In mountaineering and climbing, a first ascent (abbreviated to FA in guide books), is the first successful documented climb to the top of a mountain peak or the top of a particular climbing route. Early 20th-century mountaineers and climbers were mainly focused on reaching the tops of notable mountain peaks (e.g. the eight-thousanders such as Mount Everest) and the tops of iconic climbing routes (e.g. the great north faces of the Alps such as the Eiger) by whatever means possible, and often using considerable amounts of aid climbing and/or with large expedition style support teams allowing them to "lay siege" to the climb.
As all the key tops were summited, the manner or "style" in which each top was reached became important to climbers, and particularly the ability to complete the ascent without the use of any artificial aids, which is called free climbing. In free-climbing, the term first free ascent (abbreviated FFA) denotes where a mountain or climbing route is ascended without any artificial aid — note that equipment for protection in the event of a fall can be used as long as it did not aid in the climber's upward progression. Completing the FFA of a climbing route is often called freeing (or more latterly sending) a route, and is highly coveted.
As the sport of climbing developed, additional types of ascent became notable and chronicled in guidebooks and climbing journals. In mountaineering, and in the sub-discipline of alpine climbing in particular, the first winter ascent is also recorded, given the significantly greater difficulty of the undertaking. The first solo ascent is also typically noted, although the first free solo ascent is a more controversial aspect, given the concerns about advocating such a dangerous form of climbing. With the significant rise in female participation in all forms of climbing, the first female free ascent (or FFFA) has also become notable.
In mountaineering and alpinism
As mountaineering developed in the 20th century, the attainment of a summit by almost any means was replaced by ascents that reflected the style used and the conditions faced. In 2008, the most prestigious annual prize in mountaineering, the Piolet d'Or, amended its focus to small light-weight alpine-style teams using no form of aid or support, rather than on large expedition-style teams using "siege" techniques.
The most notable types of mountaineering first ascents that are chronicled are:
First ascent. The most notable first ascents started with the golden age of alpinism when the main alpine peaks were summited (and often using aid climbing). In the 1930s, the focus moved to the first ascents of the great north faces of the Alps, and the Eiger in particular. The 1950s saw the first ascents of most of the fourteen eight-thousanders, and Everest in particular. By the 1980s, the rock spires of Trango Towers in the Karakoram, and Torres del Paine in Patagonia also had first ascents.
First winter ascent. The winter climbing season is between December 21 and March 20. The first winter ascents of the great north faces of the Alps were a coveted prize, particularly the "Trilogy" of the three hardest, the Eiger, the Matterhorn, and the Grandes Jorasses. The most notable first winter ascents were the Himalayan and Karakoram eight-thousanders, where the hardest, K2, was only summited in winter in 2021 (66 years after its first ascent) and considered a "holy grail" of mountaineering prizes.
First alpine-style (or unsupported) ascent. In 2008, the charter of the prestigious Piolet d'Or prize was amended to focus on small teams with no support making fast, but riskier, ascents on routes that had previously been done by expeditions (called alpine style). Multiple Piolet d'Or winners, whose ascents embodied this style, included Marko Prezelj, Mick Fowler, and Ueli Steck. The charter was amended to de-incentivize excessive risk-taking after several winners died (e.g. David Lama, and Hansjörg Auer).
First solo ascent. The most dangerous form of alpine-style ascent is the solo climbing ascent, performed by a single climber. The first solo ascents of the alpine north faces, including the first solo winter ascents, were coveted (the winter solo "Trilogy" was completed by Ivano Ghirardini in 1977–78); one of the most famous practitioners was the Italian Walter Bonatti. Himalayan solo ascents are also coveted, although problems around verification are more frequent due to the more remote nature of the routes, with notable disputes such as Tomo Česen's first solo ascent of the south face of Lhotse.
In rock climbing, how the first free ascent was achieved became important to chronicle by journals and magazines. The key differentiators were the format in which the route was free climbed (e.g. traditional climbing, sport climbing, or free solo climbing), whether the free climb was done on the first attempt (e.g. onsighted), and whether the climber had prior information (e.g. beta) on that first attempt.
The most notable types of rock-climbing first ascents that are chronicled are:
First free ascent (traditional climbing). Pre-1980s, all FFAs were by traditional climbing. A distinction was recorded if a climber practiced the moves on a top rope — called "headpointing" — but with the post-1980s dominance of "redpointing" as the definition of an FFA, such a distinction was dropped. FFAs that set new grade milestones are notable, for both male and female climbers.
First greenpoint ascent (traditional climbing). In the 2010s, traditional climbers called the ascent of a pre-bolted sport-climbing route with only "traditional protection" (i.e. protection that is not fixed via pre-placed bolts or pitons), a greenpoint. A notable example was Sonnie Trotter's greenpoint of The Path (5.14a R, 2007).
First redpoint ascent (sport climbing). In the 1980s, climbers wanted to ascend routes that had no cracks for using traditional climbing protection, and they had to be protected by drilling permanent bolts, which became known as sport climbing, and which has since set all new grade milestones in rock climbing. The "redpoint" became the consensus definition for a "first free ascent" in sport climbing.
First repeat ascent (traditional or sport climbing). The grading of a route can be complicated as the person making the FFA had no prior information or beta. The first repeat is therefore chronicled for confirmation of a grade, particularly when a new grade milestone is proposed. For the highest grades, the first repeat can take years (e.g. Action Directe or Jumbo Love), or even decades (e.g. Open Air).
First onsight ascent (traditional or sport climbing). An FFA that was onsighted, was done at the very first attempt, and without prior information (or beta). Climbing journals chronicle the progression of grade milestones for onsights for both male and female climbers.
First flash ascent (traditional or sport climbing). An FFA that was flashed, was done at the first attempt, but with prior information (or beta). With the widespread availability of online route beta (e.g. detailed videos), the distinction between onsight and flash ascents has diminished.