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shackboy
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 12, 2006 - 04:11pm PT
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Damn, Dean's antics made the NY Times! Check out the article below.
Although some time has passed since Dean "The Raven" Potter garnered serious publicity for any climbs of groundbreaking difficulty, the 34-year-old Potter hasn't stopped making headlines. Just weeks after Arches National Park announced a park-wide ban on slack-lining as a result of Potter's highly publicized spiritual slack-lining journey, Potter is at it again. Last Sunday morning, in the presence of pre-arranged photographers, movie cameras, and Channel 9 Fox News, along with hordes of tourists, Mr. Potter free-soloed (climbed without a rope) the famous Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park. Climbing on the arch, the Utah state icon, is clearly prohibited. But Potter couldn't help himself.
"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."
Potter, who reportedly got his head caught in the door as a youth, is famous for his bold ascents, often performed alone (obligatory camera crew notwithstanding), and his spiritual journeys through climbing (click [here] to buy the live movie shot during the climb, click [here], [here], and [here] for links to the websites of professional photographers who documented Potter's commune with nature, and [here] for a direct link to Patagonia, where you can purchase the book, Let My People Climb Delicate Arch).
When asked how he could justify such seemingly damaging actions to the climbing community, one that has long-struggled with land managers and access issues, The Raven screamed, "I was communing with nature--f*#k off!"
But despite considerable scorn from the climbing community and most anybody with an intact frontal lobe, at least one group has praised Potter. In a Times interview, Bubba "Tiny" Larson, president of the Off-Road Vehicle alliance, said, "As a free 'Merican, he ain't gotta follow no damned rules. I ain't never fancied them climberin' types, I gotta admit, but he done inspired me," the 300-pound Larson said, getting misty-eyed and fiddling with the brim of his confederate flag ballcap. "Me an' Jimbo is a-fixin' to drive our jeeps up-top that arch next week. I just love gettin' out, seein' nature, just like Dean," said Larson before signing off with his trademark, "Yeeeeee-hawwww!"
Industry insiders and gossip columnists suspect that Potter may be trying to embrace a bad-boy image for greater publicity, ala rapper 50 Cent and basketball player Dennis Rodman. "Yo, I down wit Dean, we gonna bust a cap in dem NPS suckas, knowwhati'msayin'," said Mr. Cent. Others think he's simply a media whore.
It remains unclear whether or not Patagonia, Potter's main financial sponsor and an industry leader in environmental and conservation issues, will sh#t-can Potter or name a new shirt after him. Patagonia initially alerted media outlets to Potter's climb, a puzzling move given the predictable backlash. "Well," said one soft-spoken Patagonia employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, "I really feel like any publicity is good publicity, and this just helps spread our message." When asked what, exactly, the message is that Potter's actions support, the person simply responded, "Namaste."
Most climbers, however, have been less kind. In a long-winded rant, Wyoming climber Eddie Sender said:
"Let's hope mister spiritual pro athlete did alright in shop class because he'll need those skills for his next job, cutting sheet metal. Then again, that might be too intellectually demanding. He'll be pumping gas. Maybe not enough publicity in that, though. Given the deluge of 'my space' accounts and what-not, he can get his mug on the internet once he's sucking c*#k for wine money down in the park."
Although Potter declined an in-person interview until his photographer returns from his latest shoot, in a phone interview the Times asked if, in retrospect, he thought his actions were irresponsible. After a long pause, he answered: "No I'm not, you are. F*#k off."
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pc
climber
East of Seattle
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May 12, 2006 - 04:17pm PT
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I think shackboy should take over writing the SuperTaco News.
Not bad.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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May 12, 2006 - 04:32pm PT
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You should get a f*#king award, that made my day!
LOLROTFLLOL
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David
Trad climber
San Rafael, CA
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May 12, 2006 - 04:40pm PT
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Very well done!
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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May 12, 2006 - 04:42pm PT
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made Me laugh
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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May 12, 2006 - 04:45pm PT
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I was communing with nature
Sometimes I just wish people would leave me the FSCK alone!
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Largo
Sport climber
Venice, Ca
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May 12, 2006 - 04:49pm PT
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Witty, but sour graps nonetheless Shackboy. You betrayed your envy with the totally false line: "Although some time has passed since Dean 'The Raven' Potter garnered serious publicity for any climbs of groundbreaking difficulty . . ."
Media whore? Perhaps, but don't forget the guy has a knack for free soloing in Patagonia, on big, end-all routes, not clip-and-go sport fluff, the high numbers notwithstanding.
JL
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golsen
Social climber
kennewick, wa
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May 12, 2006 - 04:52pm PT
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sehr gut!
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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May 12, 2006 - 04:56pm PT
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Sour grapes or knott, it was hella' funny.
BTW, Nature, isn't that fsck -fy?
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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May 12, 2006 - 04:59pm PT
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OMG that is so ghey!
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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May 12, 2006 - 04:59pm PT
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BTW, Nature, isn't that fsck -fy?
huh? not caps? fsck - unix utility - file system check
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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May 12, 2006 - 04:59pm PT
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I remember when everyone and his uncle were ragging on Batso except for the sole voice of Lito Tejeda Flores.
Well done Largo.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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May 12, 2006 - 05:01pm PT
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Largo,
How was the exam?
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hardman
Trad climber
love the eastern sierras
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May 12, 2006 - 05:03pm PT
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i'll leaving sunday to do the 2nd ascent. Hit It!
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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May 12, 2006 - 05:07pm PT
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I think it was mentioned but there is a reasonable/off/slight chance Dean didn't do an FA. If it was me I wouldn't be a sprayboy about it and tell anyone. I bet I'm not alone. It could have been done twice before sprayboy - leaving you the coveted fourth ascent.
In fact I'm quite sure Locker sent the thing with his pet Mule.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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May 12, 2006 - 05:09pm PT
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If even that...
I'm not talking.
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hardman
Trad climber
love the eastern sierras
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May 12, 2006 - 05:11pm PT
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ok nature oh yeah call me sprayboy umm pot kettle. get some
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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May 12, 2006 - 05:16pm PT
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i wasn't calling you sprayboy. I do find myself coated in black ash all the time. What's up with that?
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hardman
Trad climber
love the eastern sierras
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May 12, 2006 - 05:20pm PT
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sorry misread your post. should i go get sushi w/ my gf tonight?
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Trashman
Trad climber
SLC
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May 12, 2006 - 05:21pm PT
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i can confirm that you wouldn't be in the top five.
amazing how this stunt got some of the fossils talking.
apparently the only new element is the handwringing going on, in the past it was celebrated, if quietly.
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