Hill's career in rock climbing began when he was just seven years old. By the age of 13, he joined a competitive climbing team and traveled across the United States, honing his skill everywhere from the mountains of Colorado to Red Rock Gorge in Kentucky. He has since aged out of his role in competitions, but his passion for the sport has not waned.

Yet of all the great mountain ranges and valleys that are known for creating rock climbing legends, Hill finds himself rooted in Missouri, the state of cornfields and thick forests of dogwood trees. It is by no means the first place anyone would think of if they were asked where the best rock formations are, but Hill and his climbing companions make the most of the few areas near the town of Columbia, MO.

For Hill and his friends, climbing isn't just about the physical challenge that the sport presents. It's a puzzle. Looking at the limestone, he sees a map of grips and holds that outline the various paths to the top. Capen Park in Columbia is revered as one of his favorite places to climb because of the range of difficulties that the climbing pathways offer.

He starts his approach to the Capen wall by examining the best places to put his limbs. According to Hill, just about any abnormality can act as the perfect hold for your hands and feet.

“It (a hold) can be anything from a little pocket in the rock that you’re sticking a couple of fingers into, to this big gaping ledge that you’re putting a full hand over and you pull down. It can also just be a little ripple in the rock that you’re getting your fingertips on and you’re staying low. A hold can be anything."

Hill also finds Capen Park to be simply a relaxing place to hang out, and he often goes down with friends both to climb and hang out.

Now, as a climbing instructor at Venture Out, an outdoor experiential education office, Hill gets to teach the basics of climbing to others. He admits that the sport is not as easy as it may seem and everyone has to take the process step by step at their own pace.