What Is The Hardest Rock Climbing Route In The World (6 Routes)

What Is The Hardest Rock Climbing Route In The World 2022


Today, we’ll simply discuss what is the hardest rock climbing route in the world?

The people who have climbed them and the storey of how they came to be.

We’ll also discuss the most difficult projects currently being worked on, as well as the most difficult indoor climbing route!

Many of these routes are significantly different from traditional sport climbs, and they must push not only the difficulty, but also the length and style.


Short Answer What Is The Hardest Rock Climbing Route In The World?


Silence 5.15d (9c) Currently the world’s hardest sport climb, located in Hanshallaren Cave near Flatanger, Norway.

It is the world’s only route with a projected rating of 5.15d (9c), and it was bolted in 2012 or 2013 by Adam Ondra, who climbed it for the first time on September 3rd, 2017.

For a more detailed analysis of the data, continue reading below the table. Enjoy!


What Is The Hardest Rock Climbing Route In The World? ( 6 Routes)

What Is The Hardest Rock Climbing Route In The World

These six climbing routes are all among the most technically challenging, but a closer look at what they entail reveals.

Just how gnarly they are—and how good the climbers who accomplished them must be.


1. Silence, Hanshelleren Cave, Flatanger, Norway

At 2017, Adam Ondra sent the first 5.15d-rated route on a granite rock face in Hanshelleren Cave, One of the best climbing sites in the world with a 260-foot overhanging wall.

Dawn Wall is scored 5.14d on the YDS, for example. Ondra’s four-year quest to climb the 150-foot route was originally dubbed Project Hard

(Since he succeeded in climbing it, it’s been considered the hardest single pitch of rock climbing), but he later renamed it Silence.

If more climbers are able to complete the route, the ranking may alter, but for now, Ondra retains solo bragging rights.


2. Dawn Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, CA

Because to Honnold‘s recent free solo ascent of the route Freerider, El Capitan is one of the most well-known climbing sites.

However, there is another area of the rock that is significantly more difficult. With more pitches than any other free-climbing route on El Capital combined,

The staggeringly steep, terrifyingly blank Dawn Wall is statistically one of the toughest climbs in the world.

Tommy Caldwell made the first free ascent up 3,000 vertical feet in 2015 after seven years and 19 days on the wall (using climbing equipment for protection but not to help progress).

Caldwell described the experience as “like stepping off the edge of the earth.”


3. Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand, India

For the past 30 years, people have attempted to climb Mount Meru, a nearly 21,000-foot-tall mountain in the Garhwal Himalayas, through the Shark’s Fin path.

Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk ultimately reached the summit in 2011, after two failed attempts.

They had to turn back less than 400 metres from the summit in 2008.The route was called for the northeast face’s last 1,500-foot overhanging stretch of slick granite.

But there’s 4,000 feet of incredibly tricky ice, rock, and big-wall climbing ahead of you,

All of which you’ll have to manage in temps that plunge dangerously below zero as you approach closer to the summit.


4. Alasha, Mallorca, Spain

After swimming for four hours along Mallorca’s northern coast, climber Chris Sharma came across the route that would become known as Alasha (named after his daughter).

He spent five years working the route, which he described as “a gorgeous piece of stone in a very dramatic location,”

Falling into the lake on a regular basis from the toughest spot about 60 feet above. He ultimately despatched it in 2016,

Exactly ten years after he first climbed Mallorca’s Es Pontas, which has only been climbed twice since.

While Sharma did not give this route a rating, he did compare its difficulty to a 5.15b (which would make it slightly easier than Dawn Wall).


5. La Dura Dura, Oliana, Spain

Because of the numerous challenging climbs in the area, particularly near the town of Oliana,

A large number of climbers call the foothills of the Pyrenees mountain range home.

La Dura Dura is a 5.15c route on an overhanging limestone cliff with dramatic streaks across it, making it one of the most difficult climbs available.

When sending it becomes a competition between two of the best climbers, you know it’s a big challenge:

Chris Sharma began bolting a line up La Dura Dura in 2012, but was unable to complete it before.

Adam Ondra stepped in and took advantage of Sharma’s efforts. After 70 tries over five weeks, he finally sent it in 2013. Six weeks later, Sharma arrived.


6. Tough Enough, Tsaranoro Massif, Madagascar

Tsaranoro Massif, on the boundaries of Andringitra National Park in southern Madagascar, has towering granite walls that may be scaled in a day.

However, Tough Enough, on the east face of the Karambony formation, is regarded as one of the world’s most difficult multi-pitch routes

(A route divided into two or more pitches, or parts of a route requiring a rope between two belays).

