So that’s summer over... isn’t it? Part 1, The Ariege

 You must excuse my lack of updates, I know you have heard this many times from many people and I don’t deserve  any sympathy but I have just been so busy! Here me out, enjoy and judge for yourself.

I left you hanging in Ceuse, south of France. The climbing had been to the top, the level pushed and the lifestyle simplified - to perfection. But my body could only take so much of this extremely physical lifestyle and as my time to leave arrived my aching limbs embraced change. 

 A complimentary t-shirt rewarding the successful completion of 3 weeks at Camp Guerins in my pack I headed South East to the Ariege. Spending the next two weeks with the family was amazing, a proper bed and real mother meals rehabilitated me but my arms never quite got fresh again even with 2 full days off. Frustratingly I was on the back end of peak performance right on time after 3 weeks of peak. It was still a great climbing trip and I climbed on some wicked routes. Highlights were climbing Octopus my only 8a out there in an unlikely looking cave that yielded some awesome lines, I was schooled in the 3^rd dimension with several full rotations of climbing direction required on some of the easier routes. A stunning 7c+ soaring 40m out of the massive cave of Genat from 15m up a 6a slab the climbing turned into the most exciting, exposed and heart racing climbing you can get on a sport route. This was all good fun but it was hard coming to terms with a drop in standard where I had to get the bail carabiners out for two 8a’s. 

Exploring the party potential in the cave complexes surrounding the Ariege

So I took it easy and rested, explored new areas and started putting together a tick list for the next trip to the area, I can’t wait to return in good condition and dispatch as many of the stunning lines as possible. I hope to go out there with a small group of strong routers who have never put up a line of their own and learn develop and perfect route bolting resulting in a new area developed, some funny footage and a wealth of experience gained from local climbers and residents. My second year at Chez Arran with John and Anne was as pleasurable as the first and I would and do recommend their apartments in this amazing area to anyone wanting to find a quiet top class area with an abundance of 5* climbing, check out there website for more! http://www.chezarran.com/.

From family fun in the sun and desperately trying to maintain good route form, a brief interlude at home I headed out for Austria. Two International events and a teas taster of granite will follow in my next late update!