The Man Who Can Fly- Dean Potter

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James

climber
My twin brother's laundry room
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 6, 2012 - 12:41pm PT
Yosemite Valley climber, Dean Potter just finished a film with National Geographic. He slack lines, base jumps, and freesolos the upper section of the Freerider (from the Knights of the Round Table to the Summit)for the show. It's airing soon- I think. Cool trailer. Check it out.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/national-geographic-channel/extras/explorer-2/ngc-filming-the-free-solo-climb/

Here's a short- making of. Mikey Schaefer and Dave Turner are in it!
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/national-geographic-channel/extras/explorer-2/ngc-filming-the-free-solo-climb/
Gene

climber
Feb 6, 2012 - 12:58pm PT
It's airing soon- I think.


Sunday, Feb 12.

Yikes!!!!
James

climber
My twin brother's laundry room
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2012 - 01:12pm PT
Mikey also snapped this amazing picture of Dean slacklining Cathedral Peak.
http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/extreme-photo-of-the-week/#/dean-potter-human-flight_48311_600x450.jpg
ROPE GUN

Big Wall climber
LA,California
Feb 6, 2012 - 01:12pm PT
Awsome Stuff!!!

Monkeys are Sending
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Feb 6, 2012 - 01:16pm PT
Freerider? Holy shit!
BASE104

climber
An Oil Field
Feb 6, 2012 - 01:38pm PT
Is that the story "Aerialist" that he was working on? He was telling me about working on the story a couple of years ago. Stoked to see that it got done.

Dean is a big inspiration to me. His attitude is very "spiritual."

I hope the film lets that shine through. That is what makes Dean so special in my mind. He is doing his own thing, on his terms, according to his philosophy.

I found him to be one of the most interesting climbers or jumpers that I have ever talked with, albeit a long string of emails.

Trust me. I have known the full spectrum of personalities in those sports. He really stands out from the rest. Not by ability, although that is strong. It is his philosophy. Buddha unaware or something. No sh#t.




WBraun

climber
Feb 6, 2012 - 01:44pm PT
It would have been so cool if Dean had his dog on his back while soloing up the wall too ......
fsck

climber
Feb 6, 2012 - 01:49pm PT
linguini master. lol.
Norwegian

Trad climber
Placerville, California
Feb 6, 2012 - 02:13pm PT
extra-ordinary as defined by a society
can clash with our inter-personal understanding of ordinary.

strung out on love's sting,
we flee pillows every morning;

walk thru the mundane,
and establish ex-realities
as we passionately liason with lofty dreams.
YoungGun

climber
North
Feb 6, 2012 - 04:49pm PT
Holy crap. Aren't some of the cruxes slab??
Gal

Trad climber
a semi lucid consciousness
Feb 6, 2012 - 05:20pm PT
Fantastic-can't wait to watch-was wondering what DP had been up to. He is just way out there. I'm glad he does what he does on his own terms and own way (as Base stated earlier). Not many who do... and it would be very hard to be the videographers... what a stressful situation...
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Feb 6, 2012 - 05:56pm PT
Speechless.
drapnea

Trad climber
SLC, UT
Feb 6, 2012 - 06:06pm PT
correct link to the trailer:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/national-geographic-channel/extras/explorer-2/ngc-the-man-who-can-fly/
BASE1361

climber
Yosemite Valley National Park
Feb 6, 2012 - 06:09pm PT
Now he just needs to fire the lower pitches free and we will have the FA Free Solo of FreeRider.
What's amazing is how detached he is living in the pure moment. Bullshit'n with with the camera crew and asking them to move 2000 feet up hanging on a traverse.....

WTF over.

Giddy up.
Chippychopperone

Social climber
SLC, UT
Feb 6, 2012 - 06:29pm PT
How far is this going to go until we get to sit back, hand in a bag of chips and watch somebody splat on our huge plasma screens? As bold and absolutely amazing these feats are, I feel like the "progression" is pushing these people into death. We'll, I guess I don't have to watch them.
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
bouldering
Feb 6, 2012 - 08:01pm PT
Now he just needs to fire the lower pitches free and we will have the FA Free Solo of FreeRider.

bheller (from MPdotCOM) ...



The Huber variation boulder problem did experience some breakage... a large breadloaf like sloper broke off. It is probably solid v7 now. It can still be done, its just it may require a very commiting dyno and not offer a clipping stance before you soar. The Teflon corner is a water polished dihedral that requires crazy palm stemming and body english. Don't be afraid of it- once I chalked my palms REALLY well, I freed it right off... I did feel like I was going to fall the whole time though. I remember a lot of backstepping and dropkneeing in the smears.
Didn't Honnold already go over the route with a 'fine tooth comb' to try the solo, and decided against it? If so, I doubt Dean or anyone is looking at it as a candidate for first freesolo of ElCap.
Gene

climber
Feb 8, 2012 - 08:41pm PT
To the top!
ryankelly

Trad climber
el portal
Feb 8, 2012 - 10:16pm PT
awesome.

Dave T, "He just did it without a rope. Did you hear me the first time? He just did it without a rope"

hahaha
S.Leeper

Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
Feb 8, 2012 - 11:49pm PT
So where did Dean start in the video?

Relic

Social climber
Vancouver, BC
Feb 9, 2012 - 02:04am PT
Can any mortal human solo the Teflon Corner?
Sergio Colombo

Mountain climber
Red Rock
Feb 9, 2012 - 03:07am PT


I was there with Mickey that day. Dean was floating through the air, going back and forth on that line like if he was walking on a sidewalk. Simply breathtaking.

ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
bouldering
Feb 9, 2012 - 04:44am PT
Only 26 posts, and the Warbler (in-particular) absent from the conversation? Potts must be still burnt-off in the climbing world I guess. The vid is misleading, cuz it shows him walking up over dirt etc on the approach. It's a bit of a cluster at this point in my eyes.
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Feb 9, 2012 - 06:51am PT
Mentaly haveing other people so close and haveing the ropes that close changes everything. It is still stunningly huge but it is aslo way less mentaly chalangeing than being alone. I do a fair bit of ice soloing and when I solo up with the rope on my back and then rig a rappel rope the subsequent solos up the same line next to my rap rope are way easeier than the first trip up with the rope on my back. Mentaly I almost forget that I am soloing and have to remind myself to be extra carefull. Same thing happens on summer rock solos When their are other climbers roped up next to me. I almost forget that I am soloing. Of course you have to be very comfortable at the grade for this to happen and what Dean does is hugely badassed. Just saying that the mental aspect of being in the same spot with no support team would be significantly more mentaly chalenging.
Rattlesnake Arch

Social climber
Home is where we park it
Feb 9, 2012 - 08:06am PT
Just saying that the mental aspect of being in the same spot with no support team would be significantly more mentaly chalenging.

Yes, but he has to worry about the photo team being in the way, perhaps at the crux, or maybe accidentally bumping him off. And they must be a distraction.
mikeyschaefer

climber
Yosemite
Feb 9, 2012 - 08:26am PT
Dean started on top. Down climbed the upper pitches of Lurking Fear till he hit thanksgiving ledge. He then traversed this across, mostly walking and scrambling to point point a couple hundred feet west of Knights of the Roundtable (which is the ledge below the 11d Freerider pitch). The last two hundred feet involved 5th class climbing. Not really sure how hard he thought it was. My guess would be in the harder 5.10 to easy 5.11 range, but again only my guess. From the ledge he followed the normal Freerider corners till he joined the Salathe again.

The whole climb was definitely the most amazing thing I've ever been witness to. Bear in mind I watched Dean solo Heaven, Honnold solo Cosmic and the Sentinel. Being this high off the ground on such steep and exposed terrain really ups the intensity.
bob

climber
Feb 9, 2012 - 10:01am PT
Those anchors up on that panic pillar on Cathedral were a real treat to look at. Take those down yet?

Bob J.
elcap-pics

Big Wall climber
Crestline CA
Feb 9, 2012 - 11:03am PT
The climbers at the top of the trade are really up there in a unique league of their own. Not for the weak of mind for sure. All I have is respect for them and also for my photographer friends who shoot them. I would just be too nervous to shoot close like that. Props to all!!
murcy

Gym climber
sanfrancisco
Feb 9, 2012 - 11:28am PT
Huh... klk and I were on Cathedral Peak on July 12 and saw someone setting up a slackline there; was that the day?
mikeyschaefer

climber
Yosemite
Feb 9, 2012 - 11:50am PT
Hey Bob- I'm actually not sure what is up with the anchors. I wasn't around when they were rigged or taken down.
Rattlesnake Arch

Social climber
Home is where we park it
Feb 9, 2012 - 12:41pm PT
He then traversed this across, mostly walking and scrambling to point point a couple hundred feet west of Knights of the Roundtable (which is the ledge below the 11d Freerider pitch).

So does this mean the hardest moves Dean soloed were 11d? Or am I confused as usual.
S.Leeper

Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
Feb 9, 2012 - 05:54pm PT
Mikey, thanks for the description of the route Dean climbed!
I can't wait to see the program on Sunday.
Ha, slippery .12d, waaaay off the deck, will be the climb of the century.
S.Leeper

Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
Feb 9, 2012 - 05:56pm PT
So does this mean the hardest moves Dean soloed were 11d? Or am I confused as usual.

This is my question, too.
WBraun

climber
Feb 9, 2012 - 06:33pm PT
So does this mean the hardest moves Dean soloed were 11d?

Modern climbers are soooo hung up on ratings.

There are 5.9 pitches that will spank many people who can climb many grades harder.

It's stupid to put so much focus on ratings, especially when it's free soloing .....
tahoe523

Trad climber
Station Wagon, USA
Feb 9, 2012 - 06:45pm PT
Admitting ignorance here- does the route stand a higher chance of getting free solo'd with a parachute? The boulder problem seems high enough on the route to deploy a jump into some treacherous trees, but I gather there's more to it since you don't see jumpers on the SW side. The question is about the non-legal logistics.

As for the legal logistics, will NPS fine a free base climber for having the intent of using a parachute as a backup, or do they actually have to catch you having made the actual jump? Like reverse suicide- not arrested if attempted and arrested if executed.
WBraun

climber
Feb 9, 2012 - 07:07pm PT
will NPS fine a free base climber for having the intent of using a parachute as a backup,

It's never been done here so it will probably have to be contested in court if one is caught .....
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 9, 2012 - 10:49pm PT
What else is there?...Amazing.

Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."


Amazing.
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 10, 2012 - 12:38am PT
S.Leeper...this is who I am, nothing more intended. This is only my reply to, "what else is there?" for The Man Who Can Fly - Dean Potter:

Ephesians 3:17-21 KJV

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."


My response is no different in that it expresses how I feel, as in others responses. Although some will take it that way, there is no offense intended. It's who I am. Peace.

Glory to God
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 10, 2012 - 12:56am PT
"Right now there are some lessons that I haven't quite learned, and the answers are on the walls or in the mountains, and I think that's why I keep going back is to try to figure it out, try to have some higher meaning in life" - Dean Potter

Even Dean is searching for, "what else is there?"!
Rattlesnake Arch

Social climber
Home is where we park it
Feb 10, 2012 - 08:45am PT
There are 5.9 pitches that will spank many people who can climb many grades harder

Agreed. I've failed on such 5.9 pitches--- with a toprope. And I wouldn't solo 5.4 up there. I have great respect for Dean Potters abilities.

Just tryin' to understand exactly what he did...
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 10, 2012 - 05:35pm PT
Ah, I see you missed the point, for"its not about me/you." Now that Christ has paid the ultimate price, it's about God and others, Matthew 22:37-40 KJV...

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

This is a commandment that I, as one that is written in the Book of Life, am to be obedient to. God's love is to willingly sacrifice yourself, for the benefit of others, with no thought of return. Believe you me, my suffering (love) for others continues everyday that I'm alive on this earth by exhibiting a fruit of the Spirit, longsuffering, an enduring temperament that expresses itself in patience with the shortcomings of others. I'd say I chose to take on quite a responsibility and far from, to " give up seeking."

2 Peter 3:9 KJV

" Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,"

...including you.

Man, God is good!


