After such a big day up in the ‘big mountains’, we were keen to take things easy today, but the weather forecast convinced us to get out for a quick climb in the morning before things turned.

All was dry and bright in the valley and things were looking up as we hiked steeply up hill to the base of the cliffs of the Alcool Sector.

As planned, a nice shady steep slab gave a super first pitch. Great climbing on great rock.

However, higher up we got stumped by a strange aid pitch that involved pulling on a bolt and half climbing a larch, that had a metal spike in it to stand on. From balancing on the tree, you had to reach over to the slab and make some moves that I wasn’t really up for making to continue the climb. Our relaxed morning out was all getting a bit strenuous and added to the fact that the climbing was due to get harder higher up, we decided to call it a day and get back down to the river and spend some time relaxing in the sunshine and actually have a rest!

Alcool Sector, Ailefriode:

• Alambic, 5c (pitch one of many)