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I spoke with Richard late Wed night from Perrine Bridge, he was too excited to wait 'till Thursday during the day, and told me he would make the jump. He never called back ... This morning I called his hotel, he never went back to the hotel. His phone records indicate that he never made, or received, any calls after my conversation with him Wed night. There is a search rescue team out there now, divers included. Any info about him should go directly to the Twin Falls police department.

Bump.

Press

I've been called to give info on tattoos or scares to identify the body. At this point the haven't confirmed anything, but it is most likely Richard. He made his last jump successfully, but couldn't negotiate his way out of the cannon. It's speculated that he died of hypothermia. I'll update when all is confirmed. Thank you all for your calls and support.

Sorry for your loss.

Call the locals people. If this is true...this one was very avoidable.

I've just come back from identifying the body with Stitch.

This was basically a death by exposure.

Richard was making his 3rd BASE jump, and his first at this site. He had been travelling all day, and arrived in the evening, after dark. He jumped sometime after 11:17pm on the night of Wednesday, February 6th. Conditions were good early in the evening, although that night we got several inches of snow and had high winds. It's not clear what the jumping conditions were at the time of the jump, but that doesn't appear to be an issue, because he probably landed without incident.

Temperatures were below freezing that night, and Richard was wearing jeans, sneakers and a relatively normal jacket. His new jumping boots were found in his hotel room, in a bag. His stash bag was also left in his hotel room, likely by accident. No flashlight was found, nor was any survival gear found. His telephone still has not been located (although the phone records were pulled by the Sheriff's office, which is how we know he made his last call to a friend at 11:17pm).

Never having jumped this site, it is unlikely that Richard knew the trail to climb out. He apparently began hiking up the canyon wall well away from the normal exit trail, and became lost. He then likely became progressively disoriented, confused and hypothermic. He was found without his rig, coat, shirt and one shoe, all of which he had apparently removed and discarded at different points. It is likely that he wandered in the canyon for several hours before succumbing to the elements. His body was recovered in the mid afternoon today (Friday the 8th). At least one other jumper had made two jumps today without noticing any sign of him.

The lessons here are clear. Bring a jumping partner, or at the very least a good method of communication to summon help. Know the trail out of your intended landing area. Be dressed appropriately for the weather conditions, and carry lights and survival gear as appropriate for the conditions. Check the weather forecast, and be prepared for any incoming weather, even if you plan to be back inside before it arrives.

Is it possible (were there signs of moisture logged clothes) that he landed in the water and discarded these items?

In the back of my mind, my canopy has always been my "plan B" sleeping bag/tent. I am surprised at this one - I never imagined this would happen in TF, and the only reason I can think of not having the rig is a water landing...

It's unlikely. The items were discarded in a relatively scattered fashion all over the hillside. The canopy was wet (it's been snowing) but not frozen stiff (as I would expect had it been dunked in the river and removed in sub-freezing temperatures), and it had been carried up the hillside some distance (unlikely if it was discarded because it was wet--if that were the case you'd expect it to be left by the water, in an area where it would be easy to recover later).

My understanding is that discarding clothing is a pretty common phenomenon in cases of hypothermia.

This sucks. My condolences to friends and family.

Woah...

We are told that, given the nature of the sport, we should expect to see death. But like this? What a senseless way to die, after a good landing. We think the difficult part is getting to the ground...

To the family- I am sorry for your loss

A wise man once told me "the jump's not over until you're at home drinking a beer."

I can see how that can be true, especially on the slightly less legal objects.

Rest in peace, Richard.

Hopefully, local jumpers will implement a management plan to avoid similar incidents. This sounds like an incident that could easily have been avoided through education and protocol. BASE jumpers must regulate themselves....or others will do it for us.

My condolences to family and friends.

Good grief.


Why does the name sound so familiar? Anyone have a photo?

Richard Heaton was also a skydiver from Skydive the Farm. I'm sorry to say that after searching through every picture I own, he is not in a single one.

damn. that is a real shame.

my condolences.

From the very first post I almost knew what had taken place. Night time, solo, the idaho basin in mid winter. not too many silver linings.

Local protocals: I dont see a way that the locals could have even fathomed to prevent this. He mad a poor choice and made the ultimate sacrifice. this sucks. basic emergency preparedness couldhave prevented this. As said before: use your canopy as a tent/sleeping bag. tragic.

lets think, before we act, people

where is skydive the farm?

First, I want to extend my condolence to Richard's friends and family.

Second...

Jason, how is this a BASE incident? What kind of local management plan are you calling for that could have prevented this tragedy? The information is out there already: Don't provide rigs to unsupervised people with little to no experience, call the locals, wear protection.

Rockmart, GA

I think big thanks is in order for everyone who helped look for Richard.

He was a good bloke.

