FreeBasing The Eiger
"...freeclimber, base jumper, now acclaimed 'freeBaser' ... meet Mr Dean Potter."
Climbing shoes - check. Shorts - check. Tub of talc - check. Parachute - check. Gigantic cojones - check. All you need for a quick trip up the Eiger for arguably the world's most imaginative and determined spiritual daredevil.
After several months training on limestone cliffs in Lauterbrunnen, Potter recently made his ascent on the 3960m Eiger, via the hugely challenging Deep Blue Sea route. Parachute or no parachute this a hazardous climb with the blue limestone rock prone to coming loose at any time. The prize waiting at the summit?... the opportunity to hurl himself landward in freefall rapture.
FreeBasing the Eiger would appear to be just another comparably small journey for a man who has been driven to risk his life and push the boundaries of human possibility since childhood. For those of you that might have missed it, Dean Potter is the only person in the world who does extreme slacklining. This is quite simply tight rope walking at its limit - high up... very high up, on a bouncy stretch of one inch wide rope, no pole, no harness, nature all around. Death defying, artistic, or plain crazy ... you decide for yourself from this short clip.
Categories Sport Tags Endeavour
By Juan on 18/4/10
Comments
Not Something I do for any reason at all. Giant Cojones for sure.
Posted By The Hoff on 22/4/10
If God had meant us to tightrope walk at ridiculous heights, he would have given us...er...tightropes...and...er...mountains...?
Posted By Eric Estrada on 23/4/10
My Comment