What is dry tooling, a spectacular mix of climbing and mountaineering, the best practitioners of which are found in the Pyrenees?

The town of Troubat, in the Hautes-Pyrénées, will host the 12th edition of the Dry Tooling Contest on Sunday October 13. An event not to be missed for all thrill-seekers and enthusiasts. Organized by the Occitanie Regional Committee of Alpine and Mountain Clubs, with the support of local alpine clubs, this day promises to be rich in discoveries and spectacle.

Dry tooling is a discipline that emerged from ice climbing, it combines rock climbing and mountaineering techniques. Practitioners, equipped with ice axes and crampons, tackle routes on a cliff, while using equipment similar to traditional climbing. Initially developed in the 1990s as training for mountaineering, dry tooling quickly became a sport in its own right, offering unique sensations. The French Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs (FFCAM) ​​plays a key role in the development of ice climbing in France. Becoming a delegated federation for this discipline in December 2022, it is responsible for structuring and promoting the practice of ice climbing, of which dry tooling is a component.

Competition and initiation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Participants will attempt to qualify on around ten routes. The top six men and women will compete in the final to determine the winners based on the highest hold achieved. The first in each category will be rewarded thanks to event partners. At the same time, introductory workshops will be offered on dedicated routes under the supervision of our experienced supervisors. Open to everyone, from 14 years old, with knowledge of climbing, loan of crampons and ice axes included. Participants will discover the techniques and sensations of dry tooling. Come and live this unique experience and meet enthusiasts in the accessible setting of the Pyrenean foothills.