Legacy Series, Episode 4: John Gill

A passion-project of AAC Past President Jim McCarthy and Tom Hornbein-themselves mountaineering legends by any standard-the American Alpine Club’s Legacy Series pays tribute to the visionary climbers who made the sport what it is today and stands as a commitment to securing their legacies.
Episode Four: John Gill
John Gill is widely considered the father of modern bouldering and the individual responsible for introducing gymnastic chalk as well as dynamic movement to the sport of climbing. Being a gymnast, Gill began to specialize in short, difficult climbing routes in the mid-1950’s, pushing the boundary of what the human body was capable of achieving on rock holds. He emphasized aesthetic form and grace of motion over simple efficiency in climbing, challenging many popular norms held in the sport at the time. Gill climbed V8 in 1957, V9 in 1959, and onsight free-soloed 5.12a in 1961, all this achieved without the benefit of modern climbing shoes. While not the first individual to climb on boulders, certainly, he was the first to popularize the idea as a pursuit worthy in itself. In 1969, Gill published The Art of Bouldering in the American Alpine Journal.

[@StewartGartland]

Legend

[@jamescampbell2521]

The Thimble is absolutely terrifying.To do this in 1961 with no pads amazing. Legend.

[@jamesbailey9386]

"That feeling of flow and grace" my mentor.

[@TesterAnimal1]

Absolute legend!

[@jcardenas1779]

Just learned about John Gill today because I climbed one of his FA's: Acrobatic Overhang. Very cool to touch the same holds as this legend.

[@paulmitchell5349]

Certainly an inspiration to British Peak District climbers in the early 1980's.

[@avonnabors]

So underrated

[@Thu1s]

What a fucking legend

[@calisthenicsindia8498]

🔥🔥

[@peterpozman6972]

Saw him speak at Buxton in the 1980s. There was film too.

[@mindblown42069]

this makes me want to go and bang out pull ups