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Dean Potter's controversial Delicate Arch climb featured in new HBO doc

Kim Bojórquez

Close-up of a man with long dark hair and light stubble, wearing a dark blue cap and red outerwear, looking to the left, with a blurred green outdoor background. — American free climber Dean Potter. Photo: Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images

The late free climber Dean Potter is the focus of a new HBO documentary series that delves into his life and the events that led up to this untimely death.

State of play: "The Dark Wizard," which premiered last week, revisits one of Potter's most controversial feats: his 2006 free solo climb of Delicate Arch.

Catch up quick: The ascent drew immediate backlash within the climbing community and led the National Park Service to reinforce its ban on climbing named arches in Arches National Park.

Potter refused to apologize and said he didn't use any gear that damaged the formation to justify the climb.
The 43-year-old was killed in a BASE jumping accident in Yosemite National Park.

The big picture: Potter inspired a generation of free soloists and alpinists, including famed rock climber Alex Honnold.

The show will span four episodes, rolling out weekly.

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Dean Potter's controversial Delicate Arch climb featured in new HBO doc

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