St Leger, Briancon area, the other crags near Gap like Sisteron and Orpierre would all be fine now. Might be hot at some of them if you get the timings wrong. Ceuse might also be fine but doesn't really fit your other requirements of closely spaced bolts and steady grades, especially in the 6s. Ailefroide and Briancon are good but not world class. In your position I'd go to St Leger.
Wouldn't most places in the south of France broadly decent at this time of year, obviously depending on orientation and the day-to-day weather? In fact isn't April kind of prime time for this area? There is the coast (Calanques, Toulon, Turbie) and further inland (Buoux, Chateauvert, Verdon). It's not far to drive between them so if the weather is crap in the hills it's easy to relocate to the seaside. Buis and environs have plenty of crags with a ton of 6s on them and decent bolting. Ceuse bolting was fine for me and I'm a wuss.
Worth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.
Quote from: teestub on April 18, 2022, 06:25:58 pmWorth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.Do you know which sector they were at? Hope the dog is okay 🤞🏻
According to reports, absolutely every french person having a rope is in Saint Léger this week end. Should be fine starting from next week.Céüse looks dry from photos I've seen. No snow hanging over the top bit. Isn't Céüse a bit tricky this time though? In the shade just very briefly before sunset (as the sun is relatively low on the horison) and a bit too hot in the sun? Should be better in a month, I would think.Tons and tons of good crags to go at this time of the year.
Quote from: James Malloch on April 18, 2022, 08:30:37 pmQuote from: teestub on April 18, 2022, 06:25:58 pmWorth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.Do you know which sector they were at? Hope the dog is okay 🤞🏻Crete Sud. Behind La Mouche (must’ve been 3m of them) and on the path up to Beatle Juice.
Quote from: T_B on April 18, 2022, 08:55:34 pmQuote from: James Malloch on April 18, 2022, 08:30:37 pmQuote from: teestub on April 18, 2022, 06:25:58 pmWorth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.Do you know which sector they were at? Hope the dog is okay 🤞🏻Crete Sud. Behind La Mouche (must’ve been 3m of them) and on the path up to Beatle Juice.Cheers. I’ve not seen any yet but heard of some around us. We’ll keep my eye out.
Quote from: T_B on April 18, 2022, 06:36:51 pmQuote from: teestub on April 18, 2022, 06:25:58 pmWorth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.Loads at Cuisiniere.We’ve been climbing around Isatis today so probably loads here too then. Maybe it’s something to worry less about and just be more diligent about checking/walking on a lead until we get to the area we’re going to…
Quote from: teestub on April 18, 2022, 06:25:58 pmWorth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.Loads at Cuisiniere.
North Wall at SL is very good. Les clowns one of the best 7cs around. Brick hard but amazing. The 7as on the RH side are good as well. Worth checking out la baleine as well for shade. Jwi linked me the topo on here in a thread a few years back.
I thought St Leger north wall was crap! Maybe it’s cleaned up as this is some years ago (and admittedly I only did routes up to 7c).
Quote from: James Malloch on April 18, 2022, 09:12:21 pm Quote from: T_B on April 18, 2022, 08:55:34 pmQuote from: James Malloch on April 18, 2022, 08:30:37 pmQuote from: teestub on April 18, 2022, 06:25:58 pmWorth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.Do you know which sector they were at? Hope the dog is okay 🤞🏻Crete Sud. Behind La Mouche (must’ve been 3m of them) and on the path up to Beatle Juice.Cheers. I’ve not seen any yet but heard of some around us. We’ll keep my eye out.Why so worried about the caterpillars? Surely you should simply put your dog on a lead and carry on with your plans. There are plenty of other things in Font that don't mix well with dogs, and vice versa, after all.
Quote from: James Malloch on April 18, 2022, 08:09:12 pmQuote from: T_B on April 18, 2022, 06:36:51 pmQuote from: teestub on April 18, 2022, 06:25:58 pmWorth watching out for those caterpillars in Bleau too, a friend’s dog just had a bad encounter with them there.Loads at Cuisiniere.We’ve been climbing around Isatis today so probably loads here too then. Maybe it’s something to worry less about and just be more diligent about checking/walking on a lead until we get to the area we’re going to…If you do end up heading further South in the summer also watch out for the fox tail grass, I seem to remember you have a spaniel and if it enjoys charging through the grass/undergrowth it could run through this stuff. It's essentially has a 1 way barbed head which roots into the fur, then flesh of the dog. We managed to dig 1 out of our boys paw but our girl had some in her ear and she needed to be sedated to get it out. Ours picked it up in the Ardeche when swimming in the river - grass on the bank and from then on we spotted it everywhere!
Hell yes! Do you like eating?La Fabrica Girona+34 872 00 02 73https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMDBmXjWZ3ymRsMH6Restaurant Normal+34 972 43 63 83https://maps.app.goo.gl/71ULErLcqD9owi4S9 Plaça del Vi 7+34 972 21 56 04https://maps.app.goo.gl/MLRUzhk29q6szWcn8König is good for drinks. You can get a very large bottle of Belgian beer for not a lot of money.The cathedral is also very impressive.
Quote from: Paul B on May 08, 2022, 09:47:54 amHell yes! Do you like eating?La Fabrica Girona+34 872 00 02 73https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMDBmXjWZ3ymRsMH6Restaurant Normal+34 972 43 63 83https://maps.app.goo.gl/71ULErLcqD9owi4S9 Plaça del Vi 7+34 972 21 56 04https://maps.app.goo.gl/MLRUzhk29q6szWcn8König is good for drinks. You can get a very large bottle of Belgian beer for not a lot of money.The cathedral is also very impressive.Sounds right up my street, thanks! My wife will hate missing out (she’s at an AcroYoga festival). Or maybe I can check it out and go on the way to France after the festival!Might have to get the train/bus rather than driving…
Quote from: James Malloch on May 08, 2022, 10:28:10 amQuote from: Paul B on May 08, 2022, 09:47:54 amHell yes! Do you like eating?La Fabrica Girona+34 872 00 02 73https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMDBmXjWZ3ymRsMH6Restaurant Normal+34 972 43 63 83https://maps.app.goo.gl/71ULErLcqD9owi4S9 Plaça del Vi 7+34 972 21 56 04https://maps.app.goo.gl/MLRUzhk29q6szWcn8König is good for drinks. You can get a very large bottle of Belgian beer for not a lot of money.The cathedral is also very impressive.Sounds right up my street, thanks! My wife will hate missing out (she’s at an AcroYoga festival). Or maybe I can check it out and go on the way to France after the festival!Might have to get the train/bus rather than driving…She's not going to the AcroYoga camp in Slovenia in July is she? My gf is going to that.
I read that as ArcoYoga festival, and thought why aren't you just climbing there
I don't know if you like any kind of biking (road, gravel, MTB) but there's lots around that's very good.