[quote "base428"
Hopefully, local jumpers will implement a management plan to avoid similar incidents. This sounds like an incident that could easily have been avoided through education and protocol. BASE jumpers must regulate themselves....or others will do it for us.
I heartily disagree with your above statement. Who the heck is going to monitor the exit point 24/7.

a technical solution? if you jump alone you activate a button at the exitpoint. if you don't press the deactivate button in the landing area in 10 minutes an alarm goes off. if you are in troubles you press the alarm button in the landing area. for couple hundered dollars it should be possible to realise a system like this. (solar powered?)

"Everyone" will monitor the exit point 24/7, to answer your question.

Currently, we have a simple set of rules for jumping at TF, but they mean absolutely nothing. Do jumpers currently have to read and understand these rules before jumping? NO. Do they have to abide by them? NO. For these very reasons, the current set of rules is absolutely useless and ineffective.

My solution is simple. Local jumpers come up with a reasonable set of rules that all new jumpers must acknowledge:

-Don't jump from the rail
-Don't jump at night
-Don't jump without an emergency or communication plan.
-Walk the LZ before your first jump
-Jump with a mentor for your first jump.
-Don't use a rubber band to stow your PC.
-Etc, etc, etc.

All jumpers sign off that they've read the rules. Have local jumpers manage this for free with donations accepted. Anyone making their first jump must sign off on the rules and they'll get a small card in return. If they want to ride the boat, they must show the card. Other jumpers would also contribute to the process by asking new jumpers if they've got their card and have acknowledged the rules. Since we "supposedly" regulate ourselves, let's start doing it.

The above took about 5 minutes to think about and type into this post. I'm sure others can improve and expand on this concept. Perhaps this post will allow others to come up with more effective concepts?

We've had numerous deaths in the TF area that could have been prevented by new jumpers simply reading a few simple rules. There is no need for anyone other than BASE jumpers themselves to manage this SIMPLE system. We need to manage ourselves, or they'll do it for us (or simply close the bridge altogether).

I don't think the residents of TF care if someone dies on the jump or the hike out - it's just another senseless fatality to them. Having a simple management plan in place will show the locals that we can manage ourselves. It's time to stop the "we don't want any rules" attitude and start acting like we care for the safety of our fellow jumpers.

I didn't know Richard Heaton, but he was a BASE jumper just like me. Things might be different if experienced jumpers took more responsibility for newer jumpers who sometimes need some guidance...

I would disagree with asking jumpers to not jump at night.

Sometimes night jumps are the only way to jump in reasonable winds on a given weekend.

They're also a lot of fun.

Edit: My first daytime jump was around jump 95.

Richard arrived here after dark, made no attempt to contact locals either before or after his arrival, and jumped without any jumper here even knowing he was in town. He did not call the Sheriff's dispatch.

No local jumpers knew he was in town. No local jumpers ever saw him. No local jumpers were at the bridge that night.

Richard evidently either ignored or was simply unaware of the simple guidelines now being used (for example, he failed to call the Sheriff's dispatch--and simply doing that would have let someone know he was out there and could have saved his life), despite their widespread availability.

I can't see any way that any self-regulatory system would have stopped this from happening. Unless we (jumpers) actually patrol the bridge it is impossible for us to even be aware of (much less stop) something like this.

Given the history and the current situation, I'd expect that any attempt to create additional jumping guidelines will simply result in rejection from various jumpers who feel they have a right to do as they wish. Some jumpers are already actively encouraging others to disregard the simple guidelines in place. Creating a "no night solos" rule, for example, would likely just mean that we'd see groups telling newbies that they "had to" make a night solo jump.

In all honesty, given the current fatality rate, my interaction with law enforcement over the course of the last several incidents here, and the changes I've observed in their attitudes about jumping, I am not hopeful for the long term legality of this site.

Tom, I believe that having a self-regulated system in place might have changed the outcome of Richard's incident. If Richard knew he had to check in with the locals and read the rules, he might have been better prepared.

Sure, we can't monitor the bridge every single hour of the day, but we can put the word out that new jumpers MUST check-in with the locals and acknowledge the rules via their signature. Simply having this system in place and it being well known in the BASE jumping and skydiving world will force the majority of jumpers to comply. It's not 100% effective, but it's FAR better than what we've got now.

Plus, regulating ourselves at a higher level shows the locals that something is being done. You mentioned that you're not hopeful for the long-term legality of this bridge. Failure to implement a regulatory plan in the near future means we're doomed.

I think that one part of the problem would be of the people that didn't care. How can we "coerce" them into doing what would be for the best of the community?

As much as some would hate it, I might suggest that anyone wanting to BASE should check in with the local authorities. [this would cut out the illegal alien BASE jumpers though :-( ]

This or develop a plan that would make it so you have to check in at the start of a jumping day. If you get caught jumping, then you get asked to leave.

Seriously some people are selfish and TF is not the place to be that way.

I know a guy is dead. And it sucks.

But lets make things black and white.

Having 2 previous BASE jumps and jumping AT night into an UNKNOWN area with access out UNKNOWN to you. Having not been dressed for the weather. That's plain a chain of REALLY REALLY BAD thinking.

