You think you know but you have no Idea!
In 1991, Bill Legg, John Hover and I were traveling around the southern part of the country jumping towers with elevators. Not being in the best shape, I learned to pick locks on elevators and also make keys so I wouldn't have to climb the damn things!
We were in Houston and ended up with the key to the elevator on a 2000-ft tower. The tower is in the back yard, almost literally, of Andy Calistrat. Andy is the piece of shit who had used lies and deceit to take control of Bridge Day away from Jean Boenish. Despite his ignorance he was considered an authority in the BASE community because he published a BASE magazine at the time.
He didn't use or condone the new safety procedures being developed because he didn't like Mark Hewitt, the guy who was coming up with the ideas. Most important, he was telling people not to re-route their steering lines outside the rings and grommets on slider down jumps. Without this procedure you can't fix a line-over.
So, when Andy asked for a copy of the key, we said NO. If he had taken someone off the tower and got them hurt, I would feel responsible. As it was he got enough people hurt on his own without my help.
All three of us, Bill, John, and I, were wanted in Yosemite for BASE jumping. Bill and John had gone to court but had not paid their fines. I was injured jumping Half Dome, when one of my type-17 mini-risers snapped on opening. I had to be rescued and flown to the hospital, but I was never issued a ticket or a summons. (See "Mini Risers suck" from NickD's BASE magazine, The Fixed Object Journal.)
At the 1993 Bridge Day, and for not sharing the key for the tower with Andy, he had us arrested by the NPS for outstanding warrants. The warrants were issued the day before we were arrested. Andy singled us out one by one and 5 or 6 park rangers cuffed and paraded us across the bridge in front of our friends, families and 250,000 spectators.
In court on Monday, John and Bill are released having promised to pay their fines. Since I had never gone to court in Yosemite, I was held for extradition.
Beckley, West Virginia to Fresno, California meant a 21-day journey through the federal prison system. I went through two flights on Con-Air, (yes it does exist) eight different jails and prisons and many miles riding in vans and buses chained and shackled.
When I was finally released I had no money, I was 3000-miles from home, and in prison clothes. Thankfully, I had some good friends that went way out of their way to help me get home.
All for jumping off a rock!
How do I feel about Andy and the NPS? How would you feel?
