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Andy Puhvel
climber
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May 17, 2015 - 09:24pm PT
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He roamed our valley barefoot
A dirty earth loving gargantuan spirit
Unlike anyone you ever saw or met
He came to teach us true dedication
His job well done
Entering the Valley with a force never seen before
Potter grabbed the reins
And with his mythological abilities of focus
Achieved milestones one after another
The Big 3 in a day
The Big 2 free in a day
The Big 2 solo in a day
Constantly breaking barriers with his
Endless visionary artistry and drive
Nobody trained harder than Potter
Nobody was ever more badass
I remember the fun guy at the boulders
Young, driven, and fixed on his path
Larger than life, six foot six inches
Of intense mystical man
Today a great chief has passed
The ravens have welcomed him
Into their circle
As Yosemite’s tears
Run in long beautiful waterfalls
Down the face of Half Dome
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donald perry
Trad climber
kearny, NJ
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May 17, 2015 - 09:36pm PT
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So sorry to hear this, this is very sad and bad news. I hope there is no more bad news this year, that the rest of will err on a more careful side. None of us is perfect, an accident can happen to anyone. My sincere condolences to his close friends and family.
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tuolumne_tradster
Trad climber
Leading Edge of North American Plate
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May 17, 2015 - 09:39pm PT
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sincerest condolences to friends and family
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mountain girl
Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
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May 17, 2015 - 09:43pm PT
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In shock, it hurts. Just saw him in Yosemite recently.
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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May 17, 2015 - 09:44pm PT
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So sorry. There are no words.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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May 17, 2015 - 10:02pm PT
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So sorry, our tribe has such a tight knit that ripples smash through us pretty fast and often when these terrible things happen. Graham sounds like a wonderful character, how amazing it must have been to be able to share in the kind of awesome sh#t Dean does!
This one hurts, I grew up in climbing through watching Deans videos and their lifestyle, I feel we are all grown children trying to stay in that moment of adventure and exploration. I saw with how those guys lived, getting up before dawn to train then bouldering by the creek and working their ASSES off while having the time of their lives... I couldn't do it, like many, but gave it a good try. Some here still are chasing that childish spirit of adventure. Life is real and grown up, it beats you up and does shitty things to you, but YOU don't have to grow up.
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
― A.A. Milne
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Jeff Gorris
climber
Not from, Portlandia
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May 17, 2015 - 10:04pm PT
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Really sad.
His free and courageous spirit will be missed.
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flyingkiwi1
Trad climber
Seattle WA
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May 17, 2015 - 10:07pm PT
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The core of the core of the corps.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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May 17, 2015 - 10:29pm PT
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My condolences to their many friends and family.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
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May 17, 2015 - 10:30pm PT
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Dean Potter and Graham Hunt died late Saturday after attempting a wingsuit flight from
Taft Point (no parachutes had been deployed).
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shady
Trad climber
hasbeen
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May 17, 2015 - 10:35pm PT
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"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." (Confucius)
Courageously bittersweet for them to lose their lives in a celebration of life.
Peace to those who have held them close.
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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May 17, 2015 - 10:40pm PT
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I am deeply saddened by Dean's passing.
He showed us what was possible.
Legend.
We grieve together.
Condolences.
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Heisenberg
Trad climber
RV, middle of Nowehere
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May 17, 2015 - 10:59pm PT
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It was early morning. All of the sudden we heard what was the sound of a jet. 3 BASE jumpers leaped from the summit of El Cap.
That morning I saw Dean and another person who I won't name and told him:
" Thank you for the wake up call "
He replied " I have no idea what your talking about " I told him I didn't either but I appreciated the alarm clock going off today.
They both smiled and drove away.
It was years later we met again... with me at the exit point.
Over the years Dean played a crucial role in my life. Never told him that until now. From reading the stories of his free solos, traveling from colorado to Yosemite at the last minute to do the link-up solo, the tripple link up, speed records and the list goes on.
Dean drew the public eye both in positive actions and negative (Delicate Arch) but with out a doubt he was one of the most talented and gifted human beings alive in the sport. Sometimes people don't always follow the herd of sheep. Dean was an eagle needing to soar to his own thermals.
To those of you who say " F*#K BASE " it's a comment made out of fear. Of which Dean didn't have. He lived his life out of love, Not fear as most people in this world do.
What if he died free soloing? Would you say " F*#K climbing? "
Wing Suit Proxy flying is beyond the comprehension of 99% of climbers on this forum just as free soloing is beyond the comprehension of 99% BASE jumpers.
WS proxy is a sub speciality of BASE in the same respect that free soloing is a sub speciality of climbing. Both are at levels of mental, physical and emotional skill that only a select few are capable of achieving.
He lived the life of the Samuri, close to the edge of the sword. I have a trememdous amount of respect and admiration for his intergity and committment to living a beautiful and amazing life filled with such love and energy.
Dean found the energy were all seeking. He lived the life he loved.
BSBD my friend. See you at the next exit point.
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ryankelly
Trad climber
Bhumi
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May 17, 2015 - 11:23pm PT
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Just saw you two monkeys last week, life is strange indeed... The memories and inspiration will live on...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dean loved telling stories about the great Samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi. These are Musashi quotes I picked out...
“Do not sleep under a roof. Carry no money or food. Go alone to places frightening to the common brand of men. Become a criminal of purpose. Be put in jail, and extricate yourself by your own wisdom.”
 Miyamoto Musashi, The Complete Book of Five Rings
“A thousand days of training to develop, ten thousand days of training to polish. You must examine all this well.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, The Complete Book of Five Rings
“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, richer, stronger, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.
--Miyamoto Musashi, The Complete Book of Five Rings”
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johnboy
Trad climber
Can't get here from there
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May 17, 2015 - 11:24pm PT
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Terrible news.
My most sincere condolences to both of their
families and friends.
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mcreel
climber
Barcelona
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May 17, 2015 - 11:45pm PT
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RIP Dean and Graham. Dean was one of those rare people who inspire one to think and appreciate more deeply.
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tarallo
Trad climber
italy
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May 17, 2015 - 11:48pm PT
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I'm so sad i cryed, he was one of my hero...
RIP
andrea
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ryankelly
Trad climber
Bhumi
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May 17, 2015 - 11:51pm PT
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dan wisey
Mountain climber
England
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May 17, 2015 - 11:52pm PT
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RIP Dean and Graham, sad news
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