Having not even bothered to contact the locals, or (speculation) read up on the common practices at the object (s.a. call the Sheriff). Perhaps lazyniess/complacency ?

Either way, based on the info available I would say this is death by Darwin.

I am sure there will be flames by friends, family. Just for the info, i had a good friend die at Perrine 10 months ago as well. If he would have waited for better conditions, he would have still been with us. I blame no one but him, and honestly don't think that short of physical violence there could have been much done to prevent it.

As one of Richards friends... you are not wrong and there will be no flaming from me. Richard let his excitement get in the way of common sense. Being new sometimes does that to a person . On a normal day, Richard was an intelligent guy, but apparently not this day. He made his choices alone.... period. There is no speculation, the story is plain and simple.... if he had controlled his excitement he would still be here.

Richard would walk around Skydive the Farm, in 35 degree weather in his leather jacket, no shirt, jeans and no shoes. In a way I'm not super surprised to know that he wasn't dressed for the elements. That was just Richard. I can safely say that of all the things that went through his head.... freezing to death probably wasn't one of them.

Richard will be missed at the Farm. He was a good guy who made some huge mistakes and lost his life due to it.

When I hear "self regulate" do you know what goes through my mind? The following:

We should regulate ourselves.... mostly as individuals. It's like that 10 second rule when you're pissed.... same thing, take 10 more seconds to think about your decision from a different angle, it might just save your life.

I am a skydiver and at some point I hope to feel the rush of B.A.S.E. at least once. In the meantime, I'll just sit here and learn from ya'll.

Carry on...

Work with the town/transport department to put up signs at the pedestrian walkway entrances with guidelines for jumping protocols. The jumpers should fund this.

I'm thinking something like what you see near the exit points in the Swiss Valley, but instead of Air Glacier's number, the Sheriff's Despatch Number.

If there is a cost effective way to set up a phone number that would connect you to one of the locals (on a volunteer and rotation basis) that would be very easy for someone strolling onto the bridge to read the sign and call the locals.

Of course, some people may still choose to ignore this information, but some won't and it will show the people in the town who want jumping stopped at the bridge that the jumpers are starting to be visibly pro-active in addressing the fatalities and injuries.

You may want to make it more like the signs at the ITW, but then again that might be a bit morbid for unsuspecting tourists.

It sucks that the locals would have to go to such lengths to keep their local bridge open, but the facts are that the town and bridge are so easy to find, that it is in the locals' own interest to make their contact info and guidelines impossible to miss if you happen to find your way to the bridge.


it may be time for a Twin Falls BASE Association

let the flamewars start about who should be who in the TFBA....

I believe Ben Franklin summed it up when he said, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Laws intended to protect people from themselves will increase until freedom no longer exists. As Patrick Henry said, ""Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?"

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't most (all?) documents currently available on BASE ethics encourage (drum in, for good reason) jumpers to call the locals when jumping in a new area? Haven't most of the things being reiterated in this thread already been said before? Suppose, hypothetically, that Richard had reviewed the information currently available. (Not saying that he did or didn't, but bear with me). What new rules or regulations can people suggest to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening in the future?

As I understand, Richard was on his 3rd BASE jump. Did he start doing it completely on his own, or was there a mentor or FJC instructor involved? If so, these people should have, and likely did, discuss the 'Call the Local' rule. I understand it is a rule designed to protect local objects instead of newcoming jumpers, but it should have applied in this case, regardless of the legal status of the object in question.

So should we allow criminals to have weapons of mass destruction?

  Thank you Mr. Lanes, that's the best post I've read this month. Unfortunately yes, that is exactly the way things are going not only in U.S. but Europe; liberty and freedom always lose.

I do not think there needs to be new rules. I think the problem is that many jumpers are only getting limited information. Successful risk management requires you to be aware of all available information. We ought to write a free comprehensive guide to BASE jumping. I believe the benefits of such a book would greatly outweigh any perceived concerns.

 

One of the better paragliding sites I have been to has a sign that goes something like:
If it would help, I would pay for the damn sign... I think it is common sense. If you want it, PM me with the link to the sign company for a credit card payment.... Just a few minor changes would make it BASE friendly...

Maybe, the county of Twin Falls & Jerome or perhaps the state should incorporate if you want to jump you must pay. If you don't want to pay, go jump off the south side or north side. Put up a toll gate for the 4 entries to the bridge. You know, the resources it takes from law enforcement to deal with these things can be prevented. Wouldn't we all benefit, if they could focus on the meth problem we have in this county.Instead of drunken basejumpers that can't wait till the sun comes up the next day!

was there any indication that he was drunk/high when he jumped?

I'm sorry,
I was the one that picked him up in Boise. If I had any idea, that he was going to jump that night, I would have talked him out of it. Because, he was obviously intoxicated.

