Climbling

Unlike marmots, climbers don’t have to hibernate through the cold winter months! Climbing can be practiced year round in ski resorts, in many forms. Overview.

Artificial climbing walls

Most big resorts offering a multisport facility will have an artificial climbing wall. They are often comparable to what one would find in big cities, in terms of complexity and number of climbing routes. For example, the Tignespace facility in Tignes (Savoie) offers over twenty climbing routes. In Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées), the climbing facility offers more than 350 m² of climbing surface, with 15 lines and 45 climbing routes adapted to all levels. In Les Deux-Alpes (Isère), there are 40 possible climbing routes ranging from 4 to 8c (the maximum grade in climbing being 9b+) as well as an inclined training section. The other main resort from  Isère, l’Alpe d’Huez, offers comparable facilities, with 23 lines from 3 to 7a, on an 11-metre high climbing wall. There is also an inclined training section.These are only few examples among many. Note that access to the climbing walls is often included in the ski pass.

Inclined sections

Usually, these inclined sections are of lower height – approximately 3 metres – with large inflatable mats on the ground below. This way, it is not necessary to wear a harness to climb. These structures are the perfect way to familiarise oneself with climbing and to test out new techniques. Kids love them, knowing that they can safely tumble to the ground without getting hurt.

Ice climbing

Often considered a high-level practice, ice climbing is becoming increasingly accessible – providing that the chosen climbing route is adapted to the level of the climber. This is the case in Champagny-en-Vanoise (Savoie), which boasts an artificial 24-metre ice-climbing tower, tucked away in the beautiful Champagny-le-Haut valley, 5 km away from the resort. Numerous climbing routes for all levels are offered, from 80-degree ramps for beginners, to 45-degree inclines for experts. There are also mixed routes that allow the climber to combine traditional ice climbing with dry tooling (climbing with ice axes and resin grips). The tower is accessible to independent climbers (EUR 7,50) or beginners can also sign up for an initiation course with a qualified mountain guide. For more information call 04 79 55 06 55.

The resort of Lans-en-Vercors (Isère) goes a step further, with an all-natural climbing site less than 10 minutes from the centre of the village. The 30-metre natural rock face is equipped with 6 climbing protection ladders and offers 10 climbing routes of varying difficulty. Note that during the February holidays, the site offers floodlight night climbing sessions twice a week. Initiation courses with a qualified mountain guide are also available. For more information call 0 811 46 00 38