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Anyone think you could fight the aerial delivery bs in court if you had flared slightly high and cut your canopy away at 3ft or so? I'm assuming it is parachute aerial delivery, since they let hang gliders fly and land there.

Good idea. On top of the 2k fine, loss of gear, and huge inconvenience. You'll have a broken ankle.
That'll show um

I would like to thank the NPS for showing us the true value of a National Park:
get out of your car at the signs that tell you to take a picture, spend lots of money, and then leave.

In reality they're doing me a huge favor. If they weren't prejudice, I would be living there and jumping all day every day. I'd be fit, content, and happy. Thanks NPS - fuckers.

NPS sucks.
-Bill

Hey.... Why didn't we think of that? Definitely!! Go Try and tell us if it works. Jump at high noon too.

Sorry bro, won’t work. Aerial Delivery first started to stop the moon shiners who would fly over to make drops. They just now conveniently use it against us.

Nice try though.

Coco

you'd probably have better luck with a tranquilizer gun. Just put any rangers who try to get you to sleep, and you'll be out of there before they all wake up. piece of cake.

How about a "Yosemite Day", one weekend a year where it's legal to jump in the Park ?

Hello,
They're having that.
It's next Tuesday.

Its on the 4th of July. US citizens only, I think. Call Eric Ryde @ 769-555-6969 to get your name on the list.

you gotta be kidding, right?

Nope, I just called 769-555-6969 and it's definitely for real. They even happily accept death campers.

Sob

yeah, called him
got on the list...

big way planned for 4:20 tues afternoon

A better idea is to have a parachute packing ceremony with hundreds of parachutes in the landing area. What are they going to do, arrest 300 people for packing parachutes? Not knowing if anyone jumped? Not knowing who jumped if there was one?

...until they arrest multiple people and confiscate their gear for 'aiding/conspiracy to commit illegal aerial delivery'

arrest is different than conviction and the packing strategy seems like the only effective method to challenge the use of the NPS statutes.

That's pretty brilliant. I'm not sure how the public would react if the media was there to watch 100's of people getting arrested for packing parachutes in a national park. Hopefully NPS wouldn't do it, or the public wouldn't put up with it.

Edited to make the reply to 460 instead of Bert_man

, since they let hang gliders fly and land there.I wonder ,If a hang has to throw his raserve do they charge with arial delivery?

i was just being the devil's advocate... i think it's a great idea and its better than doing nothing... i'd be right there with you

And if they don't bust the Hanglider for using the reserve... We should start jumping from Hangliders until they just say "OK, fuck it. You can BASE jump."

Great Idea
-Bill

They're more likely to say "all right then, no hang gliding either." I know that USHGA has gone around this issue with the NPS, since the NPS will allow hang gliders but not paragliders, because paragliders might open the door to BASE rigs.

I believe that the NPS response to USHGA was along the lines of "stop pushing this issue, or we'll find a way to throw the hang gliders out of the parks, too."

NPS stands for National Police State

I can't even believe I am thinking about it, but...

Has anyone ever sent the ACLU a packet on BASE and the NPS and asked them for a response?

Thanks for volunteering HydroGuy. let us know if you need any help. You should have no problem finding great video of super safe jumps in from huge cliffs in Europe. I wouldn't include too much by way of carnage on the first offering.

Be Safe
-Bill

That's a great idea Hydroguy. I actually did community service with the ACLU after getting into some trouble on a jump. As controversial as they are, they really do fight hard for rights given to U.S. citizens under the Constitution.

That's actually quite an interesting idea. Invite some lawyers and news crews, put up some signs [maybe more "please" than "fuck NPS"] and fill the field below the rock on a big holiday. Organize people into the shape of the word "BASE" to make it visible from the top. Have some people running around and kiting their canopies just to get attention, etc. Talk to the public and have a few well-spoken members of the community talk to the news about how much traffic it brings to TF and - accordingly - how much it would bring to Yosemite... which would be a big help considering that the NPS is struggling a little lately.

Hm. July 4th, 2007, who's organizing?

I actually got the idea after reading posts on here a while ago.

People posted that they have applied for BASE permits in National Parks, but that they have been ignored or denied.

So I thought why not have an ACLU attorney apply for a group permit?

The NPS would 1. Have to respond. 2. Either say yes or no, and if no, they'd have to give some kind of reason for their denial. And maybe this denial would provide a spark for the ACLU to take interest in the issue.

