Comments on: From Dean Potter, about Freesolo …

By: Roger

Roger — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:23:58 +0000

I know nothing of rope walking at all – but on the TV show about him, when he gets to the end of his “unleashed” walk at Yosemite, you can clearly (albeit briefly – be ready to hit pause) see the shadow of the safety leash on the rocks, although he is apparently not supposed to be wearing one, and does not appear to be when you see him pictured full length walking on the rope. I smell a rat – this sort of thing is done in the movies all the time to get rid of wires, flying rigs etc. I guess someone forgot to erase the shadow. Doh!

By: Zachary Romriell

Zachary Romriell — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:34:02 +0000

I heard that he was to eager do a Home and Away appearence! :O. Not sure how true this is, has anyone else heard it? There’s a part of me that kind of hopes this is not true lol.

By: sarek

sarek — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:14:09 +0000

i dont feel that this amsteel powerline is that safe dean try to tell us
its ridicilous tight and the shock load on the anchors therefore too

another thing behind this really stunning freesolos is the question for the “root” causes to do
-fear-fear-fear-….
i am now into psychology studies and also for example borderline syndrom things
(and by the knowledge of myself)
believe me its the lack of deep inner love, self-confidence, lack of emotional stability, stable partnership, family….. (things which given in our young childhood by your parents or not) which forces to extrem sport…..
its not a big harmony or mastership … or whatelse
its an neverending chase, escape to numb the fear, the inner war

amen

By: Bundy

Bundy — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:27:28 +0000

You have to be kidding. Perhaps you should consider how a highline will ever see a 100,000 lb load. And how many f-ing anchors are you putting in to match the strength of the amsteel line???? If you were smarter you would realize that in all likelyhood it is more important to have a line backed up that would require a few to several large loads to break the separate strands across the gap. To claim that all highlines under 100,000 lbs are about to break makes you an idiot. Instead of doing half-assed studies of martial arts, perhaps you need some engineering education.

By: Andre H. Walker

Andre H. Walker — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:01:28 +0000

As a novice to line walking, I appreciate Dean’s explanation even if it something I may never do at that level. Much respect…

By: granitelover

granitelover — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:44:39 +0000

Dean, don’t let those people get you down with their negative opinions. They mean well, but they just don’t understand.

Pretty much anyone solos — just at different levels of difficulty. My neighbor may solo up a tall ladder to clean the gutters on his roof. Me, an average climber, I might solo a 5.6 or 5.7 that I’m familiar with, or I might onsight solo a 5.0. That’s because at the grade, I’m as certain as I could ever be that I will not fall to my death (barring rockfall or lightning strike or some other act of god, which could just as easily hit me in the car on Hwy 120). Part of that security is knowing that if I get shaky or insecure or even slip, I have options. The point is, for you being on a highline or climbing 5.11 probably feels about the same as climbing 5.6 feels to me: you’re secure, and you have options. People like me will never have that experience at the same level of physical difficulty, but then you’re an awesome athlete and you practice constantly. What we do have in common is the thrill of the psychological experience: being totally exposed, yet totally in control… your Eigernordwand is my South Crack.

American culture has a strange relationship with risk. People don’t realize that what you do — taking very carefully calculated risks with a lot of practice — is in fact far less dangerous than being ignorant and taking risks unknowingly. Say, a gym climber leading his first 5.9 trad pitch, placing a crooked cam and not being aware that if it fails, he’s going to deck… All the statistics on climbing accidents tell you that not knowing what one is getting into is the greatest objective hazard. Nobody can accuse you of that.

Which doesn’t mean you can’t ever screw up. Nor can the rest of us be sure we won’t get hit by a truck tomorrow, or — heaven forfend! — choke to death on a cough drop. In the meantime, climb on! You’re awesome!

By: enjoimx

enjoimx — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:45:21 +0000

The current lines are much stronger than 10000 pounds. Read the slackline forums and you will see what people are currently using to make the lines very safe. Some hints: shackles\spansets, type r white webbing, rope underneath, steel rap rings to eliminate knots…etc etc etc. The list goes on. We are walking safe lines. Maybe not as safe as amsteel but thats kinda different than slacklining, seeing as how its not slack. Good walk though. Its f’ing amazing and you are my hero Dean.

By: TK

TK — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:37:26 +0000

Dean writes:

“Additionally I’ve developed a highline that holds over a hundred thousand pounds. This is the only highline I will step onto anymore. Every other picture you see of a person walking a high slackline is probably on a line that only holds under ten thousand pounds. You should be more frightened for them than you are for me because their line is about to break. I’ve tested lines over the years by breaking them with a vehicle or in the labs at the gear companies I work with and have found that my present highline has a safety factor of 12 to 1, where the lines others are walking have only a safety factor of 1.5 to 1 or 2 to 1 at best.”

Where is more info on this set up available? I hope he share this knowledge with the community…

By: James Geddes

James Geddes — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:50:08 +0000

I’m sure Dean thinks most people are CRAZY for going to a desk job 40-50 hours a week. You think he’s crazy for soloing. It’s all relative. Live your life as you want to live it. Now, back to my desk job :/

By: Dylan

Dylan — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:53:41 +0000

O and one more thing, nice line Dean that is an absolutely beautiful location. Amsteel! I haven’t walked on it yet but do realize it is the future of highlining. One of these days, but until then climbspec and climbing ropes “should” keep me breathing.