Climbing in Soyhières (Jura francophone) **** II

 

 

 

 

Difficult and overhanging routes

Until the year 1988, not one route existed on the cliffs above the village of Soyhières. Only a year later, however, Philippe Steulet could climb the Mines de Rien 8b+ route, which was, at the time, the most difficult sport-climbing route of Switzerland. One of the unique characteristics of Soyhières is one extremely overhanging and high wall, which provides very hard and exhausting routes. Records have been set here by Reto Aschwand in March of 2003 when he ascended the Rammstein 8c route and by Cédric Lachat when he ascended the Temps Difficile 8c+ route in autumn of 2007. In addition to the numerous hard routes, there are also some easier, but still good, routes ranging from level 6b to level 6c. The section to the right is rarely visited, the primary reason being that the trails are difficult to follow due to the underbrush. The south facing cliff and the compact chalk make this climbing spot in the Jura worth a visit.