Yuji Hirayama

Yuji attempted to onsight Salathé Wall falling only three times on the Headwall pitch.

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

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

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/yuji-hirayama-repeats-noia-8c-.html

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 109, page 12

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I2t2T-FoZc&t=63s

First ascent. 25 sessions.

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

Yuji attempted to onsight the route falling twice.

References

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

The first onsight of an 8c.

References

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

Second go.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://gripped.com/profiles/yuji-hirayama-sends-time-machine-a-new-5-14c/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDJqOcQMeN4

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CawztQhl7Nr/

Fourth ascent.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/yuji_hirayama_stonerider/reel/C3iJ0giSXLX/

[2] https://www.climbing.com/news/legend-yuji-hirayama-repeats-the-dangerous-daydream-5-14-trad-in-japan/