Hardest boulder climbed by a woman. Feb 27, 2017 · Hayes, 19, from Boulder, Colo.

Hardest boulder climbed by a woman While she was primarily a competition climber in her early career (up to the 2020 Tokyo olympics) she did occasionally climb outside, with highlights such as the first female ascent of New Base Line 8B+ in 2014, making her one of a handful of women to have climbed 8B+ at the time. 5. The problem has turned into an absolute classic over the years with many of bouldering’s best having their turn on the boulder including Paul Robinson, Kevin Jorgeson, Carlo Traversi, Daniel Woods, and Jimmy Webb. Prior to this, she had yet to redpoint a 5. As Owen Clarke wrote in Climbing’s biography of Garnbret, she is also perhaps the greatest competition climber of all time, with 41 World Cup gold medals and an Olympic gold to her name. 14a/b. 14b) for women. 2023: Katie Lamb becomes the first woman to climb a V16 with her ascent of Box Therapy (quickly downgraded by Brooke Raboutou to V15) What milestones have we missed? Drop’em in the comments below! Apr 14, 2023 · Spectre was first climbed by Dave Graham way back in 2001. That may just be my reading of it though I guess? (Several female climbers have climbed 9a and 9a+, including Emma Twyford and Hazel Findlay from the UK. 26. 15c) for women. Jun 22, 2023 · Brooke Raboutou was born in Boulder, Colorado, and comes from a lineage of legendary climbers. Rodden sent it when she was only 18 years old! Oct 25, 2023 · In 2015, Shiraishi climbed her first 9a (5. Three women, including Rogora, had previously climbed 5. , Burden, BoD, BOD) is known as the hardest boulder problem in the world. A route of the grade 5. 15b, and three climbers have so far achieved this feat. Jan 17, 2024 · The Dark Side is located on the Thriller Boulder, in the woods adjacent to Camp 4. 32 IFSC Climbing World Cup gold medals. Janja Garnbret of Slovenia during the Sport Climbing Women’s Combined, Qualification on day 12 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. [6] After retiring from bouldering and taking time off in 2009 to allow her back to recover, Zangerl began to focus on easier sport climbing routes. 11 A0 in Remote Patagonia Ripley Boulianne Connor Runge and Anna Hazelnutt Get First and Second Ascents on Belly of the Beast (5. Laura Rogora (Italy) and Julia Chanourdie (France), have since matched this. Terranova V16 – Adam Ondra. Grading. In total, she estimates she clocked over 90 miles while working the problem. ) May 6, 2022 · The World’s Current Hardest Sport Climb. 15c) sport route in Arco, Italy. After seeing repeats from some of the best climbers of the 2000's, including Dave Graham, Chris Sharma, Dai Koyamada, and Adam Ondra, the grade of the boulder settled at a slightly lower 8B+. The feat was matched in May 2018 by Kaddi Lehmann (DEU), who climbed the V15 "Kryptos" near Balsthal, Switzerland; and Mishka Ishi (JPN) in May 2019, who climbed the V15 “Byaku-dou” in Horai, Japan. After ‘Erebor,’ 5. I think it went at 14. I Apr 19, 2023 · Burden of Dreams (a. 14d) for men and 8c (5. Lamb’s ascent marks the second time she’s become the first woman in the world to climb V16, a statement which might sound a little odd. He assigned it a grade of V13. Dec 27, 2024 · Aidan Roberts makes the first ascent of the UK's Hardest Boulder, Spots of Time, 9A. Canadian Women Climb Big New 5. Examples of Chipped Climbs. Established by Stefano Ghisolfi in 2023 and repeated by Will Bosi in February 2025, this fierce, intense overhang stands as one of the hardest sport climbs in the world. 15c, Excalibur is now the hardest sport climb in Italy. Dreamtime has since been downgraded, but in 2002 Nicole climbed Black Eagle SD and Monkey Wedding which both currently stand as consensus V15s. 14d), on Open Your Mind Direct, which was initially claimed to be a harder grade – potentially the hardest climb ever by a woman – due to a hold After retiring from bouldering and taking time off in 2009 to allow her back to recover, Zangerl began to focus on easier sport climbing routes. , completed the route on Feb. And then there's this small group which do extremely difficult stuff as well. Boulder problems are often graded using different systems depending on where you’re climbing. 