// Trip Reports  

Report name	Shrewsbury High School - Orpierre 2004
Date submitted	Apr-04

This Adventureworks trip to the south of France for some Hot Rock and Via Ferrata sport has been a resounding success. The base for this was sole use of a Gite in Orpierre. This is a beautiful medieval village, which has almost 300 rock climbs within a half hour walk.

Though the girls had not lead climbed in the UK by judicious choice of area and routes all of them lead two routes on the second day, and top roped at least six further routes in the sun.

The first of the Via Ferratas was completed on the third day in stunning surroundings and warm sun, all the group enjoying the journey traversing half way up a crag. The day being completed by three rock climbs adjacent to the via ferrata, whilst an eagle circled overhead!

The following day was so wonderful that after a morning of leading and top roping harder routes we had to find a shady area for the afternoon / evenings climbing, to prevent burning but still in t shirts!

Then we had a damp day (these even happen in the south of France!) but a cultural and shopping day lead into taking in a local summit, and a little mini rugby passing on the way down (rescuing the ball from a stream being the best laugh). This evening we all had a pizza in the villages’ pizzeria, and a fantastic three-course meal was enjoyed.

The final day was to be the big Via Ferrata, though this was again damp, so we completed a shortened version, which still included the awesome 200-foot long cable bridge, and took five hours everyone was impressed!

Inevitably the return to the airport on the final day was under blue skies.

Ian Fenton, Expedition Leader