Pierre Allain (1904 – 2000) was a French alpinist who began climbing in the 1920s. In the 1930s he was joined by several others at Fontainebleau, where his group of "'Bleausards" developed a love of bouldering that went beyond simple training for the Alps. The famous Allain Angle (V2 - V3), done in 1934, is a testament to their dedication and to the resulting elevation of standards. In Allain's 1949 book, Alpinisme et Competition, he expresses his appreciation of this simple and understated climbing specialty. To facilitate the rock-climbing experience he developed – in the 1930s - the first rubber-soled, soft shoes specifically engineered for serious rock work. He wore these on the sandstone boulders as well as on the granite walls of the Alps, where he made several famous first ascents, including the north face of the Dru. These shoes, known as "PAs", became the model for future generations of climbing footware. Indeed, the version available in the 1950s looked remarkably like modern climbing footwear. In the 1950s Allain opened a mountaineering store in Paris, where, among other items, he offered the first modern alloy carabiners. Prior to that time, these indispensable snaplinks were made of heavy steel. However, when Allain's name comes up these days, it is frequently in connection with his pioneering bouldering efforts at 'Bleau. 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Location within France Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. ... Bouldering is undertaken without a rope and is normally limited in respect to the height the climber ascends the route so that any fall will not risk significant injury. ... The West face of the Petit Dru above the Chamonix valley near the Mer de Glace. ... Climbers on Valkyrie at the Roaches. ... A carabiner or karabiner (colloquially: crab, krab, or biner) is a metal loop with a sprung or screwed gate. ...