15a is for the Even looking to the women, climbers like Anak Verhoeven and Laura Rogora have climbed harder on sport climbs and climbers like Babsi Zangerl and Hazel Findlay have far more hard trad ticks. The first woman to climb a 5. Excalibur is the first 5. 15b). 15d) for men and 9b+ (5. Standards have been pushed to an almost inconceivable level with the establishment of multiple V17s and the news of V15/V16 sends becoming commonplace. a. Header image by Toni Mas Buchaca Oct 28, 2024 · Lamb: If I’m trying a hard boulder for the first time, When trying Box, it wasn’t because I wanted to skip a grade and become the first woman to climb V16. It’s safe to say that Ghisolfi’s grade estimation holds weight in the climbing community. Feb 27, 2017 · Hayes, 19, from Boulder, Colo. The hardest boulder solved was at the boulder grade of V17 (9A) for men and V15/V16 (8C/8C+) for women. At the forefront of this movement are a group of elite athletes dedicating their lives to cranking out the world’s hardest moves. But those tend to be climbed by the routesetters and maybe 1-2 other people. [4] While single pitch sport climbing never became a core focus for Zangerl, by 2018 she was climbing at the grade of 9a (5. 14b, has redpointed up to 5. Nov 3, 2023 · Climb Type Suggested Grade Date of Ascent Notes; Panonoramix et les cyclopes: Sport Route: 8c+ 2020: Oriane’s hardest sport route. Her career highlights include winning two Female Overall World Championships and being the first North American woman and third woman in the world to climb a 9a (5. With a proposed grade of 5. [6] I remember seeing a video about a Japanese woman who projected a Daniel Woods roof for like 5 years. Most people seem to climb < 6A (beginners). The first was climbing prodigy Ashima Shiraishi (JPN/USA), who climbed "Horizon" on Mount Hiei, Japan, on 22 March 2016. The hardest onsight was at the grade of 9a (5. 2, 20-year-old Laura Rogora set a new benchmark for the hardest rock climb done by a female climber. This title was previously shared by Change, La Dura Dura, and Vasil Vasil — all of which are graded 5. He graded it as V17/9A, making it the first boulder at that grade. It is a deceivingly simple-looking line that follows a long, right-trending sloper rail, joining The Force (V9) near the lip. If I had to pick a "best climber" for the last year or so, I would probably pick Jakob Schubert (9c sport, 9A boulder and double world champion just in 2023 May 13, 2024 · 'Funny side-note: wasn't happy with the video Roman took of my ascent, so I actually went for another go and climbed the whole thing again'. No other woman has climbed a route of that difficulty before. Jun 8, 2023 · The boulder, later named the Burden Of Dreams, is recognized as the first-ever V17 boulder, and the highest level of modern bouldering. “That thing is flippin’ desperate!” “That thing is flippin’ desperate!” Švecová has since put in four sessions total, using the latter two to figure out microbeta for the boulder’s second half. 15 ascent for the 23-year-old American Raboutou. Video: Golden Shadow: Boulder: V14: 2018: Oriane became the youngest person to climb a V14 boulder. 13d and 5. 14d), on Open Your Mind Direct, which was initially claimed to be a harder grade – potentially the hardest climb ever by a woman – due to a hold Mar 1, 2017 · Nineteen-year-old climber Margo Hayes from Boulder, Colorado, climbs La Rambla in Siurana, Spain. She was the first woman to onsight 5. World’s Hardest Boulder Problems Sent by Women (V13 and Up) Mar 24, 2022 · The first boulder problem to ever receive a suggested grade of V15 (8C) was Dreamtime, which Fred Nicole put up in 2000. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] Nov 14, 2024 · The boulder was first climbed by Fred Nicole in the year 2000. Neither have very many men. The Route: Excalibur Excalibur is known for… Apr 11, 2025 · In the latter event, last summer, Raboutou won silver in the combined Boulder and Lead event, becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in sport climbing. Mar 5, 2024 · Hardest boulder climbed by a woman. She became the first woman in history to climb a 9b (5. It was the Olympic climber’s second 5. . This boulder problem is a classic example of grip pulling by the world’s greatest outdoor climbing. We have routes graded as hard as 9B+(boulder) in our gym. It was the start of an area that is now world-wide known purely for Bouldering. Satan I Helvete low start: Boulder: V15: 2020: She is one of a handful of women who have climbed to this grade. Rodden was also the youngest woman to climb the famous route To Bolt Or Not To Be, which was the first 5. The 25-year-old boulderer has made plenty of climbing news in the last few years May 1, 2025 · So when Lamb made the fourth ascent of Box Therapy, the climbing community naturally showered her with praise, both for the singular achievement of climbing an extremely hard boulder, but also for becoming the first woman in history to climb the grade. 14a. Just a year earlier, Lynn Hill had become the first woman to send the climb. Then you have the 2nd group which is mostly the more dedicated people who climb 6A-7B. Oct 25, 2023 · In 2015, Shiraishi climbed her first 9a (5. This groundbreaking ascent not only marks a milestone in her personal career but also sets a new benchmark in women’s climbing. 投稿者: 2022年1月21日 hardest boulder climbed by a womanに コメント 2022年1月21日 hardest boulder climbed by a womanに コメント Sep 14, 2023 · It’s not just a hard boulder to climb though. It could be the most difficult sport climbing route ever climbed by a woman, and it’s the hardest one Italy has on offer. Lamb told Climbing House she hiked out and back to the problem for seven sessions. 14b, respectively. 15a route. The year 2023 has been great for achievements for female rock climbers in boulderers, and fortunately, we had a ton of achievements to follow. Oct 13, 2023 · Even if the grade of Box Therapy does eventually settle at hard V15/8C, Brooke's ascent would still be one of the five hardest boulder ascents ever done by a woman. Her mother, Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou, blazed trails as a four-time Overall World Cup winner and one of the few women to conquer 5. Mar 14, 2017 · On February 26, 2017, Margo Hayes made history as the first woman to climb 5. Jul 18, 2023 · Bouldering is the discipline of climbing in which we have seen the most exponential growth in the past decade. Oct 22, 2024 · “When I think about that climb, I think about the entirety of the experiences I had up there. 15c (9b+). Oct 4, 2021 · On Oct. Nalle Hukktaival made the first ascent and established the line in 2016 after working the problem for three years. In practice this can mean a lot of things, from a wobbly, existing hold being removed and then re-attached with glue to preserve the character of a climb to full-scale manufacture of routes by drilling holds in blank rock for large sections of the climb. 15b) route, and in 2020, she achieved yet another incredible feat by completing the first free ascent of a 9b (5. 14b/8c) in El Salto Jan 27, 2022 · The wild roof climb has become one of the more widely repeated climbs of the grade in the US, but remains a brutal test-piece in Rocky Mountain National Park. 15a with her ascent of La Rambla in Siurana, Spain. In July 2023, she made the first female ascent of Daniel Woods’ Box Therapy. Maybe one of the greatest problems solved by a woman was Katie Lamb’s first female ascent of Box Therapy (V16/8C+) this September. 