delicate arch climbed?

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JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber

Stoney Point

May 10, 2006 - 02:41am PT

That was way fast. I think they are really pissed off.

Glad I am not the Potter!

elcapfool

Big Wall climber

hiding in plain sight

May 10, 2006 - 08:54am PT

You probably don't want to hear about the rope swing...
Sponsorship is the single worst thing to happen to climbing EVER. This stunt illustates that point beautifully. This could be the end of sandstone climbing in NPS areas, and it staggers my mind that Patagucci didn't see that.
I think a couple of hundred angry letters to Patagonia are in order.
It sounds like the NPS may persue legal action.

Not since Metallica have I seen someone stray so far from the purity of their roots.

I am very disappointed.

philo

Trad climber

boulder, co.

May 10, 2006 - 09:36am PT

I always wanted to climb the Washington Monument and the White House. Do you think they will mind? After all I am an American and can climb where and when I want to, right? While I am at it I think I will whip up a bald eagle egg omelet. I can cook it on the JFK eternal flame.
A spiritual adventure my ass. This was a photo-op and a shameless act of self agrandizment! Dean, you are a great climber why do you have to blow your load for 45 feet of bullsh#t? Would you still have done it if NO ONE was there to know about it? This is a low point in North American climbing. And a major black eye for climber / land manager relations! Fortunately for Dean his celebrity may help him pass with a wrist slap. But what about the rest of us dirt bag climbers and our dealings with the keeper of the keys?
Potter and Patagonia should be ashamed! They should probably cough up an apology and a huge donation to the access fund to mitigate damage.

Jerry Dodrill

climber

Bodega, CA

May 10, 2006 - 10:54am PT

Antics at Delicate Arch are nothing new. Maybe Dean can claim he was cleaning up Fatali's mess, that Elcapinyouazz referenced. NPS took Fatali to task, made an example of him, and rightfully so.

Here's a link and summary of that debacle on the photo.net forum.

The photographers stated philosophy is: "No computer imaging, artificial lighting, or unnatural filtration were used as tools in the creation of these photographs. I use only natural light for all the images made for the gallery collection of handmade photographic prints. To me, using nature's light is the best way to express the wonders of natural phenomena.

So this was ironic:

oct 19, 2001; 06:58 p.m.
From the Associated Press this afternoon:
A photographer who started fires under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park for dramatic effect was charged with seven misdemeanors Friday in federal court. Michael Fatali, 36, of Springdale, Utah, burned four fires underneath or near Utah’s most recognizable icon, Delicate Arch, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Conservationists attempted to scrub the rock Thursday, but the discoloration of the famous red sandstone proved difficult to remove. Officials believe the man used manufactured fireplace logs to start three of the fires during a mid-September night last year. The logs contained a waxy substance that penetrated into the soft sandstone. The charges accuse Fatali of lighting another fire during the same time in a sandy bowl near Delicate Arch. According to investigators, Fatali directed members of his photo workshop group to collect wood to build the fire. He allegedly left it smoldering throughout the night. Fatali is also being charged for lighting fires four years ago in nearby Canyonlands National Park. Investigators estimate it will cost more than $16,000 to fix the damage there. Delicate Arch is a four-story stone arch perched on the rim of a deep sandstone canyon in southern Utah. Thousands of people make that 1.5 mile hike every year. In an e-mail message sent in November to members of the photography community, Fatali apologized for what happened, saying he ‘‘seriously regretted’’ the incident. ‘‘I simply screwed up,’’ he said. Fatali has been charged with crimes in a national park, including defacing mineral resources, unauthorized fire, lighting a damaging fire, leaving it unattended and aiding and abetting. Each of the charges carries a fine of up to $5,000 and six months in prison.

Enough said.

Brian in SLC

Social climber

Salt Lake City, UT

May 10, 2006 - 11:40am PT

Yeah, have a hard time chokin' down din din at the Pizza Noodle in Springdale when I can see the statement, "in god's light" through the glass next door...

Too funny. Fatali. What a trip.

Potter's actions had to be calculated. Way of saying back off to his sponsers? Methinks.

-Brian in SLC

lost

climber

truckee

May 10, 2006 - 12:45pm PT

Can we please stop using the word dirtbag please?! I might be poor and try to climb alot but I am no dirtbag and think the term is pretty dumb, and truthfully I bet a few of you can even claim to be a dirtbag.

TIA