America’s best-known rock-climber has been killed doing what he loved. Potter, 43, was a pioneer in an intersection of extreme sports that combined rock climbing and skydiving.
Earlier this month, Potter set the record for the fastest ascent of Half Dome, one of Yosemite’s iconic monoliths. He completed it through a combination of trail running and free-soloing, or climbing without a rope. Potter also held the record for the longest wingsuit flight, covering nearly four miles (6.5km) of ground in 2 minutes, 50 seconds, after jumping from the Eiger in Switzerland.
Check out the video below for some of Dean Potter’s rock climbing feats.
Potter is most famous for his freebase jumping antics. Wearing wingsuits, Potter came as close to flying as humanly possible. Check out the documentary below and watch how he literally flew.
On Saturday 16th May, Potter and his friend Graham Hunt went for an illegal jump in Yosemite. The two men crashed while trying to fly through a narrow gap in the mountains. Rest in peace.