Here is a message from Dean Potter:
Dear everyone,
Patagonia is being flooded with complaints by people who are saying I broke
the law, hurt the environment and disrespected nature by free soloing
Delicate Arch. None of those accusations are true, but people keep repeating
them. It would help morale and give a balanced set of comments if they heard
from people who support judgments based on fact. Here are the facts. You
would be doing me and Steph a favor if you would either put this message in
your own words or just copy and paste it into an email, then send it to the
CEO of Patagonia: [email protected]
Additionally, if you have time, a phone call would be great. The free number is 1-888-344-4567 x4802.
Please keep it short if you do call...."I support Dean and his climb of
Delicate Arch. It's in line with Patagonia 100%."
Also, please forward this to other people you know who would send this
message. The more the better, as there have been a lot of complainers.
Thanks, Dean
"I object to the criticism of Dean's climb of Delicate Arch. It was not
illegal. No harm was done to the rock. It is unfair and libelous to
criticize Dean on the basis of inaccurate reports and unsubstantiated
opinions. I respect Dean's no impact climbing style, and I think it is
completely in line with Patagonia's strong environmental ethics. Thank you
for supporting Dean."
Patagonia is being flooded with complaints by people who are saying I broke the law:
...Good.
hurt the environment:
...You did.
and disrespected nature by free soloing
Delicate Arch:
...Completely true.
None of those accusations are true:
...Yes they are!
Seems like the only one who doesn't see this is Dean and his ever supportive girlfriend, shouts to her for backing him up but... the bottom line is, Delicate arch should have never been climbed and no matter how much Dean Potter tries to justify his actions the truth remains.... this was a mistake.
the sooner he admits it and offers a real apology, the sooner the heat will be off.
Also, the claim that the climb was done in a "no impact style" is total hogwash! Go here and look at the images, the grooves in the rock are clear as day...
outside.away.com/outside/features/200606/dean-potter-delicate-arch-climb-2.html
Claiming this climb was done with no impact is a joke and anyone perpetuating this rumor should be ashamed of themsleves for thinking we're all too stupid to see the damage!
//DjSulli
I have to say that dean totally destroyed that rock and now people will no longer come to there because he made these super big and ugly grooves in the rock wich can only be seen by elektron microscopes....
he did make grooves and yes he did dammage the rock, but what the F does that make him a bad climber and he no longer earns our respect ??? If you think so, you're a shortsighted caveman who should remain in his cave for the coming millenium....
Just because he is a celebrity doesn't mean he can do whatever he wants. He delibrately chose the delicate arch not because it was a difficult climb, but because it was a highly visible unique landmark. There are plenty of climbers who climb harder than potter, known and unknown, who would have the tact and responsibility to not do this type of nonsense.
He delibrately sought out and exploited a loophole in the parks climbing rules so he could:
- Get some nice PR photos
- hang out on top with his girlfriend
What he accomplished:
- alienating the park service from the climbers
- angered environmentalists, perservationalists
Hey md put a cork in it..If Dean wanted your opinion hed give it to you.Ok sit on top with his girlfriend hes married asswipe..No the facts even the person before you Judge someone..Celebrity?lmao Hes just Deano the myth the legend because of what he has acomplished ..Now thats just my opinion Dean may say differant .Oh an the other self rightous pudwhacker djsulli you can go put your opinion with Md or smoke each others poles..lmao..Hes married ..What makes you idiots have the right to even judge him by what other people say or who took photos to give you hard facts to come up with your lame ideas of conspiracys against the enviroment..lmao..Hey Dean hope you are doing well...JohnD
hey john d, by requesting climbers to come to his aid in a public forum, he has most certainly opened himself up to opinions.
my opinion is that if his climb was all about "soul" and "spirit" and all that pap, he wouldn't have had photographers posed around to take his picture and then submit it to the rags and his sponsors.
my only problem with him is that he tries to flavor up his shit with maudlin displays of "poor me". if he was a man about it, he'd just say "fuck it" and walk away.
I support Dean and his quest for climbing new and exciting lines. Have you ever clipped a bolt or placed a nano wire on a delicate flake? How about working the perfect boulder while hiking with your dog? Climbers effect the rock, no matter how much we'd like to believe that we don't. This happened to be a very visable climb that Dean sent, bad judgement? Perhaps, driven by desire is more likely. I was surprised to see that the clamor is being generated by Outside mag, a waste of glossy paper in my opinion. ( I cancelled my script when it started smelling like men's purfume) Bottom line is to me: Dean rocks, has been fortunate enough to make a living at climbing and I for one am quite enamored by his video escapades. One day I hope to meet the Potters! Climb on Dean (and Steph!).
Hey, I support Dean.
first off, whoever spouted out about there being stronger climbers then Dean, yah.. so? whats your point?
Dean is one F'ing strong climber, I've been on some of his bouldering problems that he put up and have never been repeated, even by the top new-schoolers.
Second, he chose to climb this, knew the risk and took it. This is something climbers do all the time. The only thing he is doing here is gaining support(from the ones who will) from the climbing community to help him keep his sponsor.
Kim : yah, he COULD do that, but then the company that is paying him to travel and climb and provide clothing for him would no longer support him, why would he do a thing like that?
I know that im not in a position to rock the boat being a new climber and all, but i have been following this controversy for a while...
Dean's technical ability and strength are not in question so much as whether or not his act was in good taste. I dont believe that he did any unreasonable damage in his climb and im convinced that he did his best to minimize any impact. If there is anything i would fault him for, its the fact that there might be other individuals who would follow his lead without being as careful. Being a high profile person (climber or otherwise) comes with its moral obligations.
On the other hand, you rarely hear people bitching about free soloers who "inspire" hormonally driven youths to imitate their feats... which, needless to say, often has unpleasant results which are more dire than grooves in a rock formation.
I guess balance is the key issue. The environment is there to be used and enjoyed responsibly. Roping things off and saying look but dont touch, doesnt teach anyone to appreciate or respect-- rather it alienates and causes people to forget why we head outdoors in the first place.
Dean potter