BURSTAdam Ondra has released a video documenting his progress on DNA, a 50-metre sport route in the overhanging cave of La Ramirole in France’s Verdon Gorge. Ondra is joined by Jakob Schubert, who had already tried DNA in 2023.
Seb Bouin bolted DNA then tried it more than 250 times over 150 days before getting the first ascent in 2022. The 50-metre overhanging route starts with 5.14c, climbs through a V11 and V12 problem and heads into another 5.14c sequence. “There would be two possible scenarios, 9b+ [5.15c] or 9c [5.15d],” said Bouin. “Choosing 9b+ [5.15c] would be playing it safe. Choosing 9c would be taking a risk. I have been playing it safe since 2014 on this cliff by proposing very tight grades. And in the end, nobody has repeated one of these routes.”
Ondra and Schubert have both climbed 5.15d already. In 2017, Ondra made the first ascent of Silence as the world’s first 5.15d in Flatanger, Norway. After he sent it, he said, “At the end of the route when I knew I did it, I had one of the strangest emotions ever. I clipped the anchor and I could not even scream. All I could do was just hang in the rope, feeling tears in my eyes. It was too much joy, relief, and excitement all mixed together.”
Then in September 2023, Schubert made the first ascent Big 5.15d, which is also in Flatanger. After his send, he said, “I felt at a point where I had found the most efficient way possible for me, the whole route was worked out perfectly and I didn’t see any room for improvement. So all that it came down to was my physical & mental shape which I think are very good right now.” Watch the DNA sessions below.
DNA Attempts
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