No need for self regulation.
People do what they want to do.
Nothing to see here folks, move along.

what a fucking looser....to scared to jump when sober...solution: let`s take a drink or 10 and leap of...

1st off, I knew this guy vaguely. I used to jump at The Farm quite a bit, and helped him put together his Base rig when he got it last year. So, when they found the body I, along with Tom, was asked to identify the body. Since I was the only local that had ever met him.

The way I was taught to go about solo jumps, this death should never happened.

I'm sure Jill has enough grief the way things are and I hate to add to that. But, she has been around Base jumpers for the last few years and probably knows what I'm going to say before I say it.

IF YOU'RE DOING A SOLO JUMP, YOU SHOULD LET SOMEONE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.

He called someone at 11:17 PM before he made the jump on Wednesday night. But he never called anybody after the jump.

Maybe, I'm just a dumbass. But if I didn't hear back from a guy doing his 1st solo (3rd jump overall), from a unfamiliar object in sub-freezing temperatures. I think after a hour or so after the initial call I'd be a bit frantic!!!

No local jumpers in Twin Falls even knew he was in town until Friday around noon. They never did find Richard's cell phone.

This is the 1st anybody has heard he may have been possibly intoxicated. It would explain alot of the poor decisions Richard made.

But, instead of posting it here, don't you think a statement made to the Twin Falls' Sheriff department would better serve this incident.

Huh, well that explains alot. I could smack Richard right about now, damnit.

As far as Jill goes... life as a single mother is a very busy one. She talked to him at 11:17 PM, yes. I can see falling asleep while waiting on a phone call... wake up the next morning and it's balls to the wall getting ready for work, kids for school.... life happens. This scenario has happened to me more times than I can count, minus the death. Sometimes life with children can be so busy that you don't even realize until a day or two later that you never talked to ______ again, or you never called Mom back like you said you would. Jill feels enormous amounts of grief over Richards death.

Jill is not responsible for what happened to Richard, no matter which way you look at it. He made his own choices and if he was intoxicated, hell, short of physically restraining him, there wasn't anything to stop him.

He told no one that he was making this jump, except Jill at 11:17PM, not even the guy picking him up from the airport. Now what does that tell you? It tells me that Richard wanted to make this jump.... by his damn self, otherwise he would have said something. Alcohol = loose lips.... yet that didn't happen here.

What Richard did was beyond retarded and as his friend I'm pissed at him for doing what he knows not to do. Not even being a base jumper, I already have the following in my head... 1. don't go alone, ever; 2. call the locals; 3. don't be a dumbass. Last time I checked, it wasn't rocket science. He simply chose to ignore those 3 basic things, I'm certain the alcohol would have played a part in that. Fucker, I really could stomp on his toes and scream, WTF were you thinking?!?! But I already know that that's the one thing he didn't do.

careful there partner... Richard wasn't to scared to jump sober... not by a long shot. he got intoxicated and made some really shitty decisions. that in no way makes him a loser, except in regards to his hanging on to life that night. so please keep the name calling to yourself. he happened to be a really kind soul, a good person, helpful and respectful, intelligent and deep thinking. he was a very happy person, but he really really fucked up. he in no way intended to die that night, but his poor choices led him right to deaths door. he paid for his poor choice with his life, that doesn't mean we should bash him and make him out to be a moron. i will in no way make excuses for his actions, we as his friends, are pissed at him, because we know him to be so much smarter than this. I saw him at the DZ every weekend... with a smile on his face.

i hope for something good to come from his death, not sure what exactly, but something...

I dont know what a "looser" is anyway.

But if he meant loser then I think a personal attack on the deceased is even more corwardly.

it`s not a PA if he can`t read it...

Tree,

Glad to hear you guys are starting the Twin Falls BASE Association. Self-regulation isn't that bad - we have a handful of rules at places like Bridge Day and Kjerag to name a few....

As for night jumping, it's not something that I'd personally consider at TF since the bridge is legal 24/7, but go for it. The short list of guidelines I mentioned in my last post was taken from what I recall of the current unwritten rules that are ineffective. The point of my post was not to nail down specific rules, but to get people to think about what BASE jumpers could do to save a few lives.

It's not entirely about preserving the bridge. It's not about promoting good behavior. It IS about preventing another fatality.

Personally, I hate having new rules. I hate the thought of anyone other than BASE jumpers getting involved in managing the BASE jumping at TF and I think this would definitely be the wrong approach. But with the volume of jumpers coming to TF, I think it won't hurt one bit to have some guidelines in place that new jumpers must acknowledge. Pretty simple. There won't be any BASE police. There will be jumpers who ignore the rules, but there will be many more who will follow the rules.

After Brian Stout's death in 2002, Brian's Dad was prepared to sue the State of Idaho. Tom Aiello and I spoke with Brian's Dad and we agreed that the best course of action would be to have a set of guidelines in place to possibly prevent the death of other jumpers. Here we are 5.5 years later and nothing has changed. We still have people putting rubber bands on their PC's and jumping solo with no emergency plan.

