Basejumper.com - archive

Hi all... long time since I've posted...

I was recently lurking MountainProject.com, and there was a post referencing an illegal NP jump (site name intentionally withheld) and many climbers seemed to not exactly "be on our side" so to speak.
I see climbers as playing a crucial role in our gaining fair access to our US National Parks.

How many of you are active rock or mountain climbers?

What can we do to garner more acceptance with the climbing (and other) NP user communities?

Any other thoughts? (Please try to refrain from posting any site names!)

cheers,
mh

Over on the climbing site Supertopo at http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/forum.html an admin (he may even be the site owner) does a lot of cliff wingsuit BASE and his name is Chris. The vids he posts over there still garner the, "that's nuts," comments but since he's respected by the other climbers it seems to go down easier. He might be a good one to make contact with on your matter . . .

NickD

Where the illegal use of an object of one group affects the access of another goup...there is always going to be an issue
If this means that that one group (us) has to back off an area in order to ensure the other group doesnt lose its legal access....mayvbe its not all bad...maybe there is something that can be gained, by showing some cooperation.

Ive made some excellent contacts over the last year or so with some very traditional ( and extremely skilled) climbers who have turned their attention to more urban ventures.

There is a very clear and recognisable sense of shared values and risk management.

What these guys can do, makes me shake....what I do makes them shake, but there is a wide band of common ground....more so with any other group I have met.

Whats more hooking up with these guys has opened up access to places I didnt know and places I simply wouldnt have been able to reach....not being a bona fide climber.

Let the pureists in each sport who want to keep themselves and 'their' sport 'pure' turn their respective noses up...
There's so much to share/learn and gain between participants of climbing and BASE jumping...and its happening whether these pureists like it or not.

Well, "Cliffing" which is climbing and BASE combined is as old as the hills and the BASE community has its share of climber/jumpers like Will Oxx, and others.

I know climbers have the capacity to appreciate BASE since who among them doesn't idolize, or at least respect, Dan Osmand, who was more batshit crazy than any BASE jumper I've ever met.

I also know most of us agree with you as many years ago we talked about making sure to not use the argument, "Hey, if those guys can climb, why can't we jump," to the NPS. We knew we needed the climbing community in our corner, or at least, to be ambivalent about BASE.

There is common ground as many climbers have been pissed off by rangers too, and they certainly seem to be warming to wingsuit BASE. They may say they'd never try it, but they'll never say it's wank . . .

NickD

We can be very careful not to bump stones off the top!

While on said exit point, ... (just looking) ... I did find it incredibly challenging to avoid disturbing the scree. It was unavoidable actually. While only one or two made it into free fall - it was enough to terrify all below. A call was made to the rangers long before there were any jumps made. We were interrogated about BASE jumpers by several rangers on the way down the trail. Some were even working the parking lot near the trailhead. It seemed their primary angst was the two rocks that fell - not the jumpers.

Rock fall is far more deadly than human fall - especially if the human has skills and consciousness.

Even "prepping" an exit point at 2am will cause alerts to be going off - and rockfall is audible for miles at that altitude. Rockfall is a valid argument against us at sites like this where not many people frequent due to the challenges. Maybe a crew can assemble and pass rocks UP and OVER towards less unstable ground - to help others get off more cleanly. Climbers will be stoked.

Dear Mh,

Your absolutely right. We use most of the same resources. The ABP is committed to access through the backcountry regulatory management model (AKA: the climbing model management) for backcountry parachuting.


The ABP is currently in Phase II of access plans. During this phase we will be submitting a Use Proposal to choice units. An evaluation will start by the NPS. This can take some time for the park to complete. The NPS will review park purpose, environmental impact, site evaluation, access to site, and more and more.

We need motivated individuals interested in helping the ABP during this process.

Were currently seeking Unit Coordinators.

A Unit Coordinator works with the Legislative Director to include backcountry parachuting in that unit's backcountry management plan. At its current stage of development and activity, the ABP does not require a full-time or even part-time Unit Coordinator for each park with jump-able cliffs, but does require that the Unit Coordinator be guided by the ABP mission statement, seek to achieve its goals, maintain regular contact with the Legislative Director, and perform the following duties as needed:


*Coordinate with the unit planning officer during the backcountry management plan development process.
*Gather onsite data.
*Deliver reference materials and other information and items to the unit main office.
*Attend meetings.
* Maintain project management log on backcountryparachutists.org website

http://www.backcountryparachutists.org
headquarters@backcountryparachutists.org