Today I learned of a Yosemite icon passing away
dying
doing what he loved doing
climbing the granite walls he spent so many years getting to know.
I met him really only once or twice
The most recent time was a few years ago
at a Climbing week in the park
He was humble, he got so much flack for getting sponsored for making money to do what he loved.
He was so drunk, didn’t really know how to handle being out and about
or maybe it was just all too much, who knows, I don’t. Drunk in Yosemite is commonplace, it is.
He was a hero though.
He broke records, he did the impossible, he was a true trailblazer in all senses.
He would free climb without any ropes up the massive walls of the valley
He would base jump in a flying squirrel like suit soaring down back to earth
An adventurer, someone who always pushed it
It’s no surprise that someone who always goes hard burns out in one way or another
dying while doing some extreme sport isn’t something new
However, I feel the loss of Dean Potter.
The image of the helicopter with body bags tied to the end of the rope
flying past Half Dome is with me.
May he rest in peace and may others still be inspired by his courageousness.