Edit: first sentence was a bit abrupt.
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 12, 2012 - 04:14pm PT
Tonight, 8 pm., National Geographic Channel.
YoungGun

climber
North
Feb 12, 2012 - 06:40pm PT
Dean Potter on ABC News Nightline on Friday:

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/flying-man-bounds-15561018
slobmonster

Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
Feb 12, 2012 - 08:20pm PT
ALERT: DOG OFF PAVEMENT IN YNP
Roxy

Trad climber
CA Central Coast
Feb 12, 2012 - 09:49pm PT
sick!!
Melissa

Gym climber
berkeley, ca
Feb 13, 2012 - 12:11am PT
ALERT: DOG OFF PAVEMENT IN YNP


LMAO.

And from one of the only dogs I've ever accompanied off pavement in YNP. (Annie, I mean. Respectfully.)
kennyt

climber
California
Feb 13, 2012 - 12:17am PT
BADASSS
Route Loser

Trad climber
Lake Almanor/Chico, CA
Feb 13, 2012 - 03:19am PT
Awesome feature. I love watching earthy people burn fuel and increase their carbon footprint to contrive a flight that the mountain wasn't naturally shaped for. Makes me feel better about myself.
Rattlesnake Arch

Social climber
Home is where we park it
Feb 13, 2012 - 05:53am PT
...He's one of the best examples of the spirit of climbing I can think of....


Amen, brother...

From a climber's perspective.

Interesting aside, though, how the mainstream media seems to have suddenly embraced free soloing. National Geographic, 60 Minutes, etc. They've discovered(rediscovered?) mass spectator appeal that other forms of climbing cannot offer.

Hard to say if this enhances the image of rock climbing in the eyes of the general public, though. When I mention my climbing to non-climbers these days they immediately want to know if I "free climb", usually followed up by "that guy on TV is crazy".

(Edits)
Elcapinyoazz

Social climber
Joshua Tree
Feb 13, 2012 - 10:29am PT
Whereas BITD soloing was done more for personal reasons, or for the climbing community...

Interesting perspective. Of course when Bachar was soloing on "That's Incredible" TV show (wildly popular show at the time btw, which was the case when you had a total of about 4 channels to chose from) or when Bachar was in Gilette commericials, that was more for "personal" reasons...like the balance in his personal checkbook. This is almost a direct 1:1 correlation with Honnold's recent media...a popular general interest show and a commercial for a giant corporation.

People like having this romantic view of the old days, that bears little resemblence to reality.
rwedgee

Ice climber
canyon country,CA
Feb 13, 2012 - 11:46am PT
What's the new hole count on Butte ??
ground_up

Trad climber
mt. hood /baja
Feb 13, 2012 - 02:04pm PT
that the mountain wasn't shaped for......huh?
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Feb 13, 2012 - 02:09pm PT
Route loser has a point, but that ramp was a brilliant bit of rigging, and allowed for a great stunt.

That single long lasting zoom work was truly expert camera work, but did you see how close Dean was to his shadow on the wall?
Close one.
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 13, 2012 - 06:35pm PT
Walleye,

I'm looking for it tonight on "Nightline" at 11:30pm. It was originally listed to re-broadcast that same night, but Nightline isn't broadcast on Sundays, we'll see.
S.Leeper

Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
Feb 13, 2012 - 06:44pm PT
I was superpsyched to see Wayne Crill on the show!
Glad to see he is still pushing the limits.
Hank, do you see Wayne very often?
Rob Roy Ramey

Trad climber
Colorado
Feb 13, 2012 - 06:46pm PT
Fortune favors the bold player.
big ears

Trad climber
?
Feb 13, 2012 - 06:54pm PT
If they made the raw footage of the crew rigging that platform available, I would love to watch every minute of it
go-B

climber
Habakkuk 3:19 Sozo
Feb 13, 2012 - 07:05pm PT
Mind blowing!
Walking the plank!
When he put the stick / tree branch under the slackline creeped me out the most because they can split or shift, which could give an unexpected movement of the line!
Well done, Dean!
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 13, 2012 - 07:41pm PT
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/national-geographic-channel/extras/explorer-2/ngc-the-final-jump/
DrThrill

Trad climber
Altered State
Feb 13, 2012 - 09:18pm PT
The ramp might have been some sort of travesty, but at least we left no bolts whatsoever, holes yes... Putting the ramp in place was one of the most gripping bits of rigging I have ever been involved in, truly a 400 lb 40' long aluminum razor blade. Matt M. is an impressive rigger and person! Good Times!!
S.Leeper

Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
Feb 13, 2012 - 09:50pm PT
Did everyone have to haul up a piece of that ramp?
My palms were sweating just watching that.
BASE104

climber
An Oil Field
Feb 13, 2012 - 09:52pm PT
I dug it. The ramp idea is not new at all. There are lots of them in place at base sites in Europe. They didn't leave this one.

I gotta meet Dean in person some day. I have emailed back and forth with him and he seems like a pretty down to earth guy.

He fer sure isn't cashing in. He is living the life, and if he can get National Geo to pay for a helicopter, great.

The mountain will be no worse for wear. As for the base jump itself, the jumper comes and goes in a few minutes. Even El Cap is like that, but for some odd reason, the United States has made it a mission to put a rule on everything. The biggest rule is that you do not have permission to risk your own life.

If climbing had started ten years ago in the valley, it would have been banned in 1 year.

Still the BASE jumpers come and go, talking of Michaelangelo..

Climbers have pounded and drilled nigh every damn flake on El Cap by now.
enzolino

climber
Galgenen, Switzerland
Feb 14, 2012 - 02:37pm PT
Dean Potter is incredible ... I have no words about what he does ...

I don't understand from the last video ... did he jump without parachute?

I got it ... the goal was to break his own record ...
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Feb 14, 2012 - 02:47pm PT
I don't understand from the last video ... did he jump without parachute?

Yes. His hands are that big.
Mark Hudon

Trad climber
Hood River, OR
Feb 14, 2012 - 02:53pm PT
I've never been a big fan of Dean's but I certainly have to give him props for soloing those last pitches of Freerider. I haven't been on those pitches but I can't imagine that they are all safe, secure and cozy!
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 14, 2012 - 03:53pm PT
Okay, I fell asleep with my little one in bed before Nightline aired...did it show again, anyone? Someone please tell me if Potter broke the 2:50 mark, and what his time was either way.
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 14, 2012 - 03:58pm PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Kurt Ettinger

Trad climber
Martinez, CA
Feb 14, 2012 - 04:03pm PT
My TV programing search says its on National Geo Channel early Sunday morning 6/7am. I set the DVR to record. Looking forward to seeing it!
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 14, 2012 - 04:04pm PT
Kurt, are you PST, CST, or EST?
Kurt Ettinger

Trad climber
Martinez, CA
Feb 14, 2012 - 04:05pm PT
Pacific
eagle

Trad climber
new paltz, ny
Feb 14, 2012 - 07:10pm PT
it's only a matter of time before this clown bites it. go get a job dean and better society
go-B

climber
Habakkuk 3:19 Sozo
Feb 14, 2012 - 10:06pm PT
Nothing like a bridge to nowhere (sighs), you can see Alaska from up there!

What a great climb you guy's did on Mt. Bute, how many pitches was it?
deuce4

climber
Hobart, Australia
Feb 14, 2012 - 10:17pm PT
Phenomenal! Fidelman really pegs it in his comment about a person not trying to prove anything, but to self-introduce (Fidelman's always been quite a philosopher). There's no way Potter could do what he does if he were seeking anything extrinsic. And that's the amazing thing, how Potter has been at the vanguard and pushed the limits for so long with the core experience as the sole motivator and without being influenced by the outer perception. Only a few, in any field of life, have truly been able to do this.
Norwegian

Trad climber
Placerville, California
Feb 14, 2012 - 11:04pm PT
cragman quit workin so hard
and then you can stay upwright and alert for life's fireworks...


say,
i was just parked at the local hole-in-the-wall
and next to me seated a good man
we got to chattin and it turns out
this guy was

heidi wirtz's brother.

no shite he couldn't believe that i'd heard of her,
and i guess she got some air time with dean
on this documentary,
anyway he filled my cup when it was empty of it's beer

and i told him his sister is a hot doll,
but geez she's a badass woman.

mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Feb 15, 2012 - 12:50am PT
Saw it tonight and thought it was great. The climbing footage on Butte is worth it right there. I would love to climb that. You gotta say that the tricked out van, to sail boat, to helicopter, to many thousand foot rock climb approach to your base jump is stylin it out.

Synchronicity

Trad climber
British Columbia, Canada
Feb 15, 2012 - 12:51am PT
He has had more than his share of resistance from small minded people that have none of the talent, vision or balls that he does.

This quote bears repeating, I'm not sure why so many people hate on Dean, jealousy perhaps? Maybe we all wish we could be a little more open minded about our limitations and get to live life as he does on his own terms. Its easy to whine and criticize from safe at home behind your computers but who if any of you has the balls to do the things he does? regardless of what his motivations are.

Its not new for people to questions the motivations for soloists, Bachar, Reardon, honnold, they all have their detractors but to think that they are doing this for money or publicity alone is preposterous, there are far safer ways of making more money. Like many before him, Dean is simply taking advantage of the fact that people are willing to pay to assist him in what are otherwise expensive pursuits. I for one hopes he makes millions off his exploits so that finances will never be what limits a visionary like Dean, the way it limits so many dirtbag climbers.

I think this thread needs a good Potter quote...

"What I get from pushing my limits is that I turn impossible to possible, I turn something I haven't done into something I'm doing. The possibilities of what we are capable of if we truly believe is... the most compelling thing I can think of."-Dean Potter
melski

Trad climber
bytheriver
Feb 24, 2012 - 08:21pm PT
and you may find yourself ,,living in a shotgun shack,,and you may ask yourself ,,well how did i get here???when you get confused take a littel walk about,,maybe it:ll come to you ,,
BASE104

Social climber
An Oil Field
Feb 24, 2012 - 10:58pm PT
It is very easy to sit back and hurl insults about people who you have never met and don't understand.

The internet has turned the world into the equivalent to the deli crowd. Times one billion.

I admire Dean a lot. Not so much for being rad or anything. He is just out there exploring where things go.

Most of the wingsuit flyers are into proxy flying..buzzing the wall or the ground.

Dean is into doing the longest flights possible, and he has the perfect build for it. He is literally into flying.

I admire him very much. He doesn't post endless vimeo or youtube videos of himself. He just does his thing and every now and then we get a peek.

Should I have been so lucky as to chose that life.
lubbockclimber

Trad climber
lubbock,tx
Feb 25, 2012 - 01:21am PT
Dean knows what its all about man.
That's it.
Porkchop_express

Trad climber
Southwest for the winter
Feb 25, 2012 - 01:46am PT
I enjoyed watching the program and seeing Dean doing some rad stuff. I don't really buy into the "spiritual" stuff that he talks about--not saying that he is insincere or putting anything on, it just doesn't resonate with me personally. That fact doesn't diminish the stuff he is doing in my view though.

I really enjoyed seeing Matt M. involved in the rigging stuff--I have read about his "anti-cams" and a few other articles/blog by him and that is one incredible mind at work.

Jumping is not on my radar, but it's interesting to see what they can do and I am happy for Dean's success in sharing his skills and passion with the public. Climbing accidents/tragedies are misrepresented frequently in the media--I feel like these types of positive portrayals are good in a bigger sense, albeit atypical of what most climbers actually do.

Steve Richert
RyanD

climber
Squamish
Feb 25, 2012 - 04:57am PT
I thought that the whole show was amazing & the cinematography was extraordinary. The high line footage over the north gulley gave me anxiety, the el cap footage shows the positions & exposure so well & the flight off Mt Butte might as well be on another planet the way it is filmed! Dean is the perfect subject for all three. So focused. I had the pleasure of meeting him this summer when my dog tried to chase his dog down in the bluffs & he turned out to be a very genuine, peaceful, friendly dude. He had a really positive energy. I can see why he probably has haters- he is doing what he wants on his terms despite other opinions, if any of them haters ever met Dean they would probably change their opinions a bit.







OT: Someone mentioned Matt M before & the anticam. Some of the guys who made the NatGeo special also did an online series prior called "the season" that profiles the anticam as well as some other climbers & athletes from other individual sports which has some pretty good episodes & athletes

http://theseasontv.com
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 27, 2012 - 01:17am PT
Big ears, there's a behind the scene clip of the making and rigging of the ramp on this:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/national-geographic-channel/extras/explorer-2/ngc-base-jumping-platform-rig/
PatKaufer

Trad climber
Laguna Hills, California
Mar 2, 2012 - 11:41pm PT
Anyone know the name of the route they climbed?
RyanD

climber
Squamish
Mar 3, 2012 - 01:32am PT
Enjoy, hopefully your palms don't sweat as much as mine did!


Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PLjQItL1XE

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hsTSjeAO8g

Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsWD6AIw4a4
rnevius

Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
Mar 3, 2012 - 02:41am PT
Thanks Ryan. Good stuff.
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
bouldering
Mar 3, 2012 - 03:17am PT
Sorry, but that metal pier thing is lame.
roadman

climber
Mar 3, 2012 - 12:38pm PT
Cool! He's an amazing athlete, that's for sure.
hb81

climber
Mar 3, 2012 - 12:55pm PT
I found it kinda funny how he talks about feeling connected and one with nature and then has a 40ft metal plank attached to the side of a mountain just so he can jump off it. I'm sure he wouldn't chisel holds on a climbing route just to make it possible.

Makes you wonder if he really wanted to do it or if maybe the producers of the show had some influence there... you know, they've gone all this way and then they are missing the money shot... that kinda thing.




Gal

Trad climber
a semi lucid consciousness
Mar 3, 2012 - 02:05pm PT
Thanks for posting that Ryan-pretty incredible.
Klimmer

Mountain climber
San Diego
Mar 3, 2012 - 03:22pm PT
Very incredible. Thanks.


I wonder if "The Butte" can be paraglided? Wonder if there could be a launch worked out.

Dean is the man.
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Mar 4, 2012 - 04:53pm PT
"the metal pier thing" which was discussed in the behind the scenes link I posted, was to clear the initial section of the face which was deemed too low of an angle to clear upon takeoff. The solution was to build a "plank" lower down, hence the fitting phrase, "walk the plank."
RoryKuykendall

Mountain climber
California
Mar 4, 2012 - 05:38pm PT
Thanks for posting the link. That was a pleasure to watch. Dean Potter is brilliant, but I thought the real star of the show was Mount Bute. What an absolutely stunning mountain.
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Mar 4, 2012 - 08:34pm PT
Finally, heck I've been trying to find that since it aired.

Beautiful Dean.
Truthdweller

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Mar 5, 2012 - 12:21pm PT
Whoa, didn't catch it before, but Dean slips a bit on "wet rock"? at 10:53. Even more incredible is that a bit more than a minute was edited off of Dean's flight.
S.Leeper

Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
Jan 17, 2013 - 12:41am PT
wow, that was really something special!
The Wedge

Boulder climber
Santa Rosa & Bishop, CA
Jan 17, 2013 - 01:37am PT
All pretty rad!
orangesporanges

Social climber
Jan 17, 2013 - 01:43am PT
Amazballs
BASE104

Social climber
An Oil Field
Jan 17, 2013 - 09:15am PT
Dean is the man. I have asked about him when I meet someone who knows him and they all say that he is super kind.

His type of flying is a little different from the proxy flyers. Dean tries for distance and time. Proxy flyers are into buzzing things on the ground or along a wall.

The problem is that after endless searching on the internet, there just aren't many walls with enough relief to approach his Eiger jump, which was the tallest BASE jump.

In the U.S. we have a few walls with good relief, but nothing like the Eiger. The Eiger is massive, and beneath it is a long slope leading away for miles. Now even higher walls above sea level have been done, but I'm not sure if anyone has broken his Eiger record for longest flight. The one in the NG show is close.

The suit technology is improving rapidly. What was hot sh#t 5 years ago is now second hand.

Regarding the diving board, it was the only way to do this wall. Europe has many jumps that have artificial diving boards to make them possible, and in his case it was totally removed when finished. I heard that the rigging was pretty wild.

Funny that his dog's name is "Whisper." When out checking out sailboats I bet that Whisper was the most common boat name. Definitely not the most common dog name.
skywalker

climber
Jan 17, 2013 - 01:10pm PT
Now I know base jumping El Cap is illegal. If he fell would that be illegal? Just sayin'. Badass!

S...
Al_Smith

climber
San Francisco, CA
Jan 17, 2013 - 01:51pm PT
Almost completely irrelevant, but for what it's worth, I've met and talked with Dean at length on numerous occasions in the Valley and elsewhere and he's one of the nicest dudes around. (...Even to slightly overweight, mediocre climbers like me!)

"Great visionaries have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" - Einstein
orangesporanges

Social climber
Jan 17, 2013 - 03:30pm PT
^Amazballs adventurer.

And then, I heard of how one of the most super nice guys I have met (a relatively pint-sized Alpinist and collegiate boxing champion from Estes) was provoked enough to near-go the knuckle with him once.
Relic

Social climber
Vancouver, BC
Jan 27, 2013 - 03:46am PT
Can't believe I missed this one. I've been waiting to see this since summer of '11 when the crew was in Squamish filming it. I was most excited to see my buddy Jim Martinello climbing Mt. Butte and Damien Kelly too. Way to go boys!

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/videos/the-man-who-can-fly/
Big Mike

Trad climber
BC
Jan 27, 2013 - 04:04pm PT
Ya me too! Ryan's link is gone. Too cool tho, saw a clip at reel rock awhile ago for it but have not yet seen the full production.

As to when we will see someone die, answer is you don't. You just hear about it after and cry.

RIP Shayne.
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
extraordinaire
Apr 6, 2014 - 02:53am PT
Looks like you now can only buy to view on Amazon (2 bucks).
The segment of soloing the upper part of Freerider has been cleansed from the internet otherwise.
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Apr 6, 2014 - 03:39am PT
The man who dares not do it, should not interrupt the man doing it.

Did Dean Potter step on a few sore toes when he soloed the Compressor route on Cerro Torre in 11 hours?

To what extent did this motivate the forces behind the later chopping actions? I'm not primarily talking about the choppers.

Well, looking back at older threads I can also see there's some very real environmental and self-promotional concerns...

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=192082&msg=192082#msg192082

"For the past four years or so, I've been going up there kind of obsessively and looking at it in every possible light," Potter told the Salt Lake Tribune on Tuesday. "I had to do it in the morning, since the lighting is better--my sponsor's logos didn't turn out good last tim--I mean," said Potter, interrupting himself, "I mean, my celebration of nature through slack-lining just naturally led to this when a raven flew overhead and told me that me, and only me, could celebrate my oneness with Delicate Arch."

If the quote is right...
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 10, 2014 - 02:19pm PT
Bump
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 10, 2014 - 07:55pm PT

BASE jumping with your dog strapped to your back?

Seriously, Dean?
Tfish

Trad climber
La Crescenta, CA
Jun 10, 2014 - 09:42pm PT
That sh#t is rad. He is so good to whisper. I met him at the buttermilks like 2 years ago and he gave me some advice for my dog. She was a brat and would always run off, but he told me to let her free and trust her and she'll come back, she just needs to explore. So I let her off the leash and she ran off but kept coming back every 5 mins to check in. It was so cool, I'm so stoked to have had that experience with Dean and to meet Whisper.
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Jun 10, 2014 - 09:44pm PT
Seriously?
Tfish

Trad climber
La Crescenta, CA
Jun 10, 2014 - 09:53pm PT
Yeah I'm serious. You're seriously the hugest online kook. Go cry to Obama or something. Do you even climb or just cry online?
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
extraordinaire
Jun 10, 2014 - 10:40pm PT
Pet owners look at them as kids.
He probably wanted to start a family with Steph.
Tfish

Trad climber
La Crescenta, CA
Jun 10, 2014 - 11:00pm PT
Exactly, dogs are like kids and you want to share experiences with them. Otherwise they'd be stuck in a kennel or something.
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