Please keep us informed of what the Twin Falls BASE Association has in mind. Many thanks to all the TF BASE locals for their hard work. Hopefully, I'll see you in TF this Spring.

No its a cowardly insult instead.

Thats all im saying because im not getting into a pissing contest with a "looser."

A sign at the site might not be a bad idea, but a card or a contract that needs to be signed? That's a bit excessive.

To me this is pretty much the same situation as would happen if some drunk teenager decided to take a hike into the canyon at midnight in February. He gets disoriented and can't get out. The guy in this thread just happened to enter the canyon in a different way.

how can someone regulate stupidity? even a small child would view every choice leading up to this death as idiotic.

Maybe some of you just don't get it. Sure, you can't regulate stupidity. Heck, this wasn't even a true BASE fatality in my book, but I bet the locals look at it as another senseless BASE fatality. The locals don't care whether the parachute "failed to open" or if he died trying to get out of the canyon - a fatality is a fatality.

Allow me to elaborate EVEN MORE: Implementing a self-regulatory plan will make the locals feel warm and comfy, regardless of the overall impact it has. If this plan coincidentally prevents an injury or fatality, then why are we still here debating it? Is educating new jumpers a bad thing? If you've already jumped at TF, then it doesn't even affect you. I think any plan should target NEW jumpers only.

That's the best way you've explained your position Jason. I was in disagreement until I framed your idea in that context.

There are a lot of older residents who have lived in the valley since before BASE jumping who come to watch us all the time. (Old Jack comes to mind). If they see a flyer, or some other communique, that TFBA has put out listing the guidlelines to that object...and then someone goes in or otherwise dies outside those guidelines...the local residents will look at the report and go "Not BASE jumping's fault - he didn't follow those rules."

I caveat my agreement by saying that it applies to Perrine specifically because of it's high-profile and legal status.

We will still have jamokes who say "fuck the locals" and break the guidelines. But if those guidelines are published, the residents of Twin Falls will know they're a fucking dumbass just like we do.

- Harvey

 

I was planning on being there.

Expectations affect reality.
Perceptions affect reality.
Managing both is good PR!
____________________________________

RE: Newbies @ The Bridge

My 1st day in TF some locals picked me
up at the airport, we shared a meal, and
then they dropped me off at the Super 8
to check in and unpack.

I saw some kids outside who looked like
jumpers (skydive t-shirts & sunglasses)
so I walked out and chatted with them.

The 2 of them jumped earlier that day with
zero training, sketchy gear, and less than
40 skydives between the 2 of them!!

Maybe they were naturals, or maybe they
were lucky, but a little bit of education
would have only helped their chances
of survival in my opinion.

Are we gonna start flashing gang signs??

Well said.

I understand the temptation to calm the locals and some jumpers by agreeing to some "regulation", but regulation often has the reverse effect of causing the safety situation to get worse. First, what kind of regulation. I fully support regulation on carnival type events that affect local citizens due to traffic, extra police and ambulance costs etc. like at B Day. As much as I would like to think we can prevent this sort of thing with regulation, it won't work to stop someone from making bad decisions like this one. Don't penalize the sport for such an instance, Any legal prohibition or attempt to regulate "criteria" of who can and can't jump, will drive the activity more underground with even more night jumps and more accidents. Besides, whoever decides to establish the "criteria" will open themselves up to shister attorneys. Even if a lawsuit fails, attorneys fees and court costs get expensive. Let's get real folks, this is not a BASE accident. It's simply bad judgment by someone making a BASE jump. but the jump or the sport is not to blame. Let the excitement die down so cooler heads prevail.
Rick H.

To begin with, I would like to offer my condoloences to Jill for the loss of her friend.

I am highly opposed to any sort of "official" self-regulatory body. The way I read this, the self-regulatory body is basically an "appeasement" move on the part of BASE jumpers to the local public...appeasement is a poor policy the majority of the time.

At this moment, anyone who jumps is an individual. While an individuals actions may affect the group as a whole, an arguement can always be made that this is a free country, that someone jumping from the Perrine is not in fact breaking the law, and that a jumpers decisions are theirs and theirs alone...be it a successful jump, a life changing injury, or a fatality.

The second a regulatory body is created, a jumper's decisions no longer become only theirs, they (rightly or wrongly) become representative of that body as a whole. So when someone jumps in a smoking tailwind, or packs incorrectly, or jumps solo in the dark and cold, no longer can the argument be made for self-responsibility. In some way,shape or form responsibility will fall on the organization. It is hard for the Twin Falls community to point fingers at a deceased individual. It is very easy for everyone to point fingers at the organization who failed in their self-implementation. And then THE MAN can step up and take over that role for you...it is the ONLY logical/reasonable progression of that path.

