Basejumper.com - archive

I received a letter from the Dept. Of the Interior today. A scan of the letter is available at:
http://freeshells.ch/...letter_from_zion.jpg
In short, it says two new documents regarding Zion are now available.

The first is the Backcountry Management Plan; the second is the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). From what I can tell, the management plan is the most significant to BASE jumpers. Below is a quote from that document:

"Parachuting (Base Jumping)

During the scoping process BASE jumping was not identified as an activity the public would like to see allowed in ZION. Although during the comment period on the draft plan/environmental assessment over 50 comments we received asking the park to allow BASE jumping. The BMP covers areas within the park that are recommended wilderness and are within GMP management zones that are Primitive, Pristine, or Research Natural Areas. All of these areas are managed to preserve natural processes, where natural sights and sounds are all one sees and hears.

Mechanized forms of recreation are not appropriate in these areas. Parachutes are considered a form of mechanized transport and therefore are not appropriate in these areas. BASE jumping will continue to be prohibited in ZION and will be subject to the regulations outlined in 36 CFR 2.17."

Are bicycles allowed? if so the a certainly more machanized than a parachute.

They are not allowed in the bc. However climbing equipment is, not exactly un mechanical.

Well I was responsible for three of those 50 letters (me, dad and business partner)...so the rest of you were lazy...

you say that as if it would be different if they received 300 letters.

I got mine...I would have thought the response would have been more like 300 than 50. Too bad

...and - a human climbing a wall with the equipment is far from natural.

Actually, a good lawyer could prove that a parachute is exactly identical to climbing equipment.

Both have harnesses. Both suspend the human from a rope system. Both have an anchor that slows the fall of the human by using resistance. Both humans intentionally or unintentionally fall trusting the system...

...Great, I now can see the climbing community killing me because I just gave the outline to get their activity outlawed too.

You have a very good point!

I finally got the chance to read more about Zion's decision to maintain a "ban on BASE jumping". Some thoughts:

1) Zion reports that BASE jumping was not identified as an activity the public would like to see allowed in ZION. They also state that 50 comments about permitting BASE jumping were received. Did you know that they only received a total of 150 comments from May 16, 2007 through July 30, 2007? This means that ONE THIRD of all comments received were about BASE jumping. And they say the public isn't interested in permitting BASE jumping?

2) The NPS's new argument that parachutes are a form of mechanized transport is surprisingly not new. In a 2006 letter I received from a NPS Regional Office, mechanized transport in a Wilderness Area was the reason for the denial of my Yosemite special use permit application from 2005.

So, I'm kind of torn on how to address this "mechanized transport" crap. And I do believe "crap" is a proper description for the term. It sounds like this is merely the latest method to counteract the positive changes for BASE jumping listed in the 2006 NPS management plan. Now, the NPS merely wants to say that parachutes are a mechanical device and that they're not permitted in Wilderness areas. FYI: Wilderness areas include most of Yosemite (except Glacier Pt), reportedly the LZ at Black Canyon, and probably a ton of other good walls. We all know that parachutes are far less "mechanical" than the tools used by climbers. Parachutes never touch the ground, so how can they cause damage to the park in the same sense that true mechanical devices (ATV, bikes, etc.) cause damage?

So what do we do now? Should we concentrate our efforts on cliffs in non-Wilderness areas or fight the mechanized transport crap that has recently been dreamed up?

Does anyone know of any jumpable cliffs in Zion that are not in a Wilderness area? The ABP is apparently out to lunch, so it's time to investigate this stuff ourselves. Help is appreciated.....

PS. If you're sending out permit requests for Yosemite, be sure to specify Glacier Pt as the launch site. I'd love to see how that will be addressed.

you bring up a bunch of good points.

the 1/3 thing being the best point.

hopefully somebody at the ABP PM'S YOU.

we BASE folks arent' very organized. COULD YOU PM ME some info how you contacted ZION.

I also really like your argument about the mechanized aspects of ROCK climber versus us.

the rock climbing thing has always annoyed me. and truthly we cause less stress/erosion to the trails as well because we only GO ONE WAY.
while hikers go over the same trails twice causeing twice as much erosion/ware and tare on the trails and enviroment.

UNfortunately none of us are friends with anybody who works in NPS LAND. And could have actual normal sit down conversations with them.

They would see these points. wE cause alot less stress on the enviroment. But Where we jump and time is key. HAVING a DZ type set up in SOME PARKS or some parts of some parks still could be an eye sore.

YES we are great!

Actually... At my highschool reunion, one of my classmates was dating a Park Ranger that worked in Zion... We had a seemingly postive converstation about BASE jumping. He even mentioned "tall" cliffs that were outside the park that might be jump-able.

PM me and lets chat specific if you wish.

Firstly, Jason, having not seen the Zion document you're talking about, I'm addressing what you wrote in your post...were all 50 responses positive? Are these made available for public viewing?

Secondly, with regards to parachutes vs. climbing equipment: We need to have the climbing community on our side if we are to make any headway with this NPS issue.
IMHO, we need to be very careful in taking care to NOT jeopardize any climbing areas while we are trying to gain access. Using an argument that might eventually work to restrict climbing in our parks I think will backfire on us in the long run. That would be extremely short-sighted and goes against any "fair-use" arguments we could have. We need to form a bond with the climbing community and make them our brothers/sisters in arms so to speak, by getting behind each others' issues and providing a unified voice speaking up for our unique methods of recreation in OUR parks.
Think about joining groups like The Access Fund to help show your support for climbers and make yourself knowledgeable about climbing access issues as well. Granted, not all of TAF's issues deal with the NPS, but at least go check out their website. Ultimately they only help our cause...donate.

I'd also like to stress the importance of BASE jumpers being shining examples of stewards of the environment. That's not just using Leave No Trace ethics. Remember that no-one looks at the 100 times you DID use LNT ethics when you jump, they'll roast you one the one time you DIDN'T, so make it EVERY TIME!
If we don't collectively gain a reputation as PRO-environment (as opposed to "not against" the environment), then our struggle will be that much more an uphill battle, not to mention that it's the least we could do to show respect to the natural wonders we call our playground.

If you don't TRULY care about your impact on the natural world, Stick to B's, A's, S's, and airplanes.

And stop jumping neon for christ's sake!

cheers,
pope

Every time I read something about the NPS, I feel like I'm arguing with my girlfriend when its that time of the month. They make absolutely no sense, but you have to be nice to them because you want something from them.

American Heritage Dictionary
me·chan·i·cal adj.
- Of or relating to machines or tools: mechanical skill.
- Operated or produced by a mechanism or machine: a mechanical toy dog.
- Of, relating to, or governed by mechanics.
- Performed or performing in an impersonal or machinelike manner; automatic: a droning, mechanical delivery of the speech.
- Relating to, produced by, or dominated by physical forces: the mechanical aspect of trumpet playing.
- Philosophy Interpreting and explaining the phenomena of the universe by referring to causally determined material forces; mechanistic.
- Of or relating to manual labor, its tools, and its skills.

Even if I was a shady attorney, I can't imagine how I would apply "mechanical" to a parachute made of fabric and string. Especially when you encourage rock climbing in your park. But then again, theres illegal aerial delivery.

How about we make a protest jump at LP, where hundreds of us jump with and without bedsheets and string into the water. Hopefully we'll get arrested, because the madness has to end.