Dean Potter

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Dean Potter (born 18 January 1972, in the United States) is an American free climber, alpinist, BASE jumper, BASEliner, and highliner. He has become famous for many free solo ascents, speed ascents and enchainments in Yosemite. That said, Potter is most famous for climbing Delicate Arch, for which he was fired by Patagonia. "There wasn’t any legal reason for me not to climb it," Potter said of Delicate Arch. "I didn’t see any moral reason not to climb it. I didn’t hurt it." ^[1]

Potter said he would not climb Totem Pole, the spire in Monument Valley that Navajo imbue with religious significance. Delicate Arch, despite its prominence on Utah license plates, doesn’t have the stature of that sacred Arizona tower, he said.

"I didn’t see a reason why it’s wrong, why we shouldn’t mesh with nature," Potter said.

"At first Potter's handler at Patagonia spread the word of his climb by calling a press release to the Salt Lake Tribune. Public outrage was immediate, though, especially in Utah, where many see Delicate Arch as a symbol for the state's wild beauty." ^[2]

Potter also made several new routes and extremely bold solo ascents in Patagonia. He is also known for his exploits in highlining and BASE jumping.

In July 2006 he climbed The Reticent Wall, one of the hardest routes on El Capitan in 34 hours and 57 minutes along with Ammon McNeely and Ivo Ninov, shaving over five days off the existing time.^[3]

He is married to rock climber Stephanie Davis.^[4] She also lost her sponsorship with Patagonia.