There are ten highly tough pitches, eight of which Adam Ondra completed on his first attempt in 2010 when he first climbed the line.


What Are Some Of The Best Outdoor Climbing Routes?

That is a critical question!

I’ll talk about some of my favourite routes in different places, as well as some of my favourite climbing spots around the world.

I’m going to start with rock climbing.

1. Australia – (I’ve climbed in the Arapiles (which I adore) and the Grampians (which I also adore).

The Organ Pipes and the Pillars of Hercules are two of my favourite easy routes. Squeakeasy Squeakeasy Squeakeasy Squeakeasy Squeakeasy Squeakeasy S

2. Canada – I adore Squamish and have spent at least 5 summers there. Squamish Buttress,

Millenium Falcon, Hairpin on the Papoose, and Squamish Buttress are among my favourite climbs.

3. France – Verdon Gorge and Peille’s crags are two of my favourite places (near Monaco)

4. Italy – Finale is one of my favourites. Between 1994 and 2014, I visited five times.

5. Spain – Both La Mussara and Siurana offer a lot of one-pitch limestone sport climbing, which I particularly enjoy.

6. US – California – There are so many good climbs in Yosemite Valley. Serenity and Yesterday’s Sons;

El Capitan’s Nose; Snake Dike’s Half Dome; El Capitan’s Nose; El Capitan’s Nose; El Capitan

7. Colorado – Eldorado Canyon, Lumpy Ridge, Shelf Road, and Lumpy Ridge are all excellent routes.

8. Idaho – Climbing is excellent at City of Rocks and the Elephant Perch in the Sawtooth Mountains.

9. Oregon – Sport climbing on volcanic tuff at Smith Rocks.

10. Utah – Indian Creek, Maple Canyon, and desert towers are just a few of the many alternatives.

I’m sure I left a couple favourites off the list. Nevada’s Red Rocks, Switzerland’s Tuolumne Meadows You should really inquire about the top climbs in your area.


Hardest Mountain Climb In The World

Hardest Mountain Climb In The World

K2, which straddles the Pakistan-China border at 28,251 feet, is approximately two and a half football fields shorter than

Everest, but it’s often regarded as the world’s most difficult and deadliest mountain to climb, earning the moniker

“Savage Mountain.” It is not possible to “walk” to the summit, unlike Everest; all sides…


Hardest Free Climb In The World

(Ondra)—the climber with the red coat—achieved the summit of El Capitan, completing the Dawn Wall’s second free ascent.

With a length of 3,000 feet and a Yosemite Decimal System difficulty grade of 5.14d, the Dawn Wall is considered the world’s longest and most difficult free climb.


How Many 9c Routes Are There?

Currently, there is only one – though some projects may be 9c. The word “silence” has yet to be used again.


Highest Grade Climbed By Woman

Margo Hayes set a new record in February 2017 when she increased the highest female grade to a 9a+ (5.15a) on La Rambla, Spain.

Angela Eiter raised it up to a 9b after she held the record for nine months (5.15b).


Hardest Alpine Climbs In The World

David Lama isn’t known for taking on easy tasks, but even by his standards, Masherbrum’s Northeast face is a hard job.

It’s one of the few Himalayan routes that has never been really tested – only two parties have even explored an attempt –

And it remains virtually untested even after Lama and his associates Peter Ortner and Hansjörg Auer staked it out for six weeks this spring.

David was kind enough to tell us about the journey and what makes it so difficult.


Highest Rock Climbing Difficulty Level

5.15d

Silence, 5.15d, is now the world’s hardest sport climb based simply on grade (9c). Change, La Dura Dura,

And Vasil had previously held this title, all of which are graded 5.15c (9b+) and were all established by Adam Ondra.

Ondra opened a new grade with his ascension of Silence.


Hardest Mountain To Free Solo

Dawn Wall, Yosemite National Park, California Because to Honnold’s recent free solo ascent of the route Freerider,

El Capitan is one of the most well-known climbing sites.


Hardest Crack Climb In The World

In Canyonlands National Park, Utah, Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker made the first free ascent of Century Crack (5.14b), a 160-foot (49 m) off-width.

The crack was originally attempted in 2001 and is regarded as the world’s most difficult off-width crack climb.


Most Dangerous Rock Climbing

La Dura Dura, Spain

This route at Oliana is dubbed “the toughest of the hard” by Rock and Ice Magazine, while REEL ROCK, an internet platform for climbing films, dubs it

“The hardest rock climb in the world.” After nine weeks of meticulous planning, Adam Ondra became the first person to successfully complete the climb in 2013.


