Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 15, 2013 - 09:17pm PT
I know some people bash Dean but nobody can deny he has pushed the limits of human perception. For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, the Reel Rock segment is up on youtube right now. Pretty amazing stuff, my favorite part was the Alien Roof finish to the Rostrum, what a mindblowing position and route.
I searched the forum and couldn't see this posted. For those of us (like me) who missed the film tour
Is having a chute on really free-soloing? Yes, certainly, until you get high enough to deploy the chute. Above that, you have a belay of sorts, so it's not as ballsy as Honnold's ascent of the Alien Roof, again not taking anything away from Potter.
I'm sure there are many positions, both body positions and positions on the route where the parachute would not protect you, even if you are high enough. You probably only have 3 seconds or less to get your sh#t together in the air before its too late.
I know its a bit outdated, I just hadn't seen it posted on here and I saw it for the first time last night so i thought I would share.
For what its worth, I don't think it's fair to compare Honnold and Potter. The main reason why I got into climbing was not to compete with others but rather compete against myself. It's all about pushing your own limits, something that Dean certainly has taken to a new extreme. I think his vision is what inspires the most, and his non-competitive attitude and warrior mindset is still refreshing in a world dominated by a new generation of 15c sport climbers and V16 boulderers.
Honnold is an entirely different animal, but lets not compare apples and oranges. There is always someone out there bigger, better, faster, and stronger than you.... unless your name is Honnold....
We used to jump the Rostrum in the winter when nobody was home down there. It is a casual BASE jump. We could do it 3 times a day. The ride took a bite out of the day. In the winter, the number of rangers goes way down when the seasonal rangers are let go. Supposedly they go off and get deputy jobs tooling people. Sooo much anger in the LEO end of things.
The statute of limitations has long expired on that, and besides I like to make stuff up and brag. That last sentence is intended for the rangers...
I saw Dean in Yosemite as I was going in for the Nose 50 year presentation. He was sitting by himself on a bench with a dazed look that either revealed he had done something so serious he was in shock or he was too drunk to move. It was scary to see him like that.
Dean is very kind. He has begun to live right and to treat other people right. It is very hard to live a life like that today, with all of the junk we carry around, but I admire him very much.
He is a bad ass jumper. Most BASE videos are proxy flights buzzing trees and walls, but he milks distance and time. With his wingspan vs. body size, he is a human albatross.
Some of my favorite footage of all time. Thanks for posting it. Dean's the man, and I'm a huge fan. I like the somewhat serious honesty he brings to his exploits. I was bummed when his marriage to Steph Davis didn't work out. It's gotta be tough being an uber couple--as Tommy and Beth discovered, too.
The name of this video has been bothering me, and I just remembered there's a route up in the Adirondaks I did once called Drop Fly or Die. One of the few crack climbing crags in the east, like a micro- cookie cliff.
Let us know!