Ascents in Briançon (Hautes Alpes) by Josh Ellis

Aforementioned wankerish climbing…

Defo my anti style, probably made it into a 7b in places but I persevered! Terrifying!

Should have onsighted this the over day really, felt cruisy today. Classy climbing.

Probably one of my most stressful climbing experiences in recent history. My belayer was first struggling with the 'biner/GriGri (in hindsight a sign of things to come!) then short-roped during the crux sequence and then asked "do you want more slack at the anchor?" despite me not being at the anchor, nor signalling I was at the anchor. Finally, I pulled over the bulge near the top and heard something I construed as "off belay" (I later found he was saying "out of sight", but I couldn't really hear due to said bulge), I then preceded to climb (although I thought was soloing) to the anchor while shouting lots of profanities. Quite the experience!

Came down from my first incredibly stressful attempt, pulled the rope and went straight up for another crack. Think I was still pretty pumped (more from stress than climbing intensity) and still fell at the crux. Oh well some kind of good conditioning I guess.

Invented new beta on the crux second go, but got through with sheer determination to redeem my self.

Aforementioned wankerish climbing…

Shouldn’t have done this as my third climb. Thrashed myself at the crux, climbed like a wanker for the rest of the day after.

Really weird start and fairly green finish with actually nice climbing through the middle. Would probably go in 1-2 tries if the bottom was possible. 😂

Weird pressing and mega high feet! Came pretty close to the flash but fell right at the last “hard” bit. Will go next time!

Super bouldery crux, good holds but difficult to move between them. Flailed about for a bit before sussing it out.

Fell on second pitch due to poor foot placement. Very much my anti-style, actually pleased with how I climbed it despite foot slip. Maybe I’m learning how to use my feet!

Couldn’t figure out the start either go. 🤷‍♀️

Basically all mobility/pressing and very little pulling. Nice stretch after attempting the very pumpy 7c!

First 7b in France! 🎉

Absolutely mega! Goes forever, brutally steep, kneebars for days! Felt hard on my first go, but keen to proj!

Didn’t really dig it tbh

Bit sloppy at the top. Nice climb.

Really nice warm up.

Still pretty cruxy but heaps better than the other day.

Didn’t think I’d get another go at this! First go was just kinda sussing/flailing again. Felt hard.

After witnessing a 12 year old onsight it sans kneebars I though I’d better half another crack! Got about half way, fell a few moves below a decent rest. Felt achievable in maybe another 2-3 goes maybe?

Putting the draws in was hard work. Was hoping a couple of weeks at Cèüse would have pumped up my endurance but it felt harder than last time I tried it!

 

1. Bit nervous, felt good but couldn’t slot the crux knee bar, fell off pissed but knowing I could do it.

2. 4 other people working the route sharing the start resulted in a torturous 2 hour wait to get back on. So nervous I felt sick. Fell off at the crux. Felt like it wasn’t possible again.

3. Had already resolved I wouldn’t send. Went up for one more go. Climbed it perfectly, fell off on the very last move. Gutted.

Cool compression move, very span dependent!

One of the coolest blocs I’ve ever tried. Could do a few moves but linking the thing would be mega! One day maybe!

Warm up

Really cool!