# Michael Reese Beats Dean Potter's Half Dome Speed Record

> Michael Reese free solos Snake Dike in 11 minutes 55 seconds, breaking Dean Potter's 11-year Half Dome speed record.
- Title: Michael Reese Beats Dean Potter's Half Dome Speed Record
- Summary: Michael Reese free solos Snake Dike in 11 minutes 55 seconds, breaking Dean Potter's 11-year Half Dome speed record. Michael Reese set a new Half Dome speed…
- Keywords: michael reese, dean potter, half dome, snake dike, free solo, speed climbing, yosemite, climbing, sports, travel, Michael, Reese
- Source: Climbing — https://climbing.com/news/michael-reese-beats-dean-potter-speed-record-half-dome
- Author: Holly Yu Tung Chen
- Published: 2026-11-02T19:55:05+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: michael reese, dean potter, half dome, snake dike, free solo, speed climbing, yosemite, climbing, sports, travel
## Record Breaker
Michael Reese, a 32-year-old climber from Boulder, shaved six minutes from Dean Potter's Half Dome speed record.
## The Record
Reese climbed Yosemite's Half Dome in 1 hour 12 minutes 58 seconds, free soloing Snake Dike (5.7 R; 800ft).
## Previous Record
Dean Potter set the record on May 3, 2015, but died 13 days later in a wingsuit accident.
## Training Process
Reese practiced Snake Dike 16 times over five years, including 8 free solos and 8 rope runs.
## The Crux
Reese completed Snake Dike in 10 minutes 55 seconds, overcoming lactic acid and dehydration.
## Why It Took So Long
The Grizzly Gully approach is a technical route with steep sections and slabs, requiring constant gear changes.
## Safety First
Reese prioritized safety, bailing if a party was in the crux section but continuing otherwise.
## The Shoes
Reese wore the same Five Ten Tennies shoes Dean Potter used, bought in 2021 before they went out of production.
## Why No One Beat It Before
The Grizzly Gully-Snake Dike line is faster than shortcuts through forests or cables due to its direct route.
## Record Duration
Reese expects the record to last at least a few years, but it could be broken by a climber comfortable with Snake Dike.
## The Aftermath
Reese ran to the summit, breathing hard, and was greeted by a party who asked, 'What did you do?'
## The Shoes
Reese wore the Five Ten Tennies, the same shoes Dean Potter used, bought in 2021 before they went out of production.
## The Record's Significance
The record shows that the fastest way to Half Dome is by climbing, not running around the route.
## The Future
Reese believes the record will be broken by someone comfortable with Snake Dike, but it could last years.
## Key takeaway

Michael Reese set a new Half Dome speed record by free soloing Snake Dike in 11 minutes 55 seconds, shaving six minutes off Dean Potter's 2015 record.