The boot belongs to our guide, Emil Perren. We had just been on a Mountaineering Association rockclimbing course (doing routes like Flying Buttress and Spiral Stairs little over a week before) so were now much more at ease with the rock.

My own further comments: What to me is very interesting about the picture, APART from all the historical information, is the photographic aspect. This was either Kodachrome I (which I think was 12 ISO) or maybe, just, Kodachrome II (which was 24 or 25 ISO, iirr). So even in this fantastically strong sunlight John's hand is coming towards us blurred. I must say that I think Dad has really got the moment just right - OK, may have been luck, but he's got a very good eye - so that, to me, by far the most interesting thing about the shot is the way that John's hand is already pre-forming itself, in milliseconds, for the expected hand hold. I'm not sure I've ever seen a shot that has ever shown that quite so well.
Would be interested on other people's comments on this point.