The whole idea of doing protest jumps will lead to failure in negotiating with NPS and traversing the tenuous legal system. The courts have upheld the use of the NPS statutes but abuse of these statutes through civil disobediance such as a (legal) parachute packing ceremony may make those laws vulnerable. If there was a mass jump, the NPS would be justified in bringing out more police and rightfully arresting the whole lot of jumpers. And they would claim they were so beseiged by criminal jumpers that more enforcement would be necessary. Look what happens during riots. The cops usually try to come out in such full force to squash it in its tracks. The NPS would do that if people did large group protest jumps. It would escalate into a conspiracy charge which can be much more severe than the original charge.

For example, and I don't recall if this law is still in force or has passed its sunset period, but in Texas, it is illegal for anyone to sell realistic looking phallic sex toys. Possession of 6 or more of these toys puts the owner at risk of breaking the law for "intent to distribute." It's a felony, for God's sake. Until recently, fleeing the police in a car, was a misdemeanor by comparison. So one person had the idea to do a publicized show of a juggling act using a large number of phallic sex toys in anticipation of being arrested. The idea was to be arrested and challenge the constitutionality of the law by claiming the arrest is in violation of free speech, since the police stopped a ridiculous but legal show, legal in the sense that every other U.S. region is not that draconian.

There are advantages and disadvantages to a legal system that moves so slowly. The advantage being that if a law is overturned, it may take a long time to have another law enacted to deal with the issue, if Congress decides it's worth their time during this rocky and busy Congressional season.

Can you believe that the NPS arrested some paragliders awhile back and charged them with aerial delivery just for kiting their canopies in Tuolomne Meadows? If I remember correctly, it may have been posted here on this forum.



Bryan

I FREAKING HATE the ACLU but it may definately be worth a shot. I know we have some attorneys in our midst. Maybe they might have a fellow ACLU attorney friend.

That's been said about many things with regards to the NPS and a multitude of other government agencies... little has come of it thus far.

-=Raistlin

I never understood people "hating" the ACLU . . .

Can't you see they argue for all liberties and on behalf of all that are oppressed - and not just the freedoms you like and agree with - and that's what makes it work. They will argue you should be able to jump El Cap in the morning and on another's right to burn the Flag that same afternoon . . .

Have a happy and fun 4th, everyone . . . And oh yes, that has something to do with freedom too . . .

NickD
BASE 194

Hmm, scratch that part of the plan then. NPS = Fun Police.

Why don't they just ban climbing while they're at it? They act like little kids who need the whole sandbox to themselves.

They've tried, on several occasions, by various methods. Climbers are far more numerous and better organized, and the NPS backed off.

Hang Gliders in the Park

The Pilot must meet certain criteria to gain a permit to fly the park. Yes a permit is required along with advanced ratings. Its a pretty tight arrangement, and those whom get to fly, know how lucky they are.

Tom about hit the nail on the head regarding USHGA and the NPS. The Yosemite NPS knows if they allow Paragliding, then BASE is next. However much time has passed since then, and the pressure is on again. USHGA is again trying to gain access for Foot Launched pilots in NP's. I'm trying to stay optimistic

Yes a group of Paragliders were busted for kiting their wings in the park.

Climbers get busted for dropping gear/haul bags from the walls.

Wow, I never thought that my "yeah right" comment would actually make me lose more respect for them.

Do the anti-fun measures filter down from a single big cheese or a board of medium cheeses?

Re: the packing protest idea... I just want to make it clear that I'm just messing around, fishing for a few chuckles on the internet. Don't worry

so your sayin that climbers are better than base jumpers
... and thats a joke for those who dont see ...

Prominent figures in the sport, at that.

The NPS doesn't want more people there. Federal land is different than a city run by folks like you and me. When we go to Twin Falls, we're welcome because we stay in their hotels, drinks in their bars, eat in their restaurants and pay sales tax on it all.

National Parks don't get money the same way. There are permits to do anything there specifically to limit the number of visitors. They don't want more people there. If they did, there'd be an increase in staff (security), which is obviously bad. It's best to just eat away at the slow, slow process of making them forget why they don't want us there.

I cant remember, but as i thought the reg they violate us under also sais 'use' of aircraft.(so, kiting would also be illegal, as i remember from that post was the paragliders were kiting for awhile, and now and then would 'bounce' or be 'lifted' by their wings for a half second or so. so,,, then i guess they would be doing just as 'illegal' air delivery as BASE jumpers do) but im not sure. somebody post the rules and stuff.

 

Congratulations to everyone that made the list. There are only 2 spots left.
Remember the rangers insist all paperwork must be completed before you are allowed to jump, including but not limited to, your H.I.V.. test results and proof of penal size. Also all felonies must be posted on the board, stop sending me pm's damit! Many more requirements to follow including a clear picture of you under canopy. Thanks Eric Ryde

Hello,
Great news!
Bank of America is in on the festivities.
Stop at any branch on Tuesday, mention you're
on your way to the park, they'll give you a crisp $100 bill.