“My Hardest One Till Now” – Janja Garnbret Onsights 5.14b
With much of her focus on the rock this year, Garnbret starts 2025 with her third 5.14b onsight to date
Janja Garnbret recently onsighted Popolni mrk 5.14b (8c) at Mišja Peč in Slovenia. Many consider the steep limestone route to be tough for the grade. The five-star line has seen ascents through the years from Adam Ondra, Klemen Bečan, and Domen Škofic, among many others. “Very impressive Janja,” said Adam Ondra on Instagram. “[Those] who [don’t] know this route, might not really appreciate how hard that is.”
In November 2021, Garnbret made history by becoming the first woman to onsight 5.14b. Over a period of three days she onsighted two 5.14b routes in Oliana, Spain – first Fish Eye and then American Hustle. To date, the hardest onsight grades are 5.14d for men and 5.14b for women.
“Lots of rock climbing lately!” said Garnbret on Instagram. “Perfect conditions and my third [5.14b] onsight Popolni mrk in Mišja peč. Really proud because I consider this my hardest one till now.”
Garnbret is expected to focus her efforts on outdoor rock climbing this year, forgoing much of the World Cup season. It’s been reported that she will only compete at the Innsbruck World Cup in June, the Koper World Cup in early September, and the World Championships in South Korea in late September.
The 25-year-old Slovenian is widely considered the most dominant competitive climber in the world. She has dozens of World Cup first-place finishes to her name, as well as two Olympic gold medals. In outdoor sport climbing, she’s redpointed multiple 5.14d routes. In outdoor bouldering, her greatest accomplishment is the first female ascent of Bügeleisen Sit V15. She’s also ticked several V14s, including Bügeleisen, New Base Line, and Hide and Sick.
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