With Julie and Olivier, I climb Le Nid d’Aigle at Le Ponteil: 150 metres of sunny multi-pitch climbing, plenty of exposure and their first big abseils.
Never short of ideas for devising the finest Hautes-Alpes tortures, after our two days of ski touring in the Queyras, I suggest a day of multi-pitch climbing to Julie and Olivier… Just to give all those forgotten muscles scattered around our upper and lower bodies a balanced workout!
My only concern today: I hope we won’t get too hot!! Seeing the thermometer read −1°C in the car park, Julie and Olivier wonder whether they’ve found a slightly overoptimistic guide… A few minutes of walking later, we’re peeling off layers one by one and arriving at the foot of our patch of rock in T-shirts, enjoying some delicious warmth!
Le Nid d’Aigle at Le Ponteil
Above us rise the 150 metres of vertical—and sometimes overhanging—climbing on Le Nid d’Aigle, one of Le Ponteil’s magnificent routes near Guillestre. Julie and Olivier have a little outdoor climbing experience, but a multi-pitch route like this is a first for them!
From the very first metres, despite the modest grades on paper, the exposure is everywhere. Moves you’re used to making two metres above a big bouldering mat feel rather different with 30 metres of empty space beneath your feet, a huge panorama and snowy mountains all around! Not to mention finding the best holds in a sea of possibilities to climb with as little effort as possible!!
After three “warm-up” pitches, it’s time for the two final overhangs. The rope is there to keep everyone safe, offer reassurance and, if necessary, provide a little helping hand!
From the top, all that remains is to head for our picnic via two big abseils. Another first for my two companions!
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