Nothing is more terrifying than dangling off a mountain's edge. Yet, some adventurers are just wild enough to enjoy it. Whether someone's new to rock climbing or a seasoned adventurer, no one can deny the thrill of accomplishment when reaching the peak. Of course, not all rock climbing passages are equal with some being tougher than others. Well, for these climbing routes, the word "tough" is an understatement.
All prominent rock climbing routes are given a grade determining their difficulty level and these mountains boast some of the highest in the game. We'll be detailing each rock climbing route's grade via the U.S.'s Yosemite Decimal System. Now, marvel at the top ten most dangerously demanding rock climbing routes in the world.
10 Beyond Integral (5.15b/c) - France
This gnarly route is located on Pic Saint-Loup and is a steep overhand climb consisting of nearly fifty meters. The first person to ascend the climbing route completely is French climber Sébastien Bouin.
First line bolted by Fedric Ferraro, Beyond Integral is an intense climb for only the most experienced mountain climbers ready to take on the challenge.
Bouin described the route, “The moves are amazing and spectacular, jumps, drop knees, hills, tufas, crimps… all the ingredients for a perfect project.”
9 La Rage d’Adam (5.15b/5.15c) - France
Another French climb ascended by Bouin, La Rage d'Adam is located in La Ramirole, France in the Verdon Gorge canyon. This route was such a struggle for Bouin that it took him four years to complete it. The climber named the route after his friend and fellow climber Adam Ondra who was unable to finish it.
While Bouin rated La Rage d'Adam 5.15b/c, Ondra argues that it could be more challenging.
Ondra explained, “My guess is that it could be more of 9b/b+, if not even harder, based on my one and only experience of the route—which felt HARD!”
8 Dawn Wall (5.14d) - United States
Placed in the beautiful Yosemite National Park (worth a visit for even non-climbers), Dawn Wall is considered perhaps the harshest climbing route despite its grade.
Dawn Wall is located on El Capitan and was first ascended by Tommy Caldwell. Out of all the climbing routes on El Capitan, Dawn Wall has the most climbing pitches (thirty-two to be exact) and takes place 3,000 feet above the water.
This American climbing route is definitely not for the faint of heart.
7 Bibliographie (5.15c) - France
Ascended by Alex Megos, Bibliographie is a French route that is also referred to as Realization. This climb is located on the southern front of Céüse mountain in Gap, France.
Requiring some tricky climbing techniques, this route previously earned an intimidating grading of 5.15d. However, in 2021, the climb was repeated by Stefano Ghisolfi who would then come to an agreement with Megos to downgrade the route to 5.15c.
Despite the lowered grade, Bibliographie is a force to be reckoned with.
6 Perfecto Mundo (5.15c) - Spain
Perfecto Mundo is in Margalef, Spain, and was also first ascended by Megos. Climber Stefano Ghisolfi has also climbed this route and commented that it requires adventurers to be as nimble and flexible as possible.
Stefano detailed that climbers must have “acrobat-like abilities just to contort your body around its unforgiving edges.” Although first bolted by Chris Sharma in 2008, Perfecto Mundo went nearly a decade without successful climbers due to its severe conditions.
5 Change (5.15c) - Norway
Although Adam Ondra was unable to complete La Rage d'Adam, he did ascend the arduous Change in Norway. In Hanshallaren Cave of Flatanger, Ondra first ascended in 2012 when he was only eighteen years old.
Certainly a feat, Change was the first rock climbing route to achieve a 5.15c grade rating. The only other person to repeat this climb's ascension is Stefano Ghisolfi.
Steep and borderline horizontal, Change is widely considered one of the most dangerous climbing routes in the world.
4 Vasil Vasil (5.15c) - Czech Republic
This route in the Czech Republic is the third 5.15c ascent made by Ondra who also bolted it. First completed in 2013, Vasil Vasil has since then gained notoriety for its grueling climb. Despite being significantly shorter at only 12 meters high, it is still no less difficult.
When Ondra first bolted the route, he considered it an impossible climb. Yet, he proved himself wrong after overcoming intense conditions and risky sequencing.
Don't let its length deceive; Vasil Vasil in Brno, Czech Republic is on this list for good reason.
3 La Dura Dura (5.15c) - Spain
This Catalonian mountain climb is called "The Hard Hard" for a reason. This dangerous limestone cliff requires climbers to be of a minimum height due to a large jump needed to be made in order to move to a crimp that comprises one of the cruxes.
Of course, that doesn't mean shorter climbers can't complete this trek, but it will be more difficult than it already is. This 50-meter route gives a perilous yet stunning view for climbers hanging off the cliff's edge.
2 DNA (5.15d) - France
Freshly graded by Sébastien Bouin as a 5.15d, DNA in Vernon Gorge is now in competition as the world's hardest mountain climbing route. Bouin first set the route in 2019 but was unable to complete it until April 2022.
It took the master climber nearly 250 tries dispersed over 150 days to finally complete this route. Although his grade has yet to be confirmed, DNA can still be considered one of the most formidable routes that even Bouin arduously struggled to achieve.
1 Silence (5.15d) - Norway
Without a doubt, this Norwegian climbing route is the riskiest and most perilous in the world. Located in Flatanger, Norway, Silence was only ever finished entirely once. This was done by Adam Ondra on September 3rd, 2017.
Considered the hardest climb of his life, Silence was readily given a confirmed grade of 5.15d, which is the first route ever rated so.
Stefano Ghisolfi has attempted the route and agreed with the rating. He has reported hopes to retry Silence in 2023.
Due to the dangers of this climb, only those properly experienced and skilled should even attempt to follow this climbing route. Yet, the achievement of climbing this mountain would last a lifetime.