Grade (climbing)
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Many climbing routes have grades to calibrate the technical difficulty, and in some cases the risks, of the route to the climber. The first ascensionist can suggest a grade but it will be amended for
Action Directe was a major milestone in free climbing grades when Wolfgang Güllich freed it in 1991 at 9a (French), 5.14d (American YDS), XI (UIAA).
The six levels (Grade I–VI) of the "Welzenbach scale", from 1926
Adam Ondra on the sport climbing route Silence, one of the hardest free climbing routes in the world and the first-ever proposed at 9c (French), 5.15d (American YDS), and XII+ (UIAA).
Alex Honnold's 2017 free solo of Freerider on El Capitan was the first-ever big-wall free solo at the grade of 5.13a (American) or 7c+ (French)
Yosemite Decimal System
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The Yosemite Decimal System is a five-part grading system used for rating the difficulty of rock climbing routes in the United States and Canada. It was first devised by members of the Sierra Club in
Grade (climbing)
…systems (which include the two main free climbing disciplines of sport climbing and traditional climbing) are the "French numerical system" and the "American YDS system". The "UIAA scale" is still popular in Germany and across parts of Central Europe. Many countries with a history of free climbing have also developed…
The Knife Edge on Capitol Peak in Colorado is an example of a Class 4 climb
Emily Harrington on El Capitan in Yosemite, free climbing a 5.13a route