Climbers

Nathaniel Coleman is an American boulderer with multiple hard boulder ascents and a very impressive competition record. The early years of Nathaniel's career focused mainly on competition climbing, securing multiple boulder world cup podiums in 2015. Nathaniel's focus then switched to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in which he secured the silver medal.

In recent years Nathaniel has developed his rock climbing portfolio significantly. In 2020 he did the first ascent of Grand Illusion 8C+/V16 whilst training for the Olympics. Nathaniel's most notable ascent to date is that of No One Mourns the Wicked. Nathaniel proposed 9A/V17 for this in 2024 with the problem, which adds an 8B/V13 intro into Defying Gravity 8C/V15, taking him 22 sessions.

References

[1] Full Ring - A new area in Chironico, April 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy6HzNXm94Y

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZMyRxkvpY0

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqGsK9e7ppI

References

[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/3d9YOzCWeua199Gc73mvt2?si=Reh7Ev3AS82Rp-9o5_b56w

Albert Hargreaves:

As a man he was a delightful companion on the hills, full of fun and interest in the things about him. He was kindliness itself and also most unassuming about his climbing, yet never carrying his modesty so far as to appear to be fishing for adulation. To those who did not know him well he may have appeared dull, but this was not so—he was a simple soul, not much interested in the complicated ways of modern life, finding his escape and true expression in his mountaineering. [3]

References

[1] https://footlesscrow.blogspot.com/2011/05/colin-kirkus-gemini-rising.html

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/ticklists/colin_kirkus_routes-3283

[3] In Memoriam, Albert Hargreaves and Jack Longland. Climbers' Club Journal 1943, page 168 https://ccjournals.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/1943%20Journal_web.pdf

References

[1] The Incredible Iker Pou by Stevie Haston, On The Edge issue 114, page 30.

John Bachar was a leading figure in American rock climbing during the late 1970s and 1980s and a member of the The Stonemasters. He was renowned for his solo climbing, frequently putting in long days where he would solo thousands of feet in areas such as Joshua Tree and Yosemite. In 1981, Bachar famously posted a note in Joshua Tree stating "$10,000 reward for anyone who can follow me for one full day." A challenge which no one took him up on!

Bachar was also famous for his ethical stance on climbing, where he strongly advocated an adventurous ground up ethic at a time when sport climbing was starting to become popular in the US.

Bachar was also an early proponent of specific training for climbing. He invented the eponymous Bachar ladder.

John Bachar died on 5th July 2009 while soloing at Dike Wall near Mammoth Lakes, California.

References

[1] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/3396050157127802

[2] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/866918260041017

[3] A Tribute to John Bachar by Lynn Hill https://lynnhillclimbing.com/media/essays/a-tribute-to-john-bachar/

[4] John Bachar timeline on supertopo forum http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/898272/john-bachar-timeline

[5] Portrait by Dean Fidelman 1974 https://www.instagram.com/p/B7-bDk3jRbn/

[6] Obituary by Ed Douglas, 2009 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/10/john-bacher-rock-climber

[7] Memorial thread on supertopo http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=896012

[8] https://gripped.com/profiles/yosemite-climbing-legends-john-bachar/

The route climbing half of Britain's strongest twins.