Basejumper.com - archive

Couldn't sleep, and was watching the early show on NBC. I was working on my computer when i heard Base jumping mentioned on The T.V. The Lady talking said something about cracking down on Base jumping in Moab. They showed some footage of a real popular cliff close to town with a quick hike . Something about it being to dangerous. Also said something about base getting in the way of climbers using the cliffs to. Then went on to say its already illegal in all of the parks...I searched the NBC website and couldn't find anything. Has any one else heard any of this nonsense.
WTF

http://tv.ksl.com/...nid=5&sid=215610

NickD
BASE 194

It's a shame the 1st ammendment doesn't mean what it used to.
~J

Can any of the Moab people comment on this, Clint, Jimmy, Marta?

What is the extend of the proposal? Is it the entire Moab area, or is it limited to specific areas?

Does anybody know if this is at all related to several recent incidents in the Moab area?

Is the base community at all in discussion with representatives from the climbing community to perhaps settle this without making laws? I have not ever heard a bad word from climbers about basejumpers, even if we used the same rock. I suspect that the government is just using them as an excuse to make a new law, and that the actual climbing-community couldn't care less.


Everybody enjoys a good James Bond movie, but to say that we glory in it? Nonsense...


Certainly not any more than the climbers and hikers do, right?

Is there anything we can do? Maybe call some people or write some letters?

Now would be a good time to become a member of the Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists! They have a membership for as little as 25 bucks, so there is no excuse. I know there have been groups with similar attempts in the past, but right now the ABP is the most active and most widely supported one, so leverage that!

Jaap - Never jumped in Moab but still looking forward to the Turkey Boogie - Suter

I would highly suggest that all BASE jumpers in that area attend the July 8th meeting. If you can't attend the meeting, then email, call, or write the parks and recreation board.

Does anyone remember when the NPS slipped the "BASE jumping is not appropriate" nomenclature in their 2001 Management Policies? Well, you shouldn't remember it, because when it went up for public comment, NOBODY responded. Not one jumper. And this 2001 NPS management policy is what is shutting us down right now.

I've not jumped these particular cliffs, but if only one cliff gets shut down, it'll start a domino effect and they'll have precedent. More cliffs could get shut down and then eventually our playgrounds are closed.

So who's going to the meeting? Anyone?

Park Info Here

 

Also would ask jumpers to be "on there toes" saftey-wise for the next couple weeks, as a bad incident wouldnt help.

keep up the fight!

It would really be nice if some of the Moab folks, especially Jimmy & Marta, could make a pitch for us.

I'm guessing that there will be several folks making it to the meeting.

The meeting is actually pretty much in SLC, so there are a bunch of jumpers there, plus it's close enough for a drive from TF, if anyone is going to be in town for the weekend and wants to head down.

hey tom can you give me any info on where and time im living in SLC and would love to go.
dave...edge-ee#762

I don't post here much but this is to close to home!

I don't think Snow Canyon is anywhere near Moab, about 350 miles away. BUT bad press either way is not good and you certainly don’t want a formal/legal precedent set against BASE jumping in Utah parks.

Is this something the ABP is fighting?

A good step is to better self regulate legal sites. Like trying to keep the people with to little experience from jumping off the LEGAL 400' cliffs in 25 mph winds and having to be MedEvac out costing the state $$$$.

Accidents happen but there are definitely ways to minimize the chance. And if you have to risk it all for nothing do it at an ILLEGAL site that wont impact the entire BASE world if the object gets closed.

Every time somebody gets busted up it, especially in TAX PAYER FUNDED PLACES, it translates into thousands more conservative ignorant viewers (if televised) taking up torches for a cause they don't understand.

I am sure there are far more biking, climbing, hiking, etc injuries in these parks but largely thanks to some previous "Parks" precedents BASE carries a very negative and dangerous stigma.

YES to Jason's point, let's not forget Yosemite used to be legal!

I'll try to adjust my travel plans and be in SLC next week too.

My 2 cents - Play safe,

Donk

This is pretty much the official info from the horse's mouth (original writer's signature at bottom):

Just for the record, although the picture is of pizza wall in Moab, this whole thing has absolutely nothing to do with Moab or the BLM directly. NBC just used a stock photo that they had. This is a site specific incident of jumping over a very popular climbing area. HOWEVER, everything is related and any attendance of jumpers at this meeting will have long reaching effects and is definitely recommended for whoever can make it.
Jimmy P
Apex BASE

Having attended various kinds of meetings like this in the course of my career, my professional recommendation is that anyone who attends should work from written comments that you have presented to the board ahead of time.

In other words, write a letter, send it, and then make your oral comments brief but to the point. Don't get sidetracked and if you can't help but ramble, consider sticking to a written statement. Most important, address only the issues that the board is considering--do not bring in any extraneous information.

If you had had more notice, I would have suggested soliciting donations to retain legal counsel just for the purpose of attending the meeting. It's admittedly a load of horseshit, but even for that, dragging along the hired gun always seems to work with these kinds of entities. For some reason, it persuades them to take you more seriously.

rl

Having worked as an administrative lawyer in a previous life, and having attended and participated in (for the state govt) administrative proceedings such as this, I'll echo these sentiments.

Having written statements submitted in advance allows your comments and concerns to be part of the public record. Generally at meetings like this, testimony is not recorded and there is no stenographer, so if written statements aren't submitted beforehand, all that might wind up in the formal record is a synopsis of what you said... and those can oftentimes be distorted.

I also agree that commissions take those represented by counsel MUCH more seriously than those that just get up and testify. If it's just you, most committee members just see it as you blowing off steam... show up with a lawyer and they start wondering if you may actually make their lives and jobs more complicated by fighting.

The fact of the matter is, generally by the time these meetings are held, theirs minds have been made up. So the best you can do is have your objections be part of the public record and try to force a compromise by having the prospect of additonal proceedings loom over their heads.

Maybe we should start a collection to send Rick H out there...