Dean Potter says that he should be able to climb the arch so he can "join nature." So now, if any one of the thousands of other climbers who think this would be a good idea decides to act on it as well, who's to stop them? If people like Potter do as they wish, others who hike up there to enjoy the grandeur of the area would soon be complaining about the "fixed rope" on Delicate Arch.

Dean Potter's actions were irresponsible and self-serving. Shame on Patagonia for condoning Potter's brand of ecoterrorism. Let Potter respect the rules that are in place to ensure that everyone, not just a select few, enjoys the wonders of nature, and that they are preserved for future generations as well.

By the way, he says he left no trace, and that the arch is in just as good a shape as when he started. No matter where we go, we leave a mark, a fact Patagonia has always worked hard to educate the public about. Delicate Arch has been climbed now, the absence of chalk does not mean a scar has not been left. There are plenty of legal places to climb both in and out of the park. Let Potter show he truly is an ambassador for climbing and respect both the law and the land.

John Bradford

Salt Lake City