Has Anyone Climbed The Dawn Wall Since Tommy Caldwell?

Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson, and Adam Ondra are the only persons who have climbed the Dawn Wall.

Who Is The Best Rock Climber In The World?


The list above is based on a number of factors that attempt to balance these athletes’ indoor and outdoor achievements.

I’ve looked at their accomplishments over the course of their careers,

Giving more weight to the more recent accomplishments of these sportsmen (which is why Chris Sharma isn’t on this list).

Chris, I apologise. I attempted to balance lead climbing, bouldering, and competition climbing in order to determine who the best overall climber is.


What Are The Toughest Mountains To Climb?

Annapurna and K2 are Himalayan peaks. K2 is objectively difficult on any route from bottom to peak, and the weather is extremely awful.

Annapurna is infamous for having severe weather, being difficult to access, and being prone to avalanches and ice falls at any time.

Nanga Parbat’s Rupal Wall is likewise a formidable obstacle.


What Are The Hardest Holds In Rock Climbing?

Everyone has their own preferences for the types of rock climbing grips that they find most comfortable.

Slopers and crimps, on the other hand, are often thought to be challenging. Crimps necessitate a particularly unique collection of muscles, which can take years to master.

To keep hold of slopers, most people use an open grip and rely on friction to keep them from slipping. An undercling crimp is my least favourite sort of hold.


What Is The Hardest Route To Climb Everest? Has Anyone Tried It Successfully?

There are some completed routes to the peak of Mount Everest, which take you up the mountain’s three faces:

The South Western Face of Nepal

North Face of Tibet

The Tibetan East Face, also known as the Kangshung Face, is a popular tourist destination in Tibet.

This link takes you to a fantastic 3D map of the 18 routes on the National Geographic website.

Anyone interested in the various routes should go to that homepage and view them on a wide screen.

Additional information is revealed by clicking on the individual routes on their map.

Different people may rank different routes on Everest as the most difficult, however most people would agree on the following:

The East Face, which rises above the Kangshung Glacier, is a treacherous beast, steep and prone to avalanches.

The Direct Route and the Fantasy Ridge / East Ridge are two mapped routes that have yet to be climbed.

The National Geographic map does not show either of these routes.

They may be the two most difficult routes on Everest.

The East Face is also climbed via the dangerous Neverest Buttress (way H on the chart).

And the American Buttress (route I). Between these two routes, only 13 summits have ever been achieved.

These would undoubtedly be included in any list of Everest’s most difficult routes.

The Lho La Pass (route A) is a treacherous and arduous journey. It begins on the Nepali side at the usual Base Camp,

But swings left to escape the Icefall and ascends a steep snow and ice face.

After that, it connects with the dangerous West Ridge Route and the Hornbein Couloir.

On this route, eleven climbers have died, with only 13 peaks.

See the link below for information on a current daring effort on this risky route (January 2022).

Everest’s Southwest Face is stunningly steep, with a lot of exposed rock.

I recall standing at its foot and gazing up at the 2,000m face of rock, which was quite vertical in places.

I’m still baffled as to how someone climbed up that face, let alone with heavy high-altitude gear.

With a full pack, tent, oxygen tanks, and food while operating in chilly, thin air.

Only 30 climbers have ever ascended Everest via the Southwest Face, with 13 of them dying in the process.

The face has three routes, labelled C, D, and E on the map.

Any list of the most challenging routes up Everest would include the Messner Solo (route M),

South Pillar (F), and direct routes up the North Face (N, O, P, and Q). They’ve had some success on rare instances.

Several thousand peaks have been reached on Everest’s northeast flank. In 2019, ace climbers Cory Richards

(USA) and Topo Esteban Yanez (Ecuador) attempted a new route to the summit. On the map,

It was next to the challenging Russian Couloir (route L). At 7,600 metres, they retreated.

While their desired path may not be the most challenging, it may provide an answer to this issue in that no one has yet successfully completed it.

The current attempt via the Lho La Pass is as follows:

Jost Kobusch (Germany), a hard-core climber, is currently attempting a winter solo ascent of the Lho La Pass and West Ridge without the use of oxygen tanks or Sherpa help.

He had previously attempted that route in the winter of 2019/2020. With peak gusts of over 200 kph and a wind chill of

-70°C, the harsh Himalayan winter will almost probably prevent him from reaching the summit (naturally, I hope my prediction is incorrect).

His live progress can be tracked via his GPS tracker on this 3D map, which shows Kobusch’s current location.

