John Gill: Master of Rock

John Gill: Master of Rock is a captivating look into the life, achievements and ethos of boulderer John Gill. This new edition of the classic title is complete with photographs, personal impressions of Gill from climbers such as Yvon Chouinard, and an enlightening interview with Gill himself. Hailed the father of modern bouldering, John Gill is an awe-inspiring climber with enigmatic talent. His techniques have been likened to poetry and are almost ‘spiritual’ in nature. Famous for his dynamic approach to bouldering and his impressive physical accomplishments, such as the one-arm front lever, Gill is an inspiration to climbers around the world. Written by Gill’s friend and fellow climber, Pat Ament, John Gill: Master of Rock pays homage to this influence. Delving deeply into not only the fascinating life of Gill, but the very raw essence of what it means to boulder, this intimate biography is both intriguing and informative. 'Bouldering is the poetry of mountaineering … As with good poetry, good bouldering comes from within. It is derived from an inner eye, then refined.' At its core, John Gill: Master of Rock illustrates the humbling relationship between Gill and those who admire him – as Ament details first-hand, Gill is never egotistical, nor elitist; instead he is approachable, passionate and refreshingly independent. This staple climbing read is a real must-have for those with an interest in pioneers of the bouldering scene. The exploits and adventures contained within will appeal to devotees of the sport and to anyone seeking insight into the triumphs of a master.

American rock climber and author Pat Ament is known for his creative writing, having published a range of impactful pieces such as his Mountain article ‘The Black Canyon With Kor', his imagistic masterpiece ‘Swaramandal', and his bestselling biographies John Gill: Master of Rock and Royal Robbins: Spirit of the Age. Much of his work has been praised for showing how humour and philosophy might fit into what is often particularly technical writing. In addition to this, dozens of his articles have appeared in anthologies of the best climbing and mountaineering writings due to their high quality. A keen gymnast whilst at university, Ament set free-climbing standards and partnered with masters including Layton Kor, Dave Rearick, Royal Robbins, Tom Higgins and Chuck Pratt. Ament became a bouldering inspiration and teamed with John Gill, achieving numerous first ascents both as a free-climber and a boulderer, throughout the 1960s and 1970s. His route Supremacy Crack in Colorado, in 1965, was one of the hardest short free climbs in the country, whilst his freeing of Centre Route on the Slack in 1967 was the first 5.11 in Yosemite. In September 2013 he was inducted into the Boulder Sports Hall of Fame, which celebrates and preserves the legacy of the city’s greats who have excelled in their respective fields. Alongside these climbing successes, Ament has enjoyed recognition for his award-winning filmmaking, photography and art. Pat has won the Best Spirit Award at Telluride's Mountain film festival and, internationally, several outstanding achievement awards for film. Dubbed a ‘Renaissance Man’, Pat is a chess master, award-winning artist, pianist, songwriter, poet, photographer, and karate black belt. His humour, imagery, and gentle spirit have endeared him to a wide following.

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Update: September 2022. Most orders received through the Vertebrate Publishing Adventure Books website are dispatched from Gardners in Eastbourne, UK; some orders (such as signed copies of pre-orders, or limited stock items) are sent from our office in Sheffield, UK. If your order is for multiple items, you may receive more than one package, though we try to avoid this (if applicable, you would only be charged once for shipping). Orders received before 11 a.m. are dispatched the same day; orders received after 11 a.m. are usually dispatched the following business day. You will be sent a notification email when your order has been dispatched. If we are temporarily out of stock of a title we will advise by email.

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