NEWS: Potter Solos In Yosemite With BASE parachute rig

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 21 - 40 of total 57 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
scooter

climber
fist clamp
Nov 30, 2008 - 03:40pm PT
DR-
I know, and saw a guy jump and make approx. 160ft. Seemed REAL close. He is all ultra-secretive with his jumps as I have found most BASE jumpers to be.

P
ron ray

climber
seattle
Dec 1, 2008 - 02:10pm PT
OK, so curiosity abounds. we're all waiting on those free solos of the nose or the salathe.

but what do you do in a chimney, or something like the texas flake, where you have to wedge -- with a chute on your back.

yea, potter won't fall on those but it'd be pretty ballsy to tow your chute.

or the crux pitches on the nose where you have to do the wild stemming and twisting lynn hill worked out. seems like it'd be impossible with a chute on.

(impossible for me by any means. but even for dean with a chute, it seems risky.)

maybe he can do it in winter. there was a skiier who tossed himself off a 300 foot cliff for a warren miller movie.
Moof

Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
Dec 1, 2008 - 03:42pm PT
I for one won't be the least bit surprised when Dean grease spots himself doing one of these stunts. Either that or a crowd will grease spot him for climbing something even more sacred than the delicate arch.

Just saying...
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
somewhere without avatars.........
Dec 1, 2008 - 03:45pm PT
Yikes! That's a pretty dick thing to say, dude.
couchmaster

climber
Dec 1, 2008 - 04:04pm PT
No it isn't Nefarius, Dean f*ing rules.

I think the interesting conundrum part of Deans new system is actually this:

1st) It is OK to free solo in Yos.

2nd) It is illegal to base jump in Yos.

Therefore, (in a lawyer voice here) if he wears the rig to freesolo something AND falls: it will be illegal for Dean to live, but legal to die. Where the hell is Joseph Heller when you really need the term Catch 22 defined.

Just another f*#ked up park situation and the reason why so many hate them. You can go to Europe and freak freey, but not here. Here, mommy and daddy want the job security of being boss and to tell you what to do. It's bullsh#t.

Wishing Dean well BTW, the guy is a phenom for sure.
Bullwinkle

Boulder climber
Dec 1, 2008 - 04:07pm PT
Hey Doof


Soul sucking job? the only thing that sucks is you.
tinker b

climber
your local park
Dec 1, 2008 - 04:47pm PT
dean,
thanks for allowing all of us to beleive one more thing is possible. may all the good spirits of yosemite watch out for you...and all the other little monkeys who go after their dreams.
Neal Harder

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Dec 1, 2008 - 04:57pm PT
Isn't it a bit premature to call this 'visionary'? When he takes an unexpected fall and doesn't die, then we can call it 'visionary'. There's no arguing that these are 2 impressive solos, but his "protection" system is totally unproven. I could solo the Nose with an umbrella for protection and you could call it 'visionary', but if I fell you'd just call it stupid.
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
somewhere without avatars.........
Dec 1, 2008 - 05:28pm PT
couch - Sorry, I still see it as a dick thing to say. To sarcastically say, "I won't be surprised when he dies" in a hopeful fashion or "gets killed by a mob of climbers..." is simply f*#ked up.

So many times you read/hear crap like this, mostly from people who've never met, nor know anything about Dean or the object of their anger. Sad. I didn't necessarily agree with the way the whole Delicate Arch thing was done either, but certainly don't hate Dean nor want to see him hurt, regardless. I know Dean and he's an awesome guy and I frequently think most people's sarcastic remarks have their roots in jealousy because guys like Dean get after it on a daily basis.

Just sayin...

Hey, DF. How are ya?
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
somewhere without avatars.........
Dec 1, 2008 - 05:32pm PT
"but his "protection" system is totally unproven."

That's not necessarily true. He did take a fall on the Eiger while soloing with a base rig. Just as in anything we all do, it's a matter of him assessing risks and making a judgment on the amount of risk he is willing to accept. Same as for a roped leader, soloist, etc...
tooth

Mountain climber
Guam
Dec 1, 2008 - 05:41pm PT
I pack my own reserve chute. Pretty easy, but it isn't directional like the base rig.

Also, I have been flying with guys who jump from a paraglider just under 400', do two front flips, hook their foot in the wing as it opens and STILL land it nicely. When it comes down to the line the experienced guys get things sorted out pretty quick!
rwedgee

Ice climber
canyon country,CA
Dec 1, 2008 - 05:49pm PT
I was told that it was not even legal to POSSESS a rig (base or skydive) in the Park. This was told to me by the ranger who searched my vehicle because my "Skydive Taft" sticker gave him probable cause. Good thing I was on a climbing trip and not the other that time.
rwedgee

Ice climber
canyon country,CA
Dec 1, 2008 - 06:41pm PT
Jebos, spoken like the man himself.
Domingo

Trad climber
El Portal, CA
Dec 1, 2008 - 06:50pm PT
"Just another f*#ked up park situation and the reason why so many hate them. You can go to Europe and freak freey, but not here. Here, mommy and daddy want the job security of being boss and to tell you what to do. It's bullsh#t."

Hasn't Werner explained this several times? The climbers were the ones pissed off about the BASE jumpers. Turns out it's both dangerous and terrifying aiding a big wall and having someone shoot past you. Not saying NPS didn't have motivation: I seem to remember hearing employees talk about having to go do a body search every time a touron would call in a BASE jump...

Back to Dean... interesting stuff. Hopefully he never has to work the wrong side of the catch-22.
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
somewhere without avatars.........
Dec 1, 2008 - 06:56pm PT
rwedgee - I'm not aware of any law preventing you from having a rig in your car/possession while in the park. Maybe I'm wrong. Don't think so. The law that gets applied if you are caught jumping deals with air delivery, not base jumping or your rig, specifically. Technically, it's the same law that would be applied to you were you to be caught tossing your bag off the top of El Cap....
handsome B

Gym climber
SL,UT
Dec 1, 2008 - 07:02pm PT
"Hasn't Werner explained this several times? The climbers were the ones pissed off about the BASE jumpers. Turns out it's both dangerous and terrifying aiding a big wall and having someone shoot past you. "

This is the minority view.

It is not dangerous, and if it' the most terrifying thing you encounter on the wall, you aren't pushing yourself hard enough


ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
Dec 1, 2008 - 07:04pm PT
Pretty radical stuff. I'm sure he has given it a lot of thought. The guy has been pushing things for a long time and seems to be doing just fine.

I've had base jumpers fly by me on El Cap (well, on for me off for them), it scared the he11 out of me at first--nothing quite like seeing a body whiz by up there--but was cool when I realized what was happening.

Moof

Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
Dec 1, 2008 - 07:14pm PT
No hate here, just that these sorts of reckless stunts tend to have a high mortality rate. Sort of like when you see a kid playing on the highway, at night, wearing black, you just can't get worked up to see the stupid white cross spring up a few days later. After the delicate arches gig I just won't shed a tear when one of his stunts goes bad.

I just have a feeling that Dean is tempting Darwin on one hand, and potentially pulling down a whole lot of hate on the whole community with his theatrics with the other. Dead soloists really don't deserve anyone's sympathy, nor should it be expected.

Nefarius

Big Wall climber
somewhere without avatars.........
Dec 1, 2008 - 07:31pm PT
Interesting... I can see that they may hate the act, but am confused that they hate the man when they've never even met him...
jbar

Ice climber
(home description... adjective, adjective, sensor
Dec 1, 2008 - 07:47pm PT
Worlds first basejump
http://www.guzer.com/videos/space_parachute.php
Messages 21 - 40 of total 57 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta