Yuji Hirayama

Also known as: 平山ユージ

Quick Info

From: Japan 🇯🇵
Date of birth: 23rd February 1969
Age: 56 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Sport (Worked): 9a
Hardest Sport (Onsight): 8c
Hardest Trad (Worked): E9
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E8

References

[1] Interview with PlanetMountain, 1999 https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/yuji-hirayama.html

Contributors
74 contributions since 24th January 2021.
22 contributions since 27th November 2025.
16 contributions since 30th November 2024.

Quick Info

From: Japan 🇯🇵
Date of birth: 23rd February 1969
Age: 56 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Sport (Worked): 9a
Hardest Sport (Onsight): 8c
Hardest Trad (Worked): E9
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E8

References

[1] Interview with PlanetMountain, 1999 https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/yuji-hirayama.html

Contributors
74 contributions since 24th January 2021.
22 contributions since 27th November 2025.
16 contributions since 30th November 2024.

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Ascents

17 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown.
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Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 109, page 12

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I2t2T-FoZc

Yuji first bolted the line in 1989 before coming back to finish the project in 2003!

References

[1] https://www.climbing.com/news/flat-mountain/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thlHM4JYH1k

Akira 9a Lead | did not finish

The first onsight of an 8c.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Csdo59GHnI

Considered 8c at the time which would have made it the first onsight of the grade.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 94, page 10

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Cobra Crack E9 Lead | worked Sep 2009
Greenspit Second go. E9 Lead | worked Oct 2011
The Big Issue E9 Lead | worked Sep 2014

Based on my own feeling, the 7th pitch is around 5.14a [8b+], and the 2nd pitch feels closer to 5.14c [8c+].

But when I first sent the 2nd pitch back in 2003, I was in top shape—physically, mentally, and technically—and even then it still took me five days to send. On top of that, the 2nd pitch was easily accessible and could be practiced almost like a single-pitch route from the ground. Now, with Sachi trying it this season, some holds have changed, and it seems to have become even harder. Taking all of that into account, I personally feel that the 2nd pitch could very well be 5.14d [9a].

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRIn7UikhbQ/

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/DRhDMdkEtN2/

[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/DRDTfcdkoj5/

Yuji attempted to onsight Salathé Wall falling only three times, once on The Teflon Corner and then twice on The Headwall.

I put so much energy into this project. Every single minute was great. If I had to pick my best climbing moment, then I'd choose the Salathe on-sight attempt in 1997. This is my fondest memory so far in my entire climbing career. [1]

Hans Florine:

We ascended the route in two days as [Yuji] fought to onsight the route. If I recall correctly we made it to the teflon corner and a little beyond the first day. The second day Yuji threw himself at the head wall. An effort like this has not been done even in recent times despite all the traffic and beta on the route. For 1997 it was way off the charts, only the past 27 years confirms that. [2]

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/interviews/yuji-hirayama-the-nose-big-walls-and-bouldering.html

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/DCTyllktwK7/?hl=en

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZueiGMv4x6w&ab_channel=narutokintoki

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7_3cISi-kA

Yuji attempted to onsight the route falling twice.

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/yuji-hirayama-repeats-el-nino.html

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade