Photos by popol

At the bottom of the cliff, you can find some good bouldering. Bring a crash or two and some good spotters, because the landing is generally not so good as on this boulder.

Bouldering in Fontainebleau on November 18 2006. There's something crazy about the weather this year...

Sandrine climbing "The Maypole", a very good circular traverse passing through the west cave.

Erik is full of concentration in "La bobi", a 5.10 limestone crack.

Sean chaining onsight "La veuve noire" (the black widow, L1, 5.12c) and "Le petit Zig" (L2, 5.11c).

Sunset over Ile Maïre, as seen from the parking lot of Les Goudes.

Jarek climbing in the rocky wilderness of gorges d'apremont, fontainebleau. LOTS of boulders in this area, and lots of circuits. Sometimes hard to find your way around. This area dries very quickly after rain (and we needed that!).

Extreme pied à main in a indoor bouldering hall. Souplesse, confidence, and how do you get those fingers out of the way?

Picture made with KM 7D at 3200 iso because of the poor indoor lighting

Last minute of the Bleau open bouldering sensation 2005. Sending this route will bring you to the 4th place... Pump up your concentration and go for it ! How important are the spectators?

Thanks to Moniek Steenis for climbing this route.

Autumn bouldering in Fontainebleau. Going for the next hold in a nice traverse in the blue circuit.

J. (uasunflower) finishing a route of the blue circuit.

Shot of the rocks of Omblèze about an hour after sunset, some clouds still glowing in the last light.

Night shot, f2.8 30s, Minolta dynax 7D.

Falaise d'Anse as seen from le Frachet. The climbeable part of the rock is behind the obvious chimney at the left - 800m of excellent quality rock waiting for you ;-) The part seen on this picture is not developed, I guess because of birds protection..?

Kobe climbing "Le Loi Martial" (the Martial Law).

One of the classics of this crag, named after a guy with first name "Martial".

Lucky hands, spotting in fontainebleau... and still you don't want her to fall.

Rine topping out "la dalle cirée", a beautiful line in the blue J.A. Martin circuit.

Rine climbing "l'opposition" in sector J.A. Martin. When she was at the point to give it up, she suddenly discovered a tiny crimp permitting her to mantle out this problem.

Sandrine (Rine) climbing "Popeye", blue route nr 27, a good example of the technical climbs in the rocher fin area in fontainebleau.

Sandrine (Rine) climbing "la fissure rouge", a nice crack climb in the blue circuit.

Sandrine (Rine) making a clip in "geometrie variable", a nice 5.11 in Bomal.

Overview of the section of Balme. Lots of multipitch sport routes in the upper grades (easiest route around French 6b)

In the close neighbourhood of the crag of Chambly you find the Cascades du Hérisson, a beautiful series of waterfalls on the Hérisson river. Though very touristic, still a very nice half-day hike to do on one of your resting days. This picture is taken at closest fall, the cascade de l'Eventail. By the way, the valley along the hike is bordered with beautiful rocks, but no routes on it .. :(

Technical details: Minolta Maxxum/Dynax 7D camera with Minolta 17-35/2.8 D lens at 35mm. Shutter time 1/4, f32, iso 100

This creature, not made by men, stares over the river Doubs...

The person who can tell me whose hands these are, gets a free beer!

Bouldering in the beautiful nature of Trois Pignons

C1sc0 cleaning the holds on a problem in Cul du Chien.

Clean your shoes, the rock is waiting...

Sandrine holding the crux on a highball problem

Sometimes climbers are the details in a beautiful nature...

Maybe the most famous boulder of Fontainebleau...

Though very rare, also in Belgium there are some good trad routes.

View on the climbing area of Freyr over the river Meuse. Sectors from left to right: Merinos, Cinq Anes, Tête de Lion, Pape and Al Legne. Freyr is the largest crag in belgium, with over 600 routes from 3a to 8c. Europe's first 8a is located here....

In the old days, Freyr could only be reached by crossing the river in a boat. Nowadays, there's a large parking at the top of the crag....

Sections from right to left: Al Legne, Pape, Tête de Lion, and all in the back Le Merinos.

Bouldering on bloc C in Les Awirs. These boulders are the remainders of a massive rock collapse a few years ago.

You can clearly read the joy from the twinkling in the eyes and the blush on the cheeks of this 5 year old girl. Whish I was that young when I started climbing...

Picture taken with Minolta Dynax 7D and Tamron 28-300 lens at iso 1600.

At first, I was disappointed that this shot was moved. But after a while, I got the impression that the motion might add a sense of action. What do you think..?

5 year old and she loves climbing...

Picture taken with minolta Dynax 7D at 800 iso.

View from the top of the nearby climbing crag to the local power plant. Sometimes even industry can be beautiful...

picture taken with Minolta Dynax 7D and Tamron 28-300 lens.

Picture taken with minolta dynax 7D, with the kind cooperation of my cat. Choose this as my profile shot, since she combines my two desired talents: great climber, and good eyes.

How does your face look like when you're standing above the first bolt, purely friction, no space to move your balance, but you just can't reach the second bolt..? (Slightly modified version of a previous shot.)

Unknown climber in Vade retro Satana, 5b. Though this traverse is the easiest of three pitches, a lot of people do not feel comfortable because of the "airy" circumstances and the long bolt distances.

This must be the purest form of "wall climbing": no artificial holds, just trust your crimp and your shoes.

This is Siurana, the city. Capital of limestone climbing with only 20 inhabitants...?

This is the section closest to the parking. Very popular, especially during weekends.

Can a digital alteration of a traditional shot bring something new? Comments highly appreciated...

Impression of a lead climber while rapping off on the dalle supérieure in Awirs. Picture by popol.

Far moves on sharp tiny holds, that's what this route is about.. (Climber: Nico W)

A picture of an unknown girl following on one of the easier routes in Les Awirs. You don't have to break records to enjoy climbing on a sunny afternoon..

Bbb bouldering on le monolithe. Maybe not the most spectacular boulder, buth with a splendid view..