Brussels climbers are well aware that climbing options in our beloved capital are often limited to the various existing indoor gyms. And yet, there is a place that allows you to discover the joys of bouldering right in the heart of the city: the Pont du Diable.
At 38°C, I'd rather sip a mojito
There's no secret to performing well. You have to train, train, and train some more. You need to eat well and know how to rest too. But that's not all! The conditions still need to be right. As soon as it gets a little too hot, a little too humid, the slopers become unmanageable and the crimps slip right off. Add to that a heatwave not seen since 1949, and climbing becomes a sport we can safely put on the back burner.
Seriously though, at 38°C, I'd rather enjoy a Mojito than lock myself in a packed bouldering gym with sluggish air conditioning. Because yes, when you live in Brussels and your schedule doesn't allow you to escape to cooler climes to fill your head with unforgettable memories and wear down your skin on rugged sandstone or granite, we Brussels climbers have no choice but to suffocate in the chalk-dusted air of the climbing gyms.
The place to climb
And yet, right within our capital, there exists a little slice of paradise for both initiated and seasoned climbers. It stays cool and dry all year round, and even if you can't see the sky when you look up, you are still outdoors. It's a small bridge located in the Woluwe park. The setting is intimate and the conditions are always top-notch! This little slice of paradise lives up to its name: Le Pont du Diable.
It's the ideal spot to climb cool all summer long, but beware! The vault of this small bridge is covered in sprayed concrete that grips your fingers sharply. In other words: your skin wears down quickly, but you can appreciate the abundance of hooky crimps, small pinches, and tangled underclings that offer a surprising style, yet always highly demanding. There is something for everyone.
Copyright @Marin Gatellier
Under the bridge, two fine lines face each other. The "easier" one at 7B traverses the bridge close to the ground and ends at a hole in the wall. The full traverse, to the other end, sits between 7C and 8A. On the other side, a long traverse spanning the full width of the structure raises the bar even further: 8B. There is also plenty to warm up on; on either side of the two traverses, large stone blocks are adorned with short problems in the 5 and 6 grades.
Granted, the number of routes is not the strongest point of this heatwave-proof spot, but don't be fooled — it will take you a great many attempts to conquer this piece of rock. Each traverse has its own universe and each offers a surprising number of methods and possibilities. After several years, summer and winter alike, in this dark little corner, brushing its unsmeary holds, I still haven't exhausted it. In short, to push your level and your determination, Le Pont du Diable is "the place to climb" all summer long, and throughout the rest of the year too, for those who don't mind the cold.
Breaking through the barriers of your progression
To boost my training I don't hesitate to hang my pair of MaxGrip pull-up handles in my stairwell and anywhere else it's possible to hook them. They offer several types of grip. From small crimps to jugs via pinches, there is something to pull on at every level. Another essential home training tool: the Beastmaker-1000 and 2000 fingerboards. One is suited to a moderate level (Beastmaker-1000), featuring numerous crimps, two-finger pockets and two large jugs; the other (Beastmaker-2000), is perfect for serious finger and forearm strengthening. It has no jugs — instead, two pairs of notoriously terrible slopers that are virtually unholable and will demand intense training dedication. Both come with a smartphone app for workouts at any level. Which goes to show that a Brussels climber, trapped by their urban schedule, has every means to break through the barriers of their progression.
Finding beauty in the acceptance of failure
Isn't that a bit too much, you might ask? Yes indeed, it's a lot, but I am a firm believer in intense training that always pushes the boundaries of effort, and therefore of performance. By respecting your body, allowing adequate rest periods, maintaining a balanced diet, and staying more than adequately hydrated, the body is capable of a great deal. The only limiting factor is the mind. A steely mindset is driven by passion, which for me is born from beauty. It might raise a smile, but I see beauty in pushing beyond oneself and in the discovery of the unknown. I see beauty in the quality of movement and in the physical expression during an ascent. I see beauty in the acceptance of failure, but also in the joy that floods a climber on topping out the crux, after dozens of attempts. And that is where my motivation lies.
This little Pont du Diable doesn't look like much; a little gloomy in winter and somewhat cramped compared to the arrogance of a well-equipped gym, but within it lies the secret of a mirror whose only limit is your own reflection.
The place to climb