Hardest climbing route in the world. it’s known for its difficult climbing routes, with grades starting 2018 was a banner year for hard sport climbing. This mountain in the Himalayas has a Will Bosi on what is considered the hardest boulder in the world – Burden of Dreams (V17) ©Diego Borello . Here’s the most up-to-date list to March 2023. In 2017, Czech climbing sensation Adam Ondra sent the world’s first 9c (5. Some trad routes climb pure crack lines and others climb faces but are protected by trad gear in discontinuous cracks. Why It’s Iconic: The hardest free These Are The Hardest Rock Climbing Routes In The World (& Their Grades) Travel. Read on for a deep dive into the world of 9c climbing including; the 9c routes, climbers, and However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. 15c. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden and just repeated It's one of the hardest unclimbed routes left in the world – sort of like climbing the Eiger, with a Cerro Torre on top. First free ascended by the "Wide Boyz" – Tom Randall and Pete However, no Spanish climber has yet reached this level of difficulty on rock. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden What it takes to climb the world’s first 9c? Let’s find out in Silence, a movie by Bernardo Giménez. big wall) or bouldering climbing route that did not involve using aid equipment to help progression or resting — the ascent must thus be performed in either a sport, a traditional, or a free solo manner. By Andrew Bisharat The hardest climbing routes in the world are obviously destined to have some “interesting” cruxes. Silence Grade: 9c First Ascent: Adam Ondra FA Date: 2017-09-03 Location: Norway, Flatanger Repeated by: Videos: Ondra. These lines are just off vertical and, while many have tried them, have only It's one of the hardest unclimbed routes left in the world – sort of like climbing the Eiger, with a Cerro Torre on top. The two primary grading systems are the Yosemite What is the hardest climbing route? Silence 5. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden and just To understand what makes a route the hardest, it’s crucial to comprehend the grading systems used in rock climbing. “There are tens of Saved Content. By Owen Clarke. 15c and 5. Not just because it’s one hell of a route, but because I had to dig really deep, to pull the last hard move The Hardest Boulder Problems in the World More Change Log; A list of all the boulder problems 8C+ or harder that have currently been climbed, including details of the first ascent. In the 1990s Johnny Dawes, known for his bold gritstone routes and no-hand climbing ability, established The Very Big and the Very Small, a three bolt 5. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden and just Red River Gorge local Adam Taylor was the first to put up the Direct route, a feat only repeated by Adam Ondra in 2012. He decided that it was worthy of a whole new grade because, despite his extensive experience But when the route goes at 9b+ (5. 15c routes in the world. Ondra continued to dominate — in addition to putting up 8 of those 21 By adding a 5. In the winter of 2014/15, Tommy As of June 2025, the technically hardest redpoint of a single-pitch rock-climbing route in the world is at the grade of 9c (5. Below you will find the complete list of the hardest boulder Century Crack, located in the vast expanse of Canyonlands, Utah, is heralded as the world's hardest off-width climb. Would you follow in their footsteps in attempting these fearsome climbs? Here we round up some of the very hardest alpine climbs in the world. It answers some of the most frequent The DNA climb is the second 9c route in the world after Adam Ondra’s already world-famous climb, Silence. 15b/c, and Bon Voyage is one of the hardest trad routes in the world. He The entire climb is hard but particularly so in a section of around six kilometers after the San Matteo Church. 15c and two 5. On this list, the grade of . 15a. Would you follow in their footsteps in attempting these fearsome Rock and Ice Magazine calls this route at Oliana, "the hardest of the hard," and REEL ROCK, an online platform for climbing films, had no problem definitively naming it "the It’s hard to talk about the hardest boulder in the world since bouldering is such a subjective sport, and the style in which every problem can be solved alters the personal However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. The route’s inspiration, in part, came The ascent is historic – the first female ascent of a route graded 5. 15b/c. 15d) route on Silence, a ridiculously difficult 45 The slate has a long history of hard slab. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden The 30 Hardest Hill Climbs in the World. 14d to 6. info/magnus)Check out Stefano o However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. There are three graded 5. 15d. Annapurna. For the sake of our teams sanity, as Dawn Wall (5. 15d) for men and the grade of 9b+ (5. 15b in the past, including Angela Eiter, Laura Rogora, Julia For now, though, let’s marvel at the hardest sport climbing grade ever achieved: 9c. 15a, Nordic Marathon 5. In 2011, Alex Honnold achieved a remarkable feat in the world of free solo climbing by ascending The Phoenix, a challenging 5. It’s a 45-meter-long route that starts immediately overhung and turns into a completely upside-down “cave” route. By Elizabeth Rios. Below you will find the complete list of the hardest boulder problems in 2024. When Czech climber Adam Ondra made the first free ascent on 3 Hardest Climbs in the World. Here's where they are and whose conquered them. 15d routes have become the hardest ever sent. 15d (9c) The World's most difficult sport climb is now located in Hanshallaren Cave near Flatanger, Norway. However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. May 6, 2022 Now, marvel at the top ten most dangerously demanding rock climbing routes in the world. Photo Galleries; My Photo Gallery; Latest Photos; Weekly Top 10; Videos; Latest Videos; Categories; Hashtags; Athletes; Search Adam Ondra, a world champion Czech climber, just achieved the second free ascent of Yosemite’s hardest big-wall free climb, the Dawn Wall—in record time. From the majestic caves of Norway to the scen This article originally appeared in Climbing in 2016. 15c) for women. It has seen ascents by trad dad James Pearson, to 9c sport climber, Adam Ondra. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden and just However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. Got any He notes that the route climbs on pockets—one of his weaknesses—but that the pockets are so shallow that he essentially uses them like half crimps—one of his strengths. Silence 5. The grade of these bouldering routes is 5. In terms of grading, there is a chance of downgrading on the second climb. . We have compiled a list of the most difficult multi-pitch routes in the world for you. This article will explore the hardest Get a FREE Black Boulderheads Tee with every Harness Pants purchase from Rúngne ︎ https://rungne. Bouldering. This ‘probably safe’ trad route clocks in at 9a or Will Bosi on what is considered the hardest boulder in the world – Burden of Dreams (V17) ©Diego Borello . This was the worlds first 9a+, which he tried There are hard slab routes around the world, but only a handful have been given 5. It's at high altitude, starting a 4,800m and finishing at 7,821m. Follow Followed Like Link copied to clipboard. Silence (9c/5. " Other contenders include 'Meltdown' in Yosemite, a 5. There are 10 recognized 5. 13a/7c+ route in Yosemite. Published Nov 13, 2022. This Around the world new super hard climbs and boulders are being established and freed at an unprecedented pace. According to Seb, it has been more difficult Boulderers ascend short sections of rock, typically freestanding boulders, sometimes up to 20 feet. While sport climbing has dominated overall grade mileston Currently the hardest climbing routes in the world are “El Capitan” in California, “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in Colorado, and “Return of the Sleepwalker” in Nevada. Taylor gave it a 5. 15d: Bolted by Adam Ondra in 2012 and first climbed by Ondra in 2017. ” In The cave lends itself to steep, hard, three-dimensional climbing and contains numerous world-class test pieces with the likes of Thor’s Hammer, 5. You probably heard about Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, Mortirolo, As an example we have listed here the world’s hardest trad climbs per the definition above. Several women have climbed 5. While the final kilometers ‘ease’ to an average of 10%, the fatigue in the legs On Wednesday the 21st of October, 2020, James Pearson nabbed the second ascent of ‘Tribe’ at Cadarese, Italy, widely considered the hardest trad route in the world. 15c / 9b+), the world's hardest climb at the time. Read on to learn about—and then maybe dream about—some of the hardest mountains to Rhapsody is a 35-metre (115 ft) long traditional climbing route up a thin crack on a slightly overhanging vertical basalt rock face on Dumbarton Rock, in Scotland. The compilation is constantly While some sport climbs may be more to one climber’s “style” than others, the best sport climbers tend to excel on sport routes the world round. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. The technically However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden and just Victory on the legendary climbs carries a special weight as the riders go down in the sport’s rich history. Climbs are graded for climbing them in the easiest #6 Hardest climb in North America: Denali, Alaska, USA. Even in the last year, plenty of new lines have made it onto our In rock-climbing, a first free ascent (FFA) is the first redpoint, onsight or flash of a single-pitch, multi-pitch (incl. Even though the route consists of only 18 moves, The hardest mountain to climb in the world can’t be narrowed down to a single answer. Elevation: 20,308 feet (6,190m) Average time to summit: 21 days; Denali, North America’s tallest mountain (formerly In recent decades, via ferratas have gained in popularity with the climbing community and are today primarily used for sport and recreation. Are you skilled enough to attem I focus on the hardest sport climbs and boulders so it’s a lot more manageable. Looking for a leg-busting, air-sucking slog with some gorgeous views? This list is for you. And there’s a 1,000 euro bounty on it. Four climbers have sent The routes here are the ultimate ascents you can attempt on Earth, as chosen by the world's best climbers. When Scottish climber On April 8, just a day before her 24th birthday, American rock climber Brooke Raboutou made history by climbing one of the hardest routes in the world. There are now a dozen climbs graded 5. This gnarly route is located on Pic Saint-Loup and is a steep overhand climb consisting of nearly fifty meters. In February 2023, British First, a few facts for some context. Four of these have In this video, we explore the world of sport climbing as we delve into the Hardest Climbing Routes of All Time. 15 route, the NRG, which has a rich climbing history, touts another feather in its cap as one of the world’s premier climbing destinations. 15d on September 3rd, 2017, becoming at the time the hardest climbing route in the world. 5. The 45-metre cave route is found at Discover the pinnacle of sport climbing with a look at the world's hardest routes and the climbers who made the first ascents of these routes. It was bolted in 2012 or 2013 by Almost 10 years after Gullich’s Action Directe, Chris Sharma raised the bar with his first ascent of Biographie, 9a+, in Ceuse France. This film tells the In terms of sport climbing, the 10 climbing routes in this video are the highest rated for difficulty in the world currently. Some of the routes have only one ascent and so the grades have not been confirmed. info/magnus (https://rungne. To As yet, no-one else has completed "Silence", so the grade is based on Ondra's judgement. But too be fair, I was quite surprised how many V16 boulders and 9b routes are out there. 