Climbing
Climbing Community Mourns Loss of Legend
Climbing and BASE jumping pioneer Dean Potter is gone too soon, leaving behind a great legacy.
Whisper and her family
© Dean Potter
On May 16, legendary adventure athlete Dean Potter and longtime flying partner Graham Hunt perished in a wingsuit accident in Yosemite National Park. The pair had jumped from Taft Point on the south rim of Yosemite Valley but did not return from the outing.
According to a post on Climbing Magazine's website, Potter was "one of the most innovative, energizing and controversial figures in modern climbing."
“He was a larger-than-life character,” Mike Gauthier, chief of staff in Yosemite National Park, told National Geographic. “His role in the community in Yosemite Valley, and the climbing world — he’s just in the pantheon of great athletes that people idolize and look up to.”
The climbing community is understandably reeling, reflecting on the inspiration that Potter's infectious personality provided over the years. See posts from climbers Sasha DiGiulian and Chris Sharma below.
Potter's innovative pursuits and his passion for experiencing life with other adventurers earned him plenty of fans. He also had been featured on RedBull.com in the past, which you can see in the article links below.
Potter and Hunt dedicated themselves to pursuing the adventures that they were passionate about. Our thoughts go out to their families and friends.