2023: Katie Lamb becomes the first woman to climb a V16 with her ascent of Box Therapy (quickly downgraded by Brooke Raboutou to V15) What milestones have we missed? Drop’em in the comments below! Apr 28, 2025 · We've often speculated on why women are much less involved than men in climbing new routes (even taking into consideration the overall proportion of women involved in different styles of climbing), and it is just speculation, but one hunch of mine would be that the hard-to-define set of more typically male traits which is answerable might include the impulse to interpret hard climbing in the Nov 4, 2023 · This drew international attention, and Rodden continued to pursue hard free climbs. The Feb 22, 2023 · At a mere 40 feet, the limestone route is short, steep, and littered with tiny pockets and micro edges, with an V15 boulder problem guarding the chains. During a spring-break trip to Japan, she climbed a boulder problem with a Apr 30, 2025 · Fewer than 10 women have climbed even a V15, so the second that Lamb stepped foot on top of the V16 boulder, she was marked as one of the strongest boulderers in the world. Apr 8, 2025 · The ascent is historic – the first female ascent of a route graded 5. Several women have climbed 5. Apr 10, 2025 · She won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the combined bouldering and lead climbing event. For clarity on climbing rating systems, check out our guide. As of October 2024, the hardest single-pitch redpoint was at the grade of 9c (5. Get stoked. Sep 6, 2023 · The title is a bit odd though, as it seems to imply that 8c+ is the hardest ever climb by a woman. The best women's climbing shoes 2024 for indoor climbing sessions, valley cragging and all-day mountain adventures In this article, we’ll learn about the seven hardest boulder problems in the world. 14d). In one sense, Excalibur represents a remarkable leap, not just for women’s climbing, but for Raboutou herself. Speaking on Instagram, Katie Lamb said that it was when climbing with Brooke, Natalia Grossman, Ashima Shiraishi, and Alex Puccio in 2020 that she realised 'this is how we can get Aug 10, 2023 · Sasha DiGiulian, the undefeated Pan American Champion until 2004, is one of modern climbing’s superstars. ” The Spots of Time boulder is located in the Helvellyn mountain range in England’s Lake District. In the United States, we use the Hueco system, also known as the V-Scale. 15b. 14d) when the highest achieved female sport climbing grade was just two notches higher at 9b (5. With a proposed a grade of 8C, Dreamtime was - at the time - the hardest boulder in the world. I know multiple women have v13 sends, including Ashima who has climbed several v13s, some being in Hueco. May 4, 2023 · Of all the climbing disciplines bouldering stands as a testament to the raw power, intricate technique, and mental fortitude required to conquer climbing's most formidable challenges. Apr 30, 2025 · Traversi projected the problem on and off for years before his eventual FA, which he called his most difficult boulder ever. Apr 9, 2025 · Brooke Raboutou made climbing history by becoming the first woman to successfully climb Excalibur, a 9b+ (5. Based solely on grade, the world’s hardest sport climbs are currently Silence and DNA, both rated 5. It’s a hard boulder to get to, sitting at an elevation of 10,500 feet (3,200 meters) over six miles from the nearest trailhead. 15b Aug 10, 2024 · Garnbret reportedly completed the problem, her hardest boulder to date, after only a couple of days of projecting. In October 2023, she sent Box Therapy, a V15 (8C) boulder problem, making her only one of nine women to have achieved a climb at the grade. Spectre’s grade is nuanced. Jun 25, 2023 · Angy is an Austrian powerhouse that has achieved the unachievable. 14 in North America. Apr 11, 2025 · She climbed a boulder graded V10 when she was just nine years old, and at age ten and then 11, became the youngest women to climb routes graded 5. 15c is the world’s second hardest climbing grade. Sep 5, 2023 · By reaching the top of a 20-foot boulder, Katie Lamb has pulled off a major accomplishment for climbers everywhere. This achievement underscores her pioneering role in advancing women’s climbing to new heights. Roberts has long been at the forefront of hard bouldering and boulder development in the UK, and 2024 saw him take that a step further, establishing the UK's hardest boulder to date, Spots of Time (f9A), at Swirl Crags in Cumbria. Before we dive into the hardest boulders, let’s talk bouldering grades. Hayes, who completed the climb on February 26, 2017, is the first female to climb a route rated at Katie Lamb (born September 16, 1997) is an American rock climber who specializes in bouldering, and who in 2023 became the first-ever woman in history to climb an 8C+ (V16) graded boulder. In rock climbing chipping is the practice of artificially modifying a climb. The climb is located in Lappnor, east of Helsinki, Finland. 