Avignon Soleil Topo Guide

BAUME ROUSSE

This cliff is just about perfect, and offers nearly everything - from easy slabs, up to 8a tufas searing up into the sky.

The cliff is shaped as a giant horseshoe that faces South-West, giving a sizeable amphitheatre at the back. There are two additional wings that offer slab climbs.

LEFT WING, A very pleasant area with about 20 routes in the 4a-6b standard. Small easy top roping area for kiddies, popular for beginners but best routes are in the 5/6a grades.

CENTRAL BOWL, as seen in the photo to the right, is 30-40 metres high, and pretty steep in places. There is a midway terrace with 6a-c routes of 18m leading up, then above are steep walls covered in 7a-c routes. Either side has long 30-35m routes of 6a-8a, and the rock is of exceptional clean quality. The cliff was cleaned and equipped for a junior climbing competition, and the bolting was all done by climber's working for the French climbing federation. The bolting in most cases is very close together and reassuring.

RIGHT WING, Some really good grade 4/5 slabs, all 30-35m long and very nice - about 22 routes.

Photo: RAHAN FILS DE CRAO 7b+; Climber: Patrick Barone

Photo: L'EPERON 2 6a-; Climber: Yvorel Albane