The difficulty grade 9c (5.15d) represents the absolute pinnacle of human performance on rock in sport climbing. There are currently only five routes worldwide that are rated this grade – Jakob Schubert established the first of them last week with "DNA". This has been repeated several times. Who is currently in the club of 9c climbers and who is trying to secure a place in this elite group?
The world's first 9c – »Silence«
Since 2017, the grade 9c has marked the absolute pinnacle of sport climbing. At that time, [the author] wrote... Adam Ondra History, when he was in the Hanshelleren cave in Norway on the third of September Flatanger with "Silence He opened the world's first 9c. For years, the Czech climber referred to the line as "Project Hard." After the first ascent, he was certain: This is a 9c.
He chose the name very deliberately: "When I climbed the crux of this route, I felt like I was in my own world, my mind was completely still, my body relaxed, and despite the extreme difficulty of the moves, I moved upwards in complete harmony. When I reached the anchor, I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. I was too overwhelmed to break the silence."
Silence has not been repeated to this day. However, two top athletes have recently committed themselves to the project: Stefano Ghisolfi and Will BosiSince 2022, Ghisolfi has been working on "Silence." In 2025, Bosi also traveled to Flatanger to join the project. After his send of "Por do Sol" in January, the Scotsman announced that he intended to dedicate 2026 entirely to "Silence." In the autumn, he made crucial progress on the central crux – in mid-October, Bosi streamed his first attempts to send it. live on YouTube.
Finally rebroadcast: Seb Bouin's "DNA" in the Verdon Gorge
The world's second 9c route was established in the La Ramirole climbing area in France. The routes on the wall are long and steep and Seb Bouins DNA“He is no exception. The top climber invested three years in “DNA”, from drilling and setting up the route, through bouldering, to the final ascent on April 29, 2022. 150 days and over 250 attempts went into this passion project, with which Bouin wanted to really challenge himself.”
He debated for a long time whether the route should be graded 9b+ or 9c. "I've never attempted a similar route with a similar grade to DNA," the French professional climber explained after the redpoint. "The 9c is my suggestion for DNA, which now needs to be confirmed or adjusted by other climbers."
In 2023, it ventured Jakob Schubert to the ultimate test in the Verdon Gorge. The following year, he returned with Adam Ondra to attempt the beta route and discuss the line during the project planning. However, it would be a few more years before the ascent was completed. On October 10, 2026, Schubert finally succeeded in the first repeat performance of "DNA". The Tyrolean confirmed the level of difficulty, which Bouin's line to first confirmed 9c in the world .
Project Big – »BIG«
Back in 2013, Adam Ondra established another challenging project in the Hanshelleren cave. The approximately 50-meter-long route ascends the left side of the cave. Almost ten years later, Ondra traveled to Norway again with Jakob Schubert to tackle the project. Ondra himself was initially intimidated by the line, and Schubert felt the same way. "In the first few days, I was definitely overwhelmed by the length, the numerous difficulties, and the complexity of the route." ProjectBig. "
In 2023 he returned with the goal of achieving the first ascent and indeed succeeded on July 23rd, completing the anchor to cliffs and Project Big.BIG"The route was rated 9c by Schubert. The Austrian climber stated that he deliberated for a long time about whether it should be a 9c or "only" a 9b+, but the difficulty of the crux move clearly tipped the scales towards 9c. Now, "BIG" is waiting in the Norwegian cave with Silence for his first repeat ascent. During his trip to Flatanger last year, the German professional climber began..." Alex Megos to make first attempts in »BIG«.
First 9c in the USA? Sean Bailey's "Duality of Man"
Sean Bailey also assigned the highest difficulty grade of 9c to a route in January 2026. The 29-year-old American had previously invested four years and three seasons in his hardest project to date, "Duality of Man" in Dry Canyon. Should Bailey's proposal stand, it would be the hardest route in the USA. According to insiders, he had already climbed the route in early 2025 and withheld the news until now.
Margalef: Jorge Díaz-Rullo celebrates “Café Colombia”
After more than four years of work on his life's project, Madrid native Jorge Díaz-Rullo achieved the first ascent of "Café Colombia" in the Racó de la Finestra sector in Margalef on March 13, 2026. He also proposed the grade 9c, thus placing the route at the pinnacle of sport climbing.
"Café Colombia" was originally bolted by Colombian climber Anghelo Bernal on the right side of the wall. The route is approximately 30 meters long, overhanging, and consists of about 40 moves in the technically demanding style characteristic of Margalef. Díaz-Rullo began working on the route in the fall of 2021 and invested 240 days over more than four years before finally achieving the ascent.
That might interest you
- Alex Megos and Yannick Flohé are planning a potential 9c route in the Franconian Jura
- Jakob Schubert rates BIG 9c | formerly Project Big
- Everything you always wanted to know about Silence (9c) | Stefano Ghisolfi
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Credits: Cover photo: Pavel Blazek, © Adam Ondra