Dan Osman

Dan Osman
Born February 11, 1963
Died November 23, 1998 (aged 35)
Yosemite National Park
Nationality American
Other names "Dano"
Occupation Rock Climber
Known for "Rope jumping" and other stunts

Daniel Eugene Osman (February 11, 1963 – November 23, 1998)[1] was a Japanese-American extreme sport practitioner, known for the dangerous sports of free-soloing, rock climbing without ropes or other safety gear. He also participated in rope free-flying or rope jumping, falling several hundred feet from a cliff then being caught by a safety rope, for which his record was over 1,000 feet (300 m). He was known for living a bohemian lifestyle, working as a part-time carpenter and living in Lake Tahoe, California. He was the subject of several rock climbing videos, which brought free-soloing to a wider audience. Dan had one daughter, Emma Osman.[2]

Climbing films

Osman appeared in Eric Perlman's Masters of Stone series, free soloing Atlantis (5.11+) on The Sorcerer in The Needles in the Sequoia National Forest. Plus Airy Interlude (5.10b, then 5.9) on The Witch, also in Needles (in California's Sierras). He also is featured crashing a BMX bicycle, ziplining off The Witch, taking a 192 feet (59 m) whipper for fun in Yosemite, and on-sight free-soloing Bolder Display of Power (5.11).

Death

Dan Osman died November 23, 1998 at the age of 35 after his rope failed while performing a "controlled free-fall" jump from the Leaning Tower rock formation in Yosemite National Park. Osman had come back to Yosemite to dismantle the jump tower but apparently decided to make several jumps (over a few days) before doing so.[2] The failure was investigated by the National Park Service with assistance from Chris Harmston, Quality Assurance Manager at Black Diamond Equipment. Harmston concluded that a change in jump site angle probably caused the ropes to cross and entangle, leading to the rope cutting by melting.[3] Miles Daisher, who was with Osman when he made the jump, stated that the ropes used in his fatal jump had been exposed to inclement weather including rain and snow for more than a month before the fatal jump, but that the same ropes were used for several shorter jumps on the previous and same day.[2]

Notable climbs

Biography

References

  1. Ghiglieri, Michael P.; Farabee, Charles R. "Butch", Jr. (2007). Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite. Flagstaff: Puma Press. pp. 349–354, 366. ISBN 978-0-9700973-6-1.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Vetter, Craig (April 1999). "Terminal Velocity". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  3. Dan Osman's Rope Failure Analysis—Possible cause for his death
  4. Calhoun, Kitty (1998). "Wet and Wild in Kichatnas". American Alpine Journal (Golden, CO, USA: American Alpine Club) 40 (72): 88–95. ISBN 0-930410-78-5.
  5. "Free-Climbing Lovers Leap" (Video). YouTube. Retrieved 2007-08-10.

External links