From Gripped Magazine · gripped · · 50s
Five Routes That Defy Climbers
Five routes that have defied climbers for years.
In brief
Five routes that have defied climbers for years. Only Adam Ondra has repeated all five 5.15d routes. Originally reported by Gripped Magazine.
Silence 5.15d
Adam Ondra first climbed Silence in 2017 after bolting it in 2012. Only he has repeated it.
“When I was climbing through the crux of this route, I felt like if I was in my own world, with my mind in complete silence, my body relaxed and flowing up the moves in complete harmony despite the extreme difficulty of the moves. When I reached the anchor, I wanted to scream, but I could not. Too overwhelmed to break the silence.”
Duality of Man 5.15d
Sean Bailey first climbed Duality of Man in Dry Canyon, Arizona in March 2025 after four years of effort.
“After four total years and three seasons of climbing, I was able to climb Duality. Dry Canyon did not offer easy tactics. With only an hour or two of shade per day and sporadic weather windows, I had to find a level of patience unlike any other route I've climbed.”
B.I.G. 5.15d
Jakob Schubert first climbed B.I.G. in Flatanger, Norway in September 2023 after multiple attempts.
“I battled skin issues on the climb, preventing my projecting process.”
Café Colombia 5.15d
Jorge Díaz-Rullo first climbed Café Colombia in Margalef, Spain in March 2024 after 240 days.
“After 240 days, everything aligned, and my dream became real. A fight I will remember forever.”
DNA 5.15d
Seb Bouin first climbed DNA in Verdon Gorge, France in 2022 after 150 days of attempts.
“There would be two possible scenarios, 9b+ or 9c. Choosing 9b+ would be playing it safe. Choosing 9c would be taking a risk.”
What to remember
Only Adam Ondra has repeated all five 5.15d routes.