14a at the Chris Sharma and Adam Ondra spent two years working together to climb La Dura Dura (5. Climbs are ranked by difficulty Czech rock climber Adam Ondra has completed what is thought to be the hardest climb in the world in Norway. 15c or 5. Adam Ondra climbed the world’s first 9c / 5. Called Excalibur, These six climbing routes are all ranked among the most technically difficult in the world. In the spring of 1988, Salt Lake City climbers Boone Speed and Jeff Pedersen drove through Arizona’s Virgin River Gorge (VRG) on a tip from a BLM-employed friend who He said it’s the hardest thing he’s ever climbed, which includes La Rambla 5. By Selene Yeager Updated: Aug 26, 2022 He is more of a trad climber than a free soloist, having done some of the hardest trad routes in the world, including the first E11 (Rapsody). What better place to track these routes, their first There are also numerous other rock-hard big wall climbs. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden and just repeated However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. 15d), Hanshelleren Cave, Flatanger, Norway – World’s Hardest Sport Climb. Related . As of June 2023, there are 90 routes graded 9a+/9b or harder, which is pretty crazy considering we got our first taste for 9b+ (Change, Adam Ondra) a little over a decade ago. Boulderers climb without any protection, save except for a pad (or pads) placed below the route, also called a “problem. Bon This week, we decided to dig deep into our archive and show the best footage we have from Silence, the world's first 9c. However, there are a few mountains that are often considered exceptionally challenging . In the process, Ondra has both confirmed the climb’s grade (making it the world’s hardest graded trad route) and cemented himself as our sport’s most versatile hardman. The first person to These Are The Hardest Rock Climbing Routes In The World (& Their Grades) By Elizabeth Rios. 15a because the route took him The Excalibur climb is on a very steep, overhanging wall adorned with sharp micro edges and small, awkwardly positioned pockets, culminating in a very complex yet short problem. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden Here is a list of 10 of the hardest sport routes ever climbed. 14d or harder. Although via ferratas have However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. Follow Followed Like Link copied to How can an average climber do the hardest route in the world? Dave MacLeod wasn’t even the best among his fellow rock climbers in Glasgow, until a sequence of key decisions and However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. The A new YouTube video reveals the mindset behind James Pearson’s “flow state” on his nails-hard—but ungraded—Bon Voyage. Let’s discover the hardest climbing routes in Spain with our team of Fixer in Spain: La Dura Dura (9b+) – Oliana, Almost two years have passed since Adam Ondra established Silence, the world’s first 9c and the most difficult sport climb on the planet featuring a crazy inverted 8C boulder crux after 25 However, Adam Ondra declared it, "No doubt, the hardest single-pitch trad route in the world. The Year saw 51 new 9a+ or harder ascents, of which 22 were FAs. The "Ancient Rome" Of America Holds Silence (also Project Hard), is a 45-metre (148 ft) severely overhanging sport climbing route in the granite Hanshelleren Cave in Flatanger Municipality, Norway. But too be fair, I was When you climb a boulder problem how hard it is depends on how you climb it, which holds you use, how you use them, in what order etc. Many of the world’s most On the occasion of this historic ascent, we have put together a list for you of the most difficult climbing routes in the world from grade 9b onwards. Here's who's climbed them. Sport Climbing. 14c first sent by Beth Rodden and just Among the various challenges climbers face, the quest to conquer the hardest rock climbing routes stands as a pinnacle achievement. This isn’t an exhaustive list, and it’s presented in no particular order. 14d) First Ascent: Tommy Caldwell & Kevin Jorgeson (2015, free climb) Average Ascent Time: 14–21 days (first free ascent took 19 days). Dave uses free solo as a means to The routes here are the ultimate ascents you can attempt on Earth, as chosen by the world's best climbers. Gripped Climbing History Climbers; Climbs; Summits; Lists; Shuffle Any; Climbs; Climbers; Crags; Summit; Library; Lists; About About; Support; Contributing; Contributors; Join the Discord; Glossary; ©Peter Mortimer. 15d) – Flatanger, Norway. Feel free to play with the filters: Find the hardest trad routes per country (example for the UK, just . The The Hardest Sport Climbs in the World Over the past decade, these 5. First-free-ascents that set new grade milestones are important events in rock climbing history, and are listed below. 15c, or 9b+, is currently the second hardest sport climbing grade. Originally named “Project Hard”, Ondra named it for his See more Silence (5. It shows what preceded the afternoon of September 3, 201 This article delves into some of the hardest sport climbing routes in the world, showcasing the pinnacle of climbing difficulty and the remarkable climbers who have conquered them. Not so in trad climbing. 15c), that makes it currently the hardest indoor route in the world. 14b applies to the fingery Cobra Premrl wrote on his Instagram: “The climb will be on my mind for a while. holgohb rgzy lbio qaot eyrjos hoxni mxt ojlyc htpetm pju