Viewers may see him ascend towards the summit by following his rotations (progressively climbing higher to acclimate and ferry gear uphill,

Then back down to recover). It may take up to 30 seconds for the map to load, and it is best viewed on a big screen.

This site contains photographs from Kobusch’s Everest 2019 attempt through the Lho La Pass.

The image of him as a tiny of humanity clinging to a mass of undulating whiteness portrays the Himalayan environment’s perils dramatically.

There’s a reason so few people have succeeded on Everest’s most difficult routes.

What’s The Most Difficult Peak To Climb In America?

Regarding personal challenge, I believe Allan Chong makes a good point.

As a result, I believe the question’s premise is flawed.

El Cap’s Dawn Wall is the most difficult route ascended to date.

The squad “summered,” although this mountain also has a simple backside walk.

There are a few minor peaks that would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to climb due to their great fragility.

No one will attempt them, however, because the route is devoid of any amusement due to the brittle rock.

Mt. Logan’s Humming Bird Ridge is an example of this, however it was scaled employing siege tactics.

It is impossible to date the Alpine style:

Mountaineering, like all climbing, is a matter of personal preference and route.

Even the most accessible hiking peak may have a difficult face. It could be conquered either by aid climbing or by free climbing.

All of them would be achievements in their own right.

What I’m trying to express is that there isn’t a single peak that is the most challenging. The Humming Bird Ridge,

Which is still a fantastic challenge to climb alpine style, is generating some buzz.

However, no summit is cherished or recognised as the final great undertaking.

It’s difficult to keep track of all the amazing things that are happening all the time.

The Canadian Alpine Journal and the American Alpine Journal are also excellent places to go for information on how these cutting-edge ascents are accomplished.

What Do Outdoor Rock Climbers Dislike About Indoor Rock Climbing?

I climbed outside for around 20 years before going indoors, and if given the choice, I’d choose to climb outdoors again.

However, there are aspects of gym climbing that I enjoy (and miss now that I’m no longer climbing there).

It doesn’t rain, snow, or sleet inside, and I’m not subjected to howling winds or scorching sun.

When I try to grip one or stand on one, it doesn’t break off.

There are no rocks or ice pieces falling on my helmet (I’m not even required to wear one indoors)!

In the gym, there are no snakes, bats, rodents, bees, spiders, wasps, mosquitoes, or other venomous creatures.

I once went climbing with my 12-year-old kid in Italy (Finale Ligure), who was leading a route.

He came across a wasp nest and had to lower himself — which meant I had to go up and continue leading the climb!

I’ve also put my hand in a crack with a bat in it, almost stepped on a rattle snake, and nearly collapsed when a

“Siebenschlaefer” began rattling in the crack where I’d put my hand in Italy.

I yelled and leaped, which isn’t good when you’re in charge of a route!

I don’t mind the crowds, but I used to go mid-week and early in the day.

The Boulder gyms (Movement, Evo) are far superior than the Bay Area gyms in my opinion.

They had a few longer climbs, were less crowded, and I could belay myself (BD Pilot). When I worked at Planet Granite,

They required us to utilise their GriGri, which I dislike. It’s possible that things have altered since then.

FAQ’S On: What Is The Hardest Rock Climbing Route In The World

Who has climbed 5.15 D?

Adam Ondra

When it comes to climbing hard sport routes, Adam Ondra is the most successful climber of all time.

He’s climbed 24 bolted lines ranging in difficulty from 5.15b to 5.15d.

Why is El Capitan Harder Than Half Dome?

It was formed millions of years ago as glacial ice chiselled away the less resistant granite, leaving just the most impermeable granite standing.

In essence, Yosemite Valley’s encircling walls are the strongest granite slabs, whereas the cut out valley is the weakest.

What is the hardest free solo climb in the world?

“Panem et Circenses,” a 5.14b climb near Arco, Italy, is the hardest climbing route to be free soloed.

Alfredo Webber (Italy), 52, scaled the 15-meter route without ropes in March 2021.

Who is the greatest mountaineer of all time?

Reinhold Messner

Reinhold Messner, an Italian mountaineer and explorer, is often recognised as the greatest climber in history.

He is the author of 63 books in addition to his active mountaineering career.

His ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1970 was his first successful expedition to the Himalayan eight-thousanders.

How many people have climbed 15c?

Make a note of this question. This post should be active. I was listening to.

Alex Harrold’s podcast on Tim Ferris’ show, and he claimed that only two climbers in the world have successfully scaled a 15C level wall.

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