Notable first free ascents

In free climbing, a first ascent (FA), or first free ascent (FFA) is the first successful, documented climb of a route or boulder performed without using equipment such as anchors, quickdraws or ropes for aiding progression or resting. In this article, notable first free ascents of hard routes and boulders are listed.

Ratings on the hardest climbs tend to be speculative, until other climbers have had a chance to complete the routes and a consensus can be reached on the precise grade. This becomes increasingly difficult as the grade increases, because fewer climbers are capable of repeating the route and passing judgment on its grade.

As of September 2017, the hardest ascended route has a proposed grade of 9c (5.15d), the hardest ascended boulder problem has a proposed grade of 9A (V17), and the hardest routes ever successfully climbed on-sight are graded 9a (5.14d).

The first ascent of a 9c (5.15d) route was claimed by Adam Ondra in 2017, the first ascent of a 9A (V17) boulder problem was claimed by Nalle Hukkataival in 2016. and the first on-sight ascent of a 9a (5.14d) route was claimed by Alex Megos in 2013.

On February 2017, Margo Hayes successfully climbed La Rambla, unanimously graded 9a+ (5.15a) and widely considered to be the hardest route ever climbed by a female to date.

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Wikipedia