Bastion de Cadiol · Caroux · France
A short, homogeneous gneiss arête of about 5b on the Bastion de Cadiol, reached through the woods from the Caroux plateau. Slabs and steps on the ridge with fine views from the top. The last two pitches are short and usually linked.
Climbing mode: Big type, screen kept awake, tick pitches as you go.
Highest point 970 m above sea level (camptocamp route 1858657).
5cVI5.94 pitches · 100 mBail not documented
Arête pas claire is a four-pitch, roughly 100 m gneiss route on the Bastion de Cadiol, the first route you reach when coming down the Cadiol ravine from the plateau. It follows slabs and the south-west arête at a consistent 5b to 5c, with two-bolt belays throughout. It is a pleasant beginner's multipitch with a walk-off, but the only documentation is a single camptocamp page and two outings in November 2025 (one a club outing), all from the same contributor.
The atlas doesn't show topos: they are the work of the people who bolt and document these routes. See the topo in Le Caroux escalades.
| Pitch | Grade | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | 5bVI-5.8 | 25 m | Slab start to a two-bolt belay on a platform. |
| P2 | 5b+VI-/VI5.8+ | 25 m | Go left onto the west face and the arête to a two-bolt belay with a ring. |
| P3 | 5cVI5.9 | 30 m | Slab trending left with a small overhang to a two-bolt belay. Easily linked with pitch 4. |
| P4 | 5b+VI-/VI5.8+ | 15 m | Straight up above the belay over two steep steps to the summit belay (two bolts). |
Drive to the Col des Avels car park above the Orb valley and walk down the lane to the gîte at Lafage. A longer approach from below starts in the village of Colombières-sur-Orb.
About 45 min from Lafage, arriving from above. At the entrance to Lafage take the GR westwards; after a steep climb it reaches the Caroux plateau. At the Signal du Bastion (a large cairn of stone slabs) leave the GR on a red-marked path heading south. Where it enters the forest, at an unobvious junction, leave the red marks for old yellow ones on the left, which lead into the Cadiol ravine. Go down the ravine (slippery at first with wet leaves); the Bastion rises on your left. The route is the first one you reach going down, with its name written on a stone and bolts visible. From below, Colombières to the Bastion is about 1h10 via the Gorges de Colombières path.
Loading map
The point marks the crag, not the exact start of the route.
Coordinates · crag
Parking
Point from camptocamp waypoint 42472 (Bastion de Cadiol)
Contains the route point and parking.
Points from published sources, not surveyed.
Coordinates: 43.59509, 3.00107 (crag) · Parking: 43.61468, 3.00616
From the top, a path on the left (west) leads easily back into the Cadiol ravine. Then return to Lafage and the Col des Avels the way you came, or down to Colombières.
Bail not documented
Retreat is not documented. The belays are two bolts (one with a ring) and the pitches are 15 to 30 m, so abseiling from them on a single rope looks feasible, but no source describes it. The normal way off is a short walk from the top.
France
112Emergency; sends PGHM or CRS mountain rescue
Emergency; sends PGHM or CRS mountain rescue
Position of the crag
43.59509, 3.00107
Marks the crag, not the route: give route and pitch.
Say what happened, how many are hurt, and where you are. Checked October 2026 (sourceofficial sources).
Quickdraws; the route is described as very well equipped. No number of quickdraws or rope length is given; a single rope is enough for the walk-off.
South-west facing, topping out at about 970 m. The arête is not sheltered from the north-west wind, which made a November 2025 club outing cold. Spring and autumn are the usual seasons in the Caroux (inferred); autumn colours on the approach are a highlight.
Forecast · next 7 days · 970 m
Loading the forecast.
| Measure | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Low °C | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rain mm | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chance of rain % | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Strongest gusts km/h | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Model forecast for 970 m. It cannot tell you whether the rock is dry. Data: Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0.
Time plan · 4 pitches
Working out sunrise and sunset.
An estimate. Queues and route finding cost time, and shaded walls go dark before sunset. Local time (Central European time), flat horizon.
Sun on the wall · SW-facing
Working out the sunlit hours for this month.
Sun on the wallDaylight, wall in shade● Usual season
From the aspect alone; terrain is ignored. Local time, 15th of each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar (usual season) | Apr (usual season) | May (usual season) | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct (usual season) | Nov (usual season) | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean daily high °C | 5 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| Mean daily low °C | −1 | −1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 2 | −0 |
| Rain days 1 mm or more | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
● usual season. 1991-2020 averages at about 984 m; rain is for a 10–25 km grid cell. Weather and climate data: Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0.
No reports yet.
Around 5c · about 4 pitches
France · Gorges de la Jonte
The pillar that gives the sector its name, climbed in four short pitches on grey, well-featured rock. The third pitch is a sustained vertical crack and the best of the route. It is the usual first multipitch for visitors because the bolts are closer than elsewhere in the gorge.
5cVI5.95cVI5.94 pitches100 m
Spain · Riglos & Agüero (Mallos)
The best-known route on the Mallo Colorado. Two steep, juggy panza pitches have a well-protected boulder move, giving a short taste of real Riglos steepness at a friendly grade.
5cVI5.95cVI5.94 pitches150 m
Italy · Monte Argentario
Four pitches on the sea-facing wall of Capo d'Uomo: a featured slab, an easy linking pitch, and two vertical, athletic pitches on sculpted grey limestone to the crest below the old watchtower. The final wall is the highlight. The lower pitches need care with holds.
5cVI5.95cVI5.94 pitches110 m
Read the cautions
Slovenia · Osp
The easiest line on Osp's famous overhanging Big Wall, following an obvious right-slanting ramp, the only non-overhanging part of the face. It is in shade until about 11:30 in July.
5cVI5.95cVI5.94 pitches110 m
Read the cautions
Researched and aggregated by AI from published sources, last compiled October 2026. It can be wrong, and bolts, anchors and access change: check a current guidebook and read the disclaimer.