It took me 6 months to do my first v6. I think I remember every part of that route (it was almost 3 years ago), and the feeling I had when I was about to match the top hold.
My goal was to go up a grade every month. That stopped at that v6, though.
Since then, I have moved to a different gym, and in this gym, the grades are much softer. There are new climbers that can do many of the v6 routes, and they have been climbing for just a few months. So it really depends on the route setters, and if they are soft grades or not.
My first v6 was after about 6 months. But, to be able to consistently climb v6s and call myself a v6 climber, it took longer, maybe closer to 1 year.
Yes, I could say that I climbed a v6 and that I am a v6 climber, but, to me that doesn't count. It may have been a very soft v6, it could have been my specific style also. For me what counts is being able to consistently climb v6s.
I felt comfortable in the v6 range close to a year after I started. I wouldn't flash them yet, but I could do them after a few attempts or sessions.
I sort of unlocked the v6's after 6 months actually. It was a pretty solid v6, and after that, it was as if this whole new world opened up and I was able to climb even more v6's. Of course not all, but some, and others I was able to do a few moves, while before I was struggling a lot on v5's.
