March 22, 2026 - Check mate.

Last week I started trying a project in a very little known area and decided to not post any details until I finish it. I had tried it briefly once in 2023 and even though I had added it to my wantlist, I hadn't gone back to it until last week. Three years I could barely do any of the moves, but last week I managed to unlock all the separate moves and even made some good links. Only three very hard moves, and even harder when trying to do them in a row, so I didn't manage to get away with the send yet. I was determined to go back this weekend and went back yesterday, joined by Jan (Gorrebeeck) who needed some time off in the forest. Still no send, but at least it was a good training, trying all the moves over and over again.

This morning, my body felt sore from trying hard the day before, but I was going to meet Jan in Boissy-aux-Cailles as we agreed to climb a bit in Boissy Le Plaid, trying to avoid the crowds. Not long after I parked my car, Jan wrote me that he overslept, so I went ahead, thinking to use the time to try "Échec", one of the few boulders that I had never tried before due to several reasons. It wasn't after a long time that I had done the separate moves, except for the topout. Doing the crux move again, letting go of the feet and placing the right heel, proved to be real challenge. I don't have long legs so it was nearly impossible to take the oblique left hand crimp exactly how I needed, making the crux feel so much harder and slipping off at crucial moments many times. After a longer rest though, it suddenly all clicked. I broke through and topped out. It was a huge relief standing on top of the boulder, as I was very close to still fall off at the mantle.

Fontainebleau - Boissy Le Plaid - Échec 7C(7B+)