DNA (climb)

DNA is a single-pitch sport climbing route at the La Ramirole sector of the Verdon Gorge in France. It was bolted by French climber Sébastien Bouin and first climbed by him on 29 April 2022, with Bouin proposing a grade of 9c (5.15d). Climbing media described the proposal as potentially the second sport route graded 9c (5.15d) after Silence (2017). As of January 2026, DNA had not been repeated, and is one of five routes at the grade, all unrepeated. PlanetMountain reported that Bouin scoped and bolted DNA in 2019, then worked the project over multiple seasons before completing the first ascent in April 2022. UKClimbing and PlanetMountain reported approximately 250 attempts over about 150 days of work prior to the ascent. Bouin stated that he debated between suggesting 9b+ (5.15c) and 9c (5.15d) before proposing 9c (5.15d), describing it as a proposal that would require repeat attempts to confirm or adjust. PlanetMountain noted that other top-end routes have seen grades revised after repeat ascents, citing Bibliographie as an example. PlanetMountain described DNA as approximately 55 metres long, located in the steep limestone cave of La Ramirole. UKClimbing described the route as beginning with sustained climbing (reported as around 8c (5.14b) for the initial quickdraws) into a rest, followed by multiple boulder-style cruxes (reported as around 8A and 8A+) and a difficult finish (reported as around 8c+ (5.14c)).