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wbw
Trad climber
'cross the great divide
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May 18, 2015 - 07:36am PT
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I didn't know Dean, but did meet him a few times . . in Boulder, in Yosemite. This hurts in a similar way it hurt when Mugs died. . it just feels like the world has lost something irreplaceable.
Some people truly are not meant to grow old. I came to this conclusion when Derek died on Sentinel, although it took me a long time to accept this. I had always thought it would be cool to be old farts playing bad chess and drinking good beer together, the way we once did, but it wasn't meant to be. I live too much of life out of fear, but these characters speak to me that living in fear is no way to live. For that they will always have my respect.
R.I.P. Dean and Graham. Thanks forever for the inspiration.
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brotherbbock
Trad climber
Alta Loma, CA
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May 18, 2015 - 10:43am PT
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I wonder what Steph Davis is feeling?
Both the men she was married to have died from BASE jumping.
I can't even begin to imagine.
Again....condolences to all involved.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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May 18, 2015 - 10:44am PT
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Bump for Dean and Graham.
My condolences to friends and family.
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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May 18, 2015 - 10:52am PT
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Very sad.
Dean, I loved your spirit - the spirit you evinced in your life and in the sports you loved, and I greatly admired all your expressions in art and philosophy you shared with us, much gratitude for all of that. You were a huge inspiration in so very many ways.
Condolences to the families and friends of Dean Potter and Graham Hunt.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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May 18, 2015 - 11:27am PT
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RIP Dean. You were a warrior, an inspiration, and an incredibly powerful individual. You lived exactly where you wanted, on the keenest edge. I'm grateful for the few times we spent together, and for the stories you brought back from spaces I couldn't ever hope to have the courage to inhabit.
My condolences to your close friends and family.
This world will be a much grayer place without you.
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Manny
Social climber
tempe
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May 18, 2015 - 11:28am PT
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My condolences to their families and friends. I met Dean once, in Squamish during my 58th birthday celebration at the Howe Sound Pub. He was very chill to hang with and spoke easily with all of us. Next day I saw him and his partner flying off the Chief. It was awe inspiring.
Too soon gone yet not forgotten. RIP gentlemen.
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
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May 18, 2015 - 11:33am PT
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Dean Potter he went so far: hard free solos, speed solos, free BASE, daring slack lining, wing suit flying, proximity wingsuit flying, the list goes on and on ...
I will never climb at those levels, but I climb. He gave me dreams. I may never BASE jump or proximity fly, but I paraglide. He gave me intense and incredible dreams at night where I could do all those things and do them well. Inspirational.
Dean pushed way beyond what most people thought possible, and then to do this all long before everyone else even thought of it.
With that said, everyone needs their primary emergency parachute: their faith, belief, and love in Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah. Don't leave home without it.
RIP gentleman. You lived life to the fullest.
My condolences to all their family and friends.
😥
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Majid_S
Mountain climber
Karkoekstan
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May 18, 2015 - 11:34am PT
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Thx Chris
RIP Dean
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thebravecowboy
climber
liberated libertine
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May 18, 2015 - 11:38am PT
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As HST put it: "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
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poliszbob
Mountain climber
Bellingham, WA
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May 18, 2015 - 11:39am PT
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Dean was one of the most, intense, driven and inspiring people I've ever met. He was the most innovative adventurer of our time.
Truly sad news, and incredible loss to the whole community.
Climbing community is rich, and there are many explorers and adventurers, and people exploring boundaries of human body and spirit. He was one of them.
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r2d2
Trad climber
East Bay
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May 18, 2015 - 11:54am PT
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"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
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graham
Social climber
Ventura, California
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May 18, 2015 - 12:04pm PT
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Sad news… my heartfelt condolences to their families and the tons of friends they inspired.
Mike Graham
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Roots
Mountain climber
Tustin, CA
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May 18, 2015 - 12:24pm PT
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So sad. Never met either one of them but had hoped to. RIP warriors.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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May 18, 2015 - 12:31pm PT
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Thanks CMac for restoring this. I only met Dean a few times in passing over the years. Seemed like a nice guy. I can't say I agreed with everything he did(Delicate Arch), but he certainly stayed true to the kind of life he wanted to live.
I can think of few people that this quote applies to so well:
“The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.”
― Lao Tzu, Te Tao Ching
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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May 18, 2015 - 01:01pm PT
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Man, so many hateful postings on a few of those other sites with articles about these untimely deaths.
I think most of that hate and angst comes from so many people who are themselves afraid to live on their own terms and without regret as Dean seemed to do very well.
Squirrel suits must be fantastic... If I were younger I still wouldn't have had the balls to fly close to stuff like that.
Godspeed gentlemen!
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crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
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May 18, 2015 - 01:10pm PT
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Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there.
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there.
I did not die.
RIP Dean and Graham.
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jfailing
Trad climber
part Texas, part Oman
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May 18, 2015 - 01:13pm PT
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Such sad news to hear. I walked by Dean in the valley once on one of my very first trips there. All I could think in my head was "Holy sh#t, that's Dean Potter." To say that this guy was an inspiration to me is putting it lightly. And here he was right in front of me. The Legend.
When we passed by each other he flashed such a genuine smile and said hello. That moment will forever be etched into my memory. Such a simple and nice gesture further increased his hero status.
May Dean be remembered by his unique contributions to climbing and beyond.
Rest in peace to Dean and Graham, and condolences to the friends and family of both.
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Spanky
Social climber
boulder co
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May 18, 2015 - 01:24pm PT
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I only met Dean a handful of times in the valley and at other climbing areas but from my few encounters with him he seemed like a great guy. Not egotistical at all but so totally focused on his path that others may have taken it as aloof but to me he just seemed like he was an extremely intense and spiritual person who was looking for answers and was willing to go to whatever length to find them. From an outsiders perspective he always seemed a bit uncomfortable in the limelight as though fame would compromise his journey. His exploits in the mountains were always inspiring to me and while I may have a hard time understanding the need to live so close to the edge I certainly respect his commitment to his ideals. Sad to see you gone so soon but we learned a lot from the example you set. RIP
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The Lisa
Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
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May 18, 2015 - 01:27pm PT
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Condolences to the family and friends that Dean and Graham leave behind. Fly free, you guys ❤️
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