Dean Potter Turns Dying Into Flying

World-renowned big-waller, free-climber and base jumper Dean Potter, has been named Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic. Anointing Potter with this honor is well deserved. Here are just a few of his climbing accomplishments:

• 2002 Supercanaleta, Cerro Fitz Roy, Patagonia. First solo of route^.


• 2003 Concepcion 5.13+ (67m), Day Canyon, Moab, Utah. First Ascent.


• 2006 Heaven (5.12d/13a) Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley. First solo ascent.


• 2006 Southern Belle (V 5.12d), Half Dome, Yosemite Valley. Second ascent with Leo Houlding.

But the real reason for National Geographic to award Potter with Adventurer of the Year is, as he calls it, "turning dying to flying". Potter is renowned for combining climbing with base jumping. Considering that many of his climbs lacked a rope, it makes sense. Potter typically climbs "free", or without a rope, and at the top, or in the middle, jumps off. A specially designed parachute pack allows him to deploy and safely float to the base of his climb. His latest base jump includes flight from the tallest possible point of the Eiger in Switzerland. The video below has it all...