Briançon, France

Looking for recommendations for what the weather is like at the crags around Briançon, France at the end of September-Mid-October. Looking for it to be on the colder side of the temperature range, like fall in the Rockies, with an option to escape to warmer climes for day trips. Also open to any other suggestions for climbing in France or Italy during that time frame. Thanks for the help!

I've been in Briançon in both the first and last weeks of September and had a very different experience than the one above, absolutely perfect weather throughout, which also applies the all other months I've been there, parts of June, July and August. Crags face in all directions and at a huge range of altitudes. If it's too hot right around Briançon, just head up to the ridiculously beautiful Ailefroide about an hour away.  That whole area is completely awesome. 

Note if you are camping, our late September run to Briançon had some mighty cold nights, I had a summer weight sleeping bag and shivered all night. 

Kyle Thompson wrote:

Looking for recommendations for what the weather is like at the crags around Briançon, France at the end of September-Mid-October. Looking for it to be on the colder side of the temperature range, like fall in the Rockies, with an option to escape to warmer climes for day trips. Also open to any other suggestions for climbing in France or Italy during that time frame. Thanks for the help!

I have been in the area (including ceuse as well) in 3 different years during September.Some  stunning days but also drawn out storms then rapid cooling as October begins has been my experience.Early September  Ceuse was bordering on to hot for me really.In 2021 when I was in the Briancon area we went from climbing in vests in the shade at a crag called the Rue des Masques to having to leg it out of the region and head south  by week 1 in October It had become pretty wet and cold and most campgrounds had closed. As ever impossible to predict 100%. Awesome area though.Have a plan B.The verdon area (not just the gorge) and the Maritime Alps are not far.Likewise Provence.Chateauverte is a wonderful crag though can be very hot.Those are just a few options.

David Swaine wrote:

I have been in the area (including ceuse as well) in 3 different years during September.Some  stunning days but also drawn out storms then rapid cooling as October begins has been my experience.Early September  Ceuse was bordering on to hot for me really.In 2021 when I was in the Briancon area we went from climbing in vests in the shade at a crag called the Rue des Masques to having to leg it out of the region and head south  by week 1 in October It had become pretty wet and cold and most campgrounds had closed. As ever impossible to predict 100%. Awesome area though.Have a plan B.The verdon area (not just the gorge) and the Maritime Alps are not far.Likewise Provence.Chateauverte is a wonderful crag though can be very hot.Those are just a few options.

+1 on Châteauvert for sure, a really great place to be, and yes, the number of fabulous "Plan B" locations in Southern France is nearly limitless. 

Normally the bad weather comes from west, so France/Piedmont are, as average, more wet than east Alps.

For late summer early autumn I would suggest Dolomites or Sarca valley (October)

Cristiano

Cristiano Buttinoni wrote:

Normally the bad weather comes from west, so France/Piedmont are, as average, more wet than east Alps.

For late summer early autumn I would suggest Dolomites or Sarca valley (October)

Cristiano

Not sure that East or Southeast Europe is really better in this regard. We were hit by an extended period of bad weather in Istria ( Croatia, Slovenia, far eastern Italy) in early October and were told that such weather is normal there at that time of year.

I've had a lot of good days in Sept/Oct around Briançon, but the weather is definitely consistently better in Greece at that time (especially Kalymnos). Greece will be crowded though

Alan Rubin wrote:

Not sure that East or Southeast Europe is really better in this regard. We were hit by an extended period of bad weather in Istria ( Croatia, Slovenia, far eastern Italy) in early October and were told that such weather is normal there at that time of year.

In the last years the weather in september / october is fairly good, you can have a 5/10 days of rain (as last year 2024), but generally the trend it's quite good.

I climbed above 2000m till late October in the past autumns.

In case of consistent bad weather you can easily drive few hours and move south: Marche, Toscana, Lazio.

Thanks for all the recommendations! We're considering Arco, Italy now, as well. Thoughts? Experiences? 

Everything about Arco is awesome…EVERYTHING. September is really nice. October can be rainy. Almost as a rule, everything under 6c that is only one pitch long will be extremely polished. 

Kyle Thompson wrote:

Thanks for all the recommendations! We're considering Arco, Italy now, as well. Thoughts? Experiences? 

Arco is a good choice, many crags and sport routes, also few classical ones.

Just to give you an idea the Crag guidebook is 600 pages, the multipitch is 2 vol.s of 300 each.

There are many climbers all over the world so also the social time is great 

I live quite close, so let me know if you need more betas.