__FOREWORD BY JEAN-MARC WINCKEL:__ Nature, travelling, moving, dreaming, friendship, trust, faith, complexity, difficulty, focus, energy, freedom, patience, flow, motivation, breathing, spirituality, perfect moment, experience and feeling alive, these are just a few of the words and phrases that can be used to describe the sport we all love so much.
Climbing is a constant fight between your body and your mind. Between your feelings and your thoughts. Between your physical and mental abilities and the structures a piece of rock challenges you with. These are the factors that make grades problematic and relative and why you should not be too focused on them. They are just guidelines to give you an idea about the difficulty. Sometimes you walk up to a problem, the weather conditions are perfect, you are feeling good, you are concentrated, you are prepared and the movements flow. But sometimes you have to work really hard on a problem and it can be quite frustrating. But that’s the game. The most beautiful moments in the life of a climber are those when you succeed after days, weeks, months or even years of hard work. The moments when you can enjoy the success of all your efforts together with all your friends, sharing the same passion. No matter what grade you are climbing. The most important thing is to be honest to yourself.
Wolfgang Güllich (24th October 1960 - 31st August 1992), one of my biggest role models in climbing, once said: “Compared with other sports, it is arrogant to say that climbing is more than just a sport. Beyond your physical power, climbing gives you the great opportunity to experience a fantastic nature, to travel to interesting countries, to hang out with friends in a cafe without coaches or officials telling you what to do. In this respect, climbing is also a way of life. ... I experience my life so intensely and completely. I’ve been allowed to meet so many people and see so many countries. I’ve been allowed to look into the most hidden corners of my conscience by placing myself in extreme situations. I got to know myself this way so I consider everything as a gift. The fear of death is not strong, but I will defend my life vigorously.”
The “Wanterbaach” in Berdorf is one beautiful and very unique sandstone spot to practice this amazing sport. Please, respect this beautiful nature. Do not leave any garbage. Many thanks to all of you.
Stay strong. Stay focused. May the force be with you ... and never forget: It’s all in your mind!
Jean-Marc
__FOREWORD BY THE AUTHOR:__ I have been climbing on the Wanterbaach crag in Berdorf for over 10 years now. From the very first time I visited the crag I was stunned by the incredible beauty of the site and the special atmosphere that anyone visiting will remark.
Climbing on the sandstone routes here was initially tricky as most of my climbing had been done on limestone, the need for a new approach to this different rock was immediately evident. But the superb nature of the rock and its characteristic to practically never polish and provide great friction was soon clear and the pleasure of climbing here developed quickly.
About seven years ago the site was completely re-equipped with new bolts and lower-offs, a very welcome project that offered new reassurance about the safety of the equipment.
If you would like to know more about the history of the routes at Berdorf, I can advise you to check the web site www.climbing.lu, where there is a complete database of all routes (including many combination routes) with some descriptions of them, mentioning, among other things, the route setter and some first ascents.
Please make sure that you respect the area and treat the site with the respect it deserves, ensuring that you collect and remove all your litter. Please avoid setting up all day top-ropes, everyone would like to climb certain routes, so it would be nice if you could avoid monopolising certain routes.
The crag at Wanterbaach is a site in which climbing has been permitted at a both local and national level, this permission could be removed at any time and as such we would ask all of you to behave in a manner as to preserve access to this fabulous site into the future. The area in which the crag is situated in a European Natural Protection Zone (NATURA 2000), and as such is highly sensitive. I ask each of you to consider this when coming to climb here and treat the entire area with the respect that it deserves, and like that we’ll be able to climb here for many years to come.
Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport. You are advised to have the fundamental knowledge
in order to climb as safely as possible and be adequately equipped for climbing on sports routes. Please be as careful as possible in order to avoid stupid and potentially fatal accidents. The author of this guide cannot be held responsible for any accidents arising from the activity of climbing at the site.
Please don’t forget to bring you climbing federation membership and an ID as you may well be asked to produce the two. You will be expelled from the site if you fail to do so when asked.
For any questions or comments you may have you can contact me at:
[email protected]
Please respect the magnificent site at Berdorf and enjoy your climbing there.
Thanks,