15c. May 13, 2024 · Garnbret is no stranger to news-making ascents. Oct 4, 2021 · On October 2, Laura Rogora redpointed “Erebor” 5. 14b, later downgraded to a 5. Traversi, 35, has pursued hard climbing in Yosemite for the last decade. Climber, writer, and activist, Sasha is one of the strongest and most determined athletes of her generation, with over Jul 12, 2021 · In three upcoming episodes we’re going to explore Babsi’s level of commitment while documenting her latest barrier-breaking ascents. (: Tsuyoshi Ueda – Pool/Pool) Climbing Accomplishments. May 9, 2024 · One of her most notable accomplishments is becoming the first woman to climb a route graded 9b (5. 15b in the past, including Angela Eiter, Laura Rogora, Julia Chanourdie, and Anak Verhoeven. It’s an alpine route with a huge American rock climber Brooke Raboutou has become the first woman in the world to climb 9b+ with her redpoint of 'Excalibur' at Arco, Italy. 14d, and bouldered two V14s, plus Bügeleisen Sit. As it was Lamb’s first time climbing a V16, she says she was naturally inclined to agree The hardest routes completed by female climbers are graded at 5. 15b was Angela Eiter (Austria), who climbed “La Planta de Shiva” in Villanueva del Rosario, Spain, on 22 October 2017. 15 barrier. With his 2017 ascent of Silence, Ondra opened a new grade. The fact that Janja was able to climb the boulder twice in a single session, as well as her statement that the moves felt relatively easy, suggests that 8C - despite being the hardest grade that any woman has climbed to date - is far from the limit for Janja. 15b) with La Panta de Shiva, setting a new benchmark for female climbers worldwide. This article lists the hardest problems in bouldering, where climbers push the boundaries of human capability to solve the hardest boulder problems on the… Mar 28, 2023 · “Adam’s boulder, a V16 called Terranova, is for sure still the hardest boulder I’ve tried,” he says. ) (Edited to add - just checked and a few women have even climbed 9b in the last few years. It would be great if you could link each mention of climbs-- or at least the most references/hardest ones-- to the 8a. k. It would be interesting for any women who want to find/read about that line. From 1910 Jacques Wehrlin and his Groupe Rochassier started climbing regularly in Fontainebleau, and Jacques de Lépiney established the first boulder of grade 4: La Prestat. nu log for the climb. After finding climbing in the gym as a young teenager, Babsi quickly transitioned to rock climbing and went on to make an ascent of Pura Vida (V12/13, 8A+/8B) in Magic Wood, the hardest boulder climbed by a woman at the time. 15b/c (9b/+) in Arco, Italy. We've often speculated on why women are much less involved than men in climbing new routes (even taking into consideration the overall proportion of women involved in different styles of climbing), and it is just speculation, but one hunch of mine would be that the hard-to-define set of more typically male traits which is answerable might include the impulse to interpret hard climbing in the Dec 6, 2022 · In 2013, I became the first woman to climb the hardest big-wall grade to date—Bellavista in the Italian Dolomites—a 5. 15d (9c). We talked with the 19-year-old Boulder, Colorado native about her experience working the route and breaking the 5. Mar 22, 2016 · A week before her 15th birthday, Ashima Shiraishi, the unlikely climbing prodigy from New York City, got an early present. 15b) route, Madame Ching. 15b+ and only the fifth female ascent of that climbing grade. aegm ijg xvdpxdiry xhul zgjd uhkchpjp mogaj edfz zmgrns dpmvcvr