What about the civil ramifications of a self-regulating body? I can foresee a scenario where a grieving family member could bring civil action against this group and the individuals associated with it. What are you going to do...make people sign waivers? Videotape the waiver signing? What if someone challenges the waiver? Without a USPA legal team, individuals will be forced to defend themselves against these kinds of actions at their own expense. Will wind limits be set? If they are set at 8mph, who is ready to defend that decision in a court of law? Who is ready to explain to a judge and jury why wind limits were set at 8mph and not 6mph? Surely 6mph should be safer than 8mph? What about protection/body armor requirements? What about flotation device requirements? Every jump is taking place over water, and the river is considered the primary landing area or the primary out depending upon philosophies of different individuals. Would the group be liable for a drowning due to the lack of a flotation device? Would the group be liable for someone drowning who was not familiar with that flotation device? I am sure I can come up with 100 other what if scenarios, but I believe my point has been made as well as it ever will be.

No one mentioned "regulating" wind limits, flotation gear, body armor, or signing waivers. There is already a short list of guidelines in place that no one has complained about in the last 5+ years! Simply print them and make sure the newbies read and acknowledge them. Maybe expand on the list a little by adding things like emergency plans (carry cell phone, call a friend, etc.).

It isn't that hard and no one is going to sue you for trying to save a life. Paranoia will destroy ya.

Self regulation should be each person having enough sense to not string enough stupid things together to die. Self regulating should be using 2 or 3 brain cells not to do something you know will screw something up for everyone, that is not freedom it is just selfish.

why the uncontained excitement?

was he pumped up after watching numerous videos?
did he think he was familiar with the site from them?
had a buddy done something similar and it worked out?

was he afraid others would attempt to disuade him; to be buzzkills?

still, he survived a poorly conceived BASE jump... a southerner unaccustomed (it seems) to the cold...

if the community inspires such behavior, maybe we need to find a way to restrain it as well.

Is there Twin Falls Cold Hikers Association? (TFCHA)

When his feet safely touched the ground, he became a Hiker. He died as a Cold Hiker.

Do hiker "deputies" hide in bushes near trails and ask hikers, "Got card?"

Being a Southerner myself, I had a fascination with snow.
I'll never forget my first jump in the snow. It was brilliant.
I've met a few jumpers that had never even touched snow wandering from the trail in Norway just to get in touch with the snow.
Weird I tell.
take care,
space

http://www.basejumper.com/...p;sb=score&mh=31

That's pretty weak. Are you actually implying that it's not possible to be excited about BASE unless you were duped into it by YouTube? Are we already at the point in the thread where we trot out our ridiculous theories of everything?

At any rate, the jump is a red herring here, as has been pointed out several times. It seems the guy badly misjudged a winter hike, and exposure got him. As it does lots of people, more and less experienced in the outdoors, every year.

Its called Darwinism, and it will regulate us all. You can do everything in the world to keep everyone safe, but you will never be successful.

Editorial in our local paper today.

This article has NO author, NO by line whatsoever, thus ZERO credibility. No need to get panties in a bunch over some aticle that seems (by the jargon) to have been written by a basejumper. hmmm... i wonder who?

Must run now, saw this on my way out. But, ...what?

The dichotomy between the views of the public and the BASE community disappointing and frustrating.

There are rules in place. Enforcing them is another matter, as there is no body equivalent to "BASE Police". IMHO, whether newcomers choose to follow or ignore the rules is realistically beyond the locals' control.

Newbie help is available; all one has to do is ask.

Aren't jumpers told to notify the Sheriff's office before each jump?

I thought the same thing... who else uses some of those terms like 'newbies'?

I'm not exactly sure what you are insinuating there, but the piece was written by Steve Crump, opinion Editor at the Magic Valley Times News. If you'd like to ask him about it you can reach him at the Times News at 208.733.0931. We (local jumpers) have already contacted him, and are drafting a response.

Let me be totally clear: I did not write this article. To my knowledge no jumper was involved in it's writing.

Yo Einstein.....editorials are written by people who work at the newspaper. It's often the official view of the newspaper, hence, no author is cited.

I don't think any jumper wants call boxes, registries, wind limits, or someone checking parachutes at the exit point as the editorial states. Nor do we want any type of government/police involvement. Heck, I can barely stand all the NPS/BDC rules that are forced upon us each year at Bridge Day.

The Perrine already has written guidelines in place such as "call the Sheriff" and "don't jump from the rail". You guys simply need to find a more effective way to get these guidelines in the hands of new jumpers (rather than simply posting them on a Sticky in this forum).

Cya.

Lots of jumpers use this term, including you. LINK

Update: I stand corrected.

I just got off the phone with Jim Wright, editor of the Times News. He told me that a jumper had called in to express some of opinions prior to the article being written. He could not identify the jumper for me.

 

Thank you fellas for your efforts!

Looking forward to jumping my new
rig off the bridge in a few months

 

I personally don't think it was a jumper. Just some local crackpot that thought stating he was a jumper would give him more credibility. You'd be surprised at the amount of people in town that tell anybody that will listen that they jump.

