Jorge Díaz-Rullo Sending Chris Sharma’s Sleeping Lion
Initially graded 5.15c by Sharma, it was later downgraded to 5.15b, but still remains one of the most difficult sport routes in the world
Spanish climber Jorge Díaz-Rullo made the third ascent of Sleeping Lion in Siurana, Spain back in February 2024. He just released a 19-minute film about his send, which can be viewed below. Chris Sharma established the route in March 2023, grading it 5.15c (9b+). Located at the famous El Pati crag, Sleeping Lion is a route characterized by stacked double-digit boulder problems separated by poor rest positions. The first ascent came nearly 10 years after Sharma completed his first 5.15c, La Dura Dura in Oliana.
Alex Megos made the second ascent of the route in January 2024, instead suggesting a grade of 5.15b. “In the end it took me 8 days and I would suggest [5.15b], as both the [5.15c’s] I did took me at least twice as long,” said Megos. “Very happy to hear what other repeaters will say in the future!” When he initially announced his Sleeping Lion send, Díaz-Rullo did not comment on the grade of the route.
When Díaz-Rullo made the third ascent a month later, he shared his views on Sleeping Lion’s difficulty. “This is perhaps one of the parts that I like the least after finishing a project,” started Díaz-Rullo. “I feel that the important thing is the work behind it and the experiences we create with our own challenges. However, giving an opinion and proposing a personal graduation is not just a number, it’s also something that is part of this game.”
After talking about his experience on the route, he went on to say: “I feel really responsible with my decision of the grade and I know it shouldn’t be that way, but even so, I feel a bit stressed. It would be very easy to not listen to what people think, follow Alex’s latest opinion or say I climbed another [5.15c]. It’s been hard, but I’ve been trying to avoid all of this before making a decision.
“Based on the whole process and my experience on these levels, if I had to choose a personal grade in relation to my body and my climbing style, I think it could be a [5.15b] in the hard range, and I think it could become confirmed in this grade. I’ve climbed [six 5.15b’s] and [two 5.15c’s] before, and that’s all I can compare it to at the moment. But I’m really curious to know what the following repeaters think about the difficulty, because I think it depends a lot on the style and morphology of each one, this can sometimes make a big difference.” Stefano Ghisolfi made the fourth ascent of the route in March this year, also calling it 5.15b.
Díaz-Rullo had a strong fall season this year. In late September 2025, he onsighted Memento 5.14a and MotivAcción 5.14b in Cueva del Arenal, Spain. The ascents were his 15th 5.14a onsight and sixth 5.14b onsight. He also made the second ascent of Secaina 5.14d (9a) in La Pedriza near his hometown of Madrid and ticked El Cobrador del Flash V14. He also ascended Megos’ Pink Patatas 5.15a in La Bisbal de Falset, Spain, in October.
Jorge Díaz-Rullo Climbing Sleeping Lion 5.15b
