In reply to Al Evans:
> and his 1961 route on the Thimble[5] (Needles of South Dakota) — an unrehearsed and unroped 30-foot 5.12a free-solo climb (or V4 or V5 highball)— is considered one of the great classics of modern climbing, and — if considered a climb — may well be the first at the 5.12 grade.[4][6] Gill climbed the route without the benefit of modern climbing shoes, significantly increasing the difficulty of the climb.
> A photo here of the thimble route, clearly showing the old fashioned footwear
Thanks Al, there's also a photo of him repeating the route some years later in what look like hiking boots!