Tax money is NOT spent to rescue jumpers. The money is already spent whether the police/fire department/rescue crew/whoever sit on their ass all day, or are out responding to a call. Outside of a major natural disaster or other major catastrophe, I have never heard of someone (anywhere) not getting a response from 911 because they were to busy responding to other calls.

Just out of curiousity, is this the same newspaper that ESPN used to dig up the editorial writer who was bitching about BASE jumping?

If so, I find that to be almost comical-- obviously the news is almost always biased and sensationalized but to just come right out and say it is another thing entirely. They seem to have an a very open disgust for jumping.

Rather than any attempt to report neutral data and facts, they go out of their way to tell people how to think. It is pathetic.

They cry about the poor LE and rescue guys who are spending all of their resources on jumpers. I would love to see some real data provided to support that notion. I would also love to see some real data that showed X number of meth heads beat up old ladies because of evil BASE jumpers' antics distracted police.

But the problem is... the data doesn't exist. BASE jumpers are not costing the city any money and BASE jumpers have nothing to do with LE incompetence. So these douche bags create the idea of it happening in their heads and pass it off as journalism. "If you can't find the facts, then make them up!"

Most people I see at the bridge love the jumping, and this goes for everywhere else around town.

Jason, my point was that I thought that a jumper wrote the article. That's it. Jumpers use the term 'newbie' all the time, just like I did in the link you provided. But I already knew that. I think you mis-interpreted because I replied to the whole quote, but nice job jumping out there to stand up for somebody
I don't know or care who wrote it, it's not important. You guys can fight all you want over that object I'm not interested.

where is the written guideline for no jumping from the rail?

The written rail jumping guideline is item #2 in the Sticky post at the top of this forum

570, sorry for the misinterpretation. I use the term "newbie" a fair amount and I've been a proponent of making sure new jumpers read the guidelines. But I'm pretty confident that no jumpers actually contacted the TF newspaper. It sounds like the newspaper, who has been negative towards BASE in the past, is simply trying to defend their editorial by saying a jumper called them. I believe the newspaper simply reviewed this thread and pulled phrases and opinions from it.

Cya.

Not responding to anyone in particular. Actually not even responding to this particular incident.

The TATER is a precious resource we should not squander. Practically every time I jump I have to break some law. We fight for access in National Parks, but we piss on one of the only places in America where jumping is legal. It doesn't matter who wrote the stupid editorial, the points made are valid.

Let's clean up our act - then burn Yosemite to the ground in June. that's still on, right?

I think its in September....

To all of the jerks who have posted mean hearted comments on this site...I do not base jump or anything, I am actually a couch potato...but I babysat Ricky, Robby, and Randy from the time I was 16 until I went off to college. Ricky was the most challenging of the three, Randy was a close second and Robby was my sweetheart. Ricky loved life. Ricky was so witty and brave and smart. He will forever be that mischevious little boy with a twinkle in his eye to me. I truely hope that his family never reads some of the comments that you people have made on this site...because he was larger than life to so many people. So many people just wished they could be like Ricky...I know you all call him Richard, but he is Ricky to me. I remember the little boy who climbed the rafters so that he could jump down to the couch and when I just laughed at him and said "OK, Ricky, when you bust your head open, we are NOT going to the emergency room! I'm going to staple it up myself!" he just looked up at me with his hair all messed up and said "You're the coolest babysitter ever! You don't freak out like the other ones." I'll never forget that...I took them out for McDonald's. So you just remember...he was loved, by many, he was adventurous, he was special. Don't post things that his mother and little brothers might read.

I love you Ricky,
Laura

When Ricky was a little boy, he would run around the yard in January in shorts, no shoes, no shirt and say "but, Laura it's not even cold!!!"

Richard had every opportunity to make the right decisions, instead he made very poor decisions. These DECISIONS affected alot more people than just Richard.



I'm am sorry that his family is having to go through this.

Laura, this exemplifies the very wrong with the sue-happy American culture.

He may have been loved by someone, he may have been a great person - many of us will never know. What we do know is that he fucked up in a BAD way, and that cost him his life. I stand by FUCKED UP. People need to realize the mistakes they are about to make, and try to NOT make them. And their peers, relatives, friends need NOT think of others as bad people for pointing out the painfully obvious TRUTHS about the deceased actions. Nobody has said anything about him as a person - cuz most of us don't know. But his actions shortly prior to his death are known, and were idiotic. That doesn't make him any less special to you or others.

Laura, the people on this site are not saying bad things about Richard as a person. The comments are about the choices he made that night. Richard was my friend and co-worker at Skydive the Farm and I attended his funeral yesterday. I also agree with the comments made in regard to his decisions that night. This forum is to help people learn from the mistakes that get us killed in this sport (as well as the skydiving forum). There are some who will learn from this, some whom already have and sadly some that won't.

Don't take the remarks personally. We, as a jumping community, skydiving and base alike, can be harsh in our opinions, however our intention is education and safety.

