During harsh winter periods and all the conditions conducive to waterfall formations are met, it is possible to practice ice climbing with us.
Freezing at -5 -10, or more, is not enough, there must first have been a period of rain which will create runoff and feed small resurgences which will flow down the wall.
Of course, the waterfalls could be frozen or frozen, without having sufficient ice thickness to grip.
THE CHANXHE WATERFALLS
Location and access:
Liège- Chanxhe - Sprimont
From the Chanxhe bridge, go up the N 678 towards Sprimont for 600 meters. Take rue de Picopré on the left which goes up to the quarry, located just before an isolated house.
In January 1987, during the premieres in Chanxhe, we were lucky to have exceptional conditions, rain, frost, slow thaw, followed by severe frosts between -12°C and -14°C.
12-01-1987
The Belgians are shivering in January 1987.
Today, the minimum temperature is –14.6°C in Koksijde, –16.9°C in Zwin (Knokke-Heist), –19.4°C in Thimister, –20.0°C in Rochefort… A Elsenborn (Bütgenbach), for two days, the maxima have remained below –15°C: –15.1°C on the 11th and –15.5°C on the 12th.
Particularly in autumn, we will notice the quite considerable flows of water which seep along the rocks and which are obviously conducive to the formation of our waterfalls.
You should also know that the vegetation very quickly regains its rights and that you will undoubtedly have to “clean up” before you can hold on. (Bracket and pruning shears could be useful to you)
Description :
This old quarry presents a large excavation, oriented to the northwest, at the bottom of which stands an austere vertical wall, 30 to 40 meters high.
At the far left, it forms a large dihedral with an inclination varying from 60 to 80 degrees. This beautiful waterfall was named, “T’es to Evôye” rough translation “you’re completely crazy” and on the far right “la Grande Cascade” and its variants, a must.
The face conceals three small cavities, from left to right, the first is located +/- 10 meters from the ground, the second a few meters next to it, a little lower and the third opens practically at the base of the rock.
The quarry is cut in two by the path, in the left part (uphill) you arrive directly at a small pond where a waterfall flows in stages.
A little further on at the bottom of a small cirque we discover a vertical waterfall, approximately 6 meters high.
When it is partly frozen, it forms superb concretions, ephemeral sculptures shaped by the subtle action of water, spray, frost and wind.