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
- 1997 Ride the Lightning, VI 5.10 A4 WI3, Middle Triple Peak, Kichatna Mountains, Alaska. FA with Kitty Calhoun, Steve Gerberding and Jay Smith[4]
- Lover's Leap. Bear's Reach, 5.7. Speed solo. 400+ ft in 4 min, 25 seconds.[5]
- The Gun Club, 5.12c, Free solo. New River Gorge
Biography
- Todhunter, Andrew (1999). Fall of the Phantom Lord: Climbing and the Face of Fear. New York City, USA: Anchor Books / Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-48642-1.
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Vetter, Craig (April 1999). "Terminal Velocity". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ↑ Dan Osman's Rope Failure Analysis—Possible cause for his death
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Free-Climbing Lovers Leap" (Video). YouTube. Retrieved 2007-08-10.