing there for a while.

[Jaspersharpe]

 

[SA Chris]

Not good, although I can think of a few UK crags that would actually benefit from a fire like that to keep greenery at bay.

[chillax]

I've heard a story about a slab in the mournes being "cleaned" back in the day, by dousing it in petrol and setting it alight..... probably get arrested for that these days!

[Jaspersharpe]

What choad started the fire?

[SA Chris]

We didn't start the fire.

It was always burning since the world was turning.

[Palomides]

The choad(s) responsible haven't yet been found. This was one of three fires that started simultaneously in the Herault, but this one turned out to be the biggest: between 3 and 4,000 hectares burnt, but no-one killed and only 6 or 7 houses damaged. Over 1200 firemen were brought in.

It started quite a way from the crag, but then swept completely over it.

From the local paper:

[slackline]

this one turned out to be the biggest: between 3 and 4,000 hectares burnt,

Thats quite some range, surely they can get a better estimate of the affected area than that! 

[boulderingbacon]

apart from the trees it looks better to climb there. as long as the rock has not been to badly damaged by the heat.

[dave]

just pray its not gone the way of roadrunner cave.

[Palomides]

As most of the holds are small crimps, any heat damage could substantially change almost all the routes!

I've heard a suggestion that it'd be wise to avoid the place until after spring re-growth has started, as there'll be an increased risk of rockfall due to all the vegetation being burnt off.

Oh well, have to go to Claret instead.

 

[boulderingbacon]

that sucks man, give it a month or so let the rock settle again and go check it out. loose rock only adds to the experience

[Caesar Power]

This little incident back in april made a bit of a mess of bosley cloud. A certain Johnny Cash song springs to mind.