BURSTOn October 15, Austrian Jessica Pilz sent Hades 5.14d (9a) in Götterwandl, Austria. While the Austrian is a decorated comp climber and has even climbed 5.15a, she shared that this was her first of the grade.
“First rock days of 2026 couldn’t have started any better,” said Pilz on Instagram. “Two days ago, I ticked my first [5.14d]. This route had been on my mind for years, but I’d always been too intimidated by the grade to give it a go. With such a short rock season after comps, I’m super stoked I got this power-endurance test piece done before it gets too cold.”
Hades was established back in 2008 by Andreas Bindhammer. It has been climbed by many of the world’s best. Adam Ondra sent the route back in 2009 after nine goes, calling it “hard for me” on his 8a.nu page. Other climbers put it away very quickly, including Patxi Usobiaga, who did it on his second go, Jakob Schubert, who climbed it in a day, and Laura Rogora, who climbed it on her third go. Eva Hammelmüller, Pepa Šindel, and Filip Schenk, among others, have also sent the route.
Pilz is best known for her comp climbing. She has podiumed many times at World Cup and World Championship events, including winning golds at the Lead World Championship in 2018 and Combined World Championship in 2021. She won the overall Lead World Cup seasons in 2023 and 2024. At the Paris Olympic Games, she earned bronze.
In 2024, she sent her hardest outdoor sport route to date, Papichulo 5.15a in Oliana, Spain. “Working on this route pushed me out of my comfort zone – from wanting to give up on Day 1 because it felt too hard to gradually understanding the process of projecting,” she said back in 2024 after her send. “Thinking about the route on rest days made me nervous, constantly running through sequences and moves in my head. Waiting all day for that one possible attempt in good conditions before it got dark made me nervous too. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions but absolutely worth it!”
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