Jimmy's Cliff Rock Climbing

This is a good starting point for Grenoble climbing, with routes from soft 5.8 to 5.12, a great view of the city, good limestone rock, and a relatively easy approach. The cliff is South-West facing, and thus in the sun much of the day. The bottom of the cliff is shaded, could be cold for the belayer during the winter. The routes in the center do not dry very quickly, and the rock can be slick when wet.

The rock was bolted in 2005 and the bolts are in good condition and well placed. The anchors are very standard with what I've seen in France: two bolts chained together. One is about 6 or so inches below the other and to the side. There is a large quick-link attached to the bottom bolt and the chain for lowering.

The rock is generally of good quality with large, pockets, good crimps, a few cracks, some neat tufa features, and anywhere from technical slab to overhanging rock. The cliff is also just next to the Via Ferrata to the Bastille, so you will often see people climbing there.

Three climbs I really enjoy here are "A0 est arrivé" 6b, "Les doigts dans la prise" 6a, and "Le seigneur des onanos" which has a left and right variant finish, both going at 6a.

On a final note, the "Climbing Season" graph below is ridiculous and not accurate. Grenoble is one of the hottest cities in France and that is most definitely not the best time to climb (though you can bet your biscuits we'll be out crushin'!) Spring and Autumn are prime time up through until December, as Grenoble has relatively mild winters.