Céüse - Warning: Bipolar Tendencies

If there is any place on Earth that can break you, challenge you to your mental capacity, demand strength beyond your physical limits, and have you question your ability to keep going, it is Céüse. I have developed a special love-hate, toxic relationship with this place over the past two months. And that is exactly why I want to return.

Céüse
Photo Cred: Ali Alter

The Céüse cliffline is located in Southern France near a village called Sigoyer, which is surrounded by rolling patchwork farmland and quaint villages.

From the cliffline, farmland and mountains for EVER.

At an elevation of about 2,000 meters, the beautiful blue and gold streaked limestone cliff makes it the perfect climbing destination for summer craggin. The cliff is broken up into several sections, all which offer a wide variety of climbing from steep, jug haulin, tufa pullin/kneebarring, techy slab, vertical, traditional routes and multipitch routes! Ali and I called Les Guerins our home for 6 weeks, where we lived in a sweet caravan (or trailer park as Nate would say).

Trailer Park Yoga Babes

The hike to the cliffline is 3 miles steadily uphill, which we didn't typically start until after 1pm in order to give the cliffline time to go into the shade. Fortunately, you are granted the opportunity to overlook the French countryside and smell the aromatic, creamy vanilla flora of unknown origin.

Once at the top, it's almost a sense of "Now, IT IS ON!" The hike makes you get up there and try your best cause you didn't do all that hikin for nothin.

Ali lookin fit as she cruises Petit Illusion 7a+
Photo Credit: Ciarin

Myself on Makach Walu 7c+
Photo Credit: Ciarin

The climbing was almost always ass kicking. The routes are either super physical, extremely crimpy, emesis-inducing pumpy, or mentally challenging in a way that would cause you to be on route for an hour yet only experience severe toe cramping and a bad migraine. The quality of the limestone here is impeccable and the views certainly don't suck!

Berlin, sustained pumpy crimp climbing

During our time in France, we were able to explore the countryside a bit. We flew into Nice and spent a few days relaxing/de-jetlagging on the coast before heading to Céüse. The beaches there are lined with smooth, small rocks instead of sand. This makes relaxing a bit tedious but after 36 hours of travel, I realized I could nap pretty much anywhere.

Beach in Nice, France

Saint-Julien-du-Verdon on the way to Céüse

June Solstice Celebration

Luckily, we were in Sigoyer during the St. John's Eve Festival which celebrates midsummer and the June solstice. We rounded up the posse (Kat from CO, Matt from France, Ciarin [how to spell your name?!? who knows] from the UK) and danced with the children of Sigoyer to bad French pop music for so long we couldn't even consider it a rest day!

We visited Chamonix for a short weekend with great company (thanks Bruno and Nate for the entertainment!) Chamonix is a world class destination for alpine sports and climbing. Mont Blanc towers over the valley at 4,800 meters making it the highest summit in the Alps. We enjoyed great food, cheap wine, and stunning views. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to see Lucy climbing in the World Cup which was the entire reason we went (sorry Lucy!!!!)

Hostel life

Chamonix Mont Blanc

Digne-Les-Bains

On another rest day, we drove through the rolling lavender hills of Digne-Les-Bains. I have never seen a more vibrant purple! My senses that day were surely on overload. I'll never be able to smell lavender without thinking of these hillsides. It is definitely something to see.

There were also the many, many lake rest days. We split our time between the "small" Lac de Pelleautier (pronounced Poul-li-nooter in redneck) and the "big" Lac de Serre-Ponçon. We won't ever forget the night Steph and Mik (from Australia) made 20-something pizzas for everyone with various delicious local toppings. Chef Steph impressed us all for sure! Fun times at the lake with Tom and Nate (Aussie boys), Will (UK), and Ciarin.

Ali enjoying a ride in the HMS Shelly

Lac de Serre-Ponçon

Lac de Pelleautier with Céüse profile

Ali and I visited Paris on our way out. We got to see Cathédrale Notre-Dame, went to the Musée du Louvre, walked down and saw the Eiffle Tower from afar, and even ran into the Tour de France. It rained, we walked a lot, had good coffee, great dinner at Clamato (thanks to Margo for the suggestions!), and indulged in too much dessert for the last time before heading home.

Ali model status in front of Cathédrale Notre-Dame

Céüse would not have been nearly as amazing without the great friends we met along the way. Some of the most dedicated, down to earth, fun, loving people were introduced to our lives and we plan to visit them all again in the near future! Thank you all for making our first experience to France unforgettable!