If you or Richards family must read these forums... wear your thick skin or don't read at all.... this is my advice to you... as Richards friend.

How the fuck does this have anything to do with BASE jumping? He died HIKING. It happens. Get over it. If a hiker died hiking the trail next to the river it would be the same fucking thing.

OOO twin falls base association has been started. That should help hikers figure out where the trail is.

hmmmm...
maybe he was hiking out because he had BASE jumped?

you can argue the technicality that he survived the jump and died hiking. similar arguments can be made about numerous issues. unfortunately, we do NOT get to litigate this, we must persuade popular opinion (TF residents). if they choose to view it as a BASE incident, then we must deal with that reality.

To stay with your tongue: and what's your fucking point?

In my opinion a good basejump is one you get uninjured away from. Obviously Richard didn't. For me the hole game is including accessing a site safely, making the jump and coming back to the car (or bar or home etc.). Scouting, exploring and opening a site is also part of the game.

I'm just thinking of the guy who drowned fleeing the park rangers.

And what's the good of this distinction, that he died hiking and not directly from impact or object strike or mal? It remembers me of some sort of ideological state of mind.

He was one of us - and he died playing our game. Period.

Lets take the lesson - for our own sake and for the respect for Richard.

BSBD, Ingo

Both of the cases ended in a SENSELESS fatality. That is the only major point that can conect the two. FG died attempting to avoid being busted on the premis of an outdated, out of place, bullshit law. RH died from making a series of dumbass decisions.

1. 3rd OVERALL BASE jump
a. solo
b. at night
c. to a LZ he had never walked (I am guilty of this too, but not the combo stated above.)
d. not knowing the way out
e. ambition beyond skill set

2. not having enough survival training to make it through the night.
a. most cellular phones work down in the canyon (AFAIK)
b. a ton of other points
C. WRAP YOUR ASS IN YOUR CANOPY!

MR SLAMBO,
Yours is the type of attitude I was refering to. Be nice! This boy is dead...when people who knew him Google to find out what in the world happened to him...this is the stuff they find. That's what happened in my case. His mother called my mother and left a voice mail. My mother is in Canada and my Daddy didn't check the messages for days...so we haven't been able to talk to his mom and brothers. I worked in his dad's office just out of high school and I babysat him and his brothers for years. I called a friend that babysat for them after I did and spent a summer renting wave runners in PCB for his mom. She also was hurt by the harshness of some people. I was searching for answers and it just killed me how some people were like..."oh well, get over it". That's really all I meant. There are other sites that say worse things...I do understand those of you who are examining his mistakes to help others and try to learn from it. You guys are great. I was just lashing out from SHOCK and saddness. I haven't seen Ricky in years...but I was so heartsick to hear of this. I am STUNNED! Just be nice, please.

I'm with you on all points. I just don't like this separation base fatality vs. not real base fatality but hiking incident. I agree with you: both incidents were senseless and avoidable.

Agreed. I do not list this as a BASE fatality. Cause of death was exposure from not knowing terrain and/or exit points. It was not chute failing to open or bridge/canyon strike.

I send deepest sympathy to his family, but night jumping at in Idaho in February and not being familiar with the exit point??? well we all know what that is.

Here is a picture of Richard after his first BASE jump .... RIP brother

We might be missing something. How did this guy live.I hope I will be remembered long after i am gone not how I died but how well i lived. I know nothing about Richard other than he died living life doing what he wanted. He made mistakes Hey I have a few exe's floating around that would be happy to tell about some of mine. Richard died living not just bring alive. All of us should do as well.

How sad to lose someone so young. Hopefully we can all tkae something away from this and not have it happen to someone else. Great Pic of Richard after his first jump.

fcuking obvious but good point and worth highlighting...I have spent a freezing night in my canopy....it will keep you alive if you are ever caught out.

Seconded

The brain doesn't work that way. Hypothermia seems similar to hypoxia. The body treats the head like an extremity. delivers O2 to the main body core.
One is screwed if lack of planning includes a canopy wrap for warmth as a back up. Day late dollar short type of thingy If you had planned it whilst you had heat, it would be doable. As soon as the body restricts O2 to the brain, logical thought process is gone. Things that are effing obvious change. Hope this helps. I had hypothermia on a BASE attempt before. I will post the account later. It would be nice if others can do the same.
Take care,
space

understand your point but the brain does work that way if you have thought about it beforehand. also if you have read about early symptoms of hypothermia you can act before you go off your na-na. Thats why military do training through experience of hypoxia (and hypothermia.)

also forgot to mention...I always carry a space blanket now....in the saddle bags so never forgotten. even if its warm can save the day if you or mate goes into shock

GREAT idea.

The only reason I signed up to join this forum a few years ago is because I'm somewhat internet savvy. What about the other skydivers and new or soon-to-be BASE jumpers who aren't so internet savvy? Aside from a proper mentor, from where do they get their info?