Basejumper.com - archive

Maybe I missed it, but I have not seen you post any stories for a while. How about a couple of good ones?

i think you are getting married. so i stopped. ;-) do you want one where i was stupid or the cops or rangers?
take care,
space

Newer jumpers know you as someone with an extensive background in BASE and a truly impressive BASE resume, including the world's first BASE DZ operator, BASE technical advisor (who *deserved* the title) for Felix, etc., and all that *is* true, but many may not realize just how amazing it is that you are still alive.

So how about two stories?

One story from back in the day is not as funny as most of your stories but it illustrates a point. As I recall, you used some cutoff denim shorts to DB yourself off of a tower. I remember thinking at the time that you were absolutely nuts to do that even though I could not come up with an argument against your rationale. Your rationale was that the shorts had everything you needed from a D-bag: containment for the canopy and stows (aka belt loops). The point is this: It's *hard* to filter out the hype and BS about gear but if you understand how gear works and keep focused on what is *important*, you can make amazing things happen.

And since you never were stupid (crazy as hell, maybe; stupid? No way--you would have been dead long ago) how about a story with the Rangers?

BTW, someone told me that you were seen chugging some habanero sauce straight from the bottle? True, or BASE legend?

Walt

Walt,
Thanks for the push. I will start writing a story for your wedding present that I needed to get off my mind. I didnt think it was exceptional until AndyCalBASE229 pointed it out. It is nice to be arrogant with a little help from friends ;-)
Take care,
space

When I discovered BASE, El Capitan was the
Ultimate. I felt that I could not be a True
BASEr without jumping it. I was living in
Louisiana at the time, Flat lands and
antaneas. I think now that a pilgrimage is a
journey to to a destination with portals to
the next level. I didnt know that then. I
just knew that I had to Jump The Cap. I had
Vid tapes given to me of Carl B's stuff. It
was so grainy being a copy of a copy of a
copy etc. My first time at Z-hills, I fell
in love with the place, people. Quit my job
job in La. and started doing trash runs for
the DZ to earn jump tickets and hung out
with the BASE crew there.
I hitchedhiked from Florida to Yosemite to
Jump (with 40usd thanks to Jay). It took
about a month as I was stopping at summer
boogies to earn some money.
Last Dance in Muskogee Nationals was the
klicker. As I was hitching that direction I
had made a sign that said "Skydiver", hoping
to find a Sky jumper headed that way. t
worked. I packed and did a few jumps on Demo
gear. I wasnt travelling with my Sky rig.
Only my BASE rig. A Master packer from
Perris gave me a job with him team packing
and said he could help me get to Cal City DZ
via hitching a ride on a Twin Otter that was
based there. Game on. We took a truck to
Perris Valley DZ after. I had to work
another weekend because I needed the cash. I
took a bus to Merced Ca. Then another to
Yosemite the next day.
I knew my BASE Crew from Z-Hills was in
the park. But I didnt think about how to
find them. But, I had a telephone number
from some guy. Moe Villeto. I rung him up
and asked him where the Crew was. He wouldnt
budge. He replied that if he knew this info
he wouldnt divulge it anyway. "If you are
part of the BASE crew, you will know where
to find them, bye".Hmmmm. So, Having 80usd
in my pocket, asked where is the cheapest
camping place. And then "Slapp". That would
be where they would be. Moe was right. I
went to Sunnyside campground via bus. I was
wondering how to find the Crew.. Just walked
through the campground and then heard Rick's
insanely unique laughter. (I want to add a
note here. I was growing a Yosemite profile.
Long hair and beard. So I could shave it
off if a camera was confiscated and
hopefully confound the Rangers). I was
totally unreckognizable.
I Walk up to Rick and said Hey man! he
asked me what did I want. I replied that I
am spacey tracy. Then he saw me and gave me
the BASEbro hug and we started speaking at
the same time about every thing like
chickens I think. We calmed down and Dennis
and Brenda joined in and once again our Crew
was complete. Rick asked me how much cash I
had. I said "a hundred". Well then you can
pay me that 75 you owe me and the other 25
you put in the kitty for the van...
First on the Menu was the Rostrum. It was
to be my first"E". I was a BAS jumper. I
just needed that "E". But I wanted El
Capitan. I followed Dennis, he was open and
clear and I launched.
I need to say some background stuff. This
was in the first week of me ever seeing
mountans. It fits in with my first airplane
ride. I had 30 take-offs in airplanes before
I ever landed in one. Same same. My first
ride in a plane, I jumped. My first hike on
a mountain, I jumped...The Rostrum isnt
really a hike. it's a walk down and then a
climb of aabout 20ft with belaying for
flatlanders;
As I was standing close to the exit point
with Rick pointing out the flight plan and
obstacles. I noticed that a mosquito had
alit upon Rick's shoulder preparing to drill
for blood. In the South USA, It is quite
common that one slapps a mosquito on a
friend. It is a Southener courtesy. As Rick
was pointing out the hazard powerlines
standing a coupla feet from the edge, I
slapped that beatch of a mosquito on Rick.
We werent geared up. I think that Rick got a
little upset being slapped on the back on
the exit point with out gear. Once he
released my throat, I could speak. But what
could I say? "Boo" seemed out of the
question.
The jump went as planned but I had
forgotten my shoes. I had Teva sandals.
Dennis told me to reconsider as the car
sized LZ was amongst Glaciered stones. Round
ankle rolling type. I follwed Dennis off,
and I knew he was a very conservitive pilot.
So I Would turn 2 secs last his turn point.
He made the LZ. I missed and made a new one
with half the area squeet fair. We all made
it to the getaway van in a minute after
landing and were Hi-fiving it all the way to
the pizza shop.
The Pizza shop was a cool place to chill.
Just sit near some asians and when they go
leaving pizza slices, Snag it. But there is
a certain order about this practice. Wait.
The Climbers sorted this out before us. Us
and the Climbers would wait in a theoretical
line to snag the left over Pizza. Give a big
thumbs up to ones who scored big. Big means
3 slices per person.
So me and the other 3 members of the crew
snagged some slices and there was couple
there watching us. Well at least the Lady
(Jamie) was. We thought they were inline for
snagging pizza, But she said no. Upon
further discussion she said that her and
friend wanted to hike HalfDome the next day.
That was next on our menu. So we agreed to
hike HalfDome, Campout overnight etc.. She
wanted to cook us all a big breakfast but we
told her that we would be leaving HalfDome
too early and we would just get something in
the valley (read as Snagged Leftovers). She
didnt understand but she backed off about breakfast.
The hike was awsome for me the next day with
the crew. No sign of Jamie and her
companion. But we got stoppedchecked by a
hot Rangeress. We had our permits in the
stash bag, But it was easypeasy accessable.
As she was was questioning Brenda from the
BASE crew I decided to snagg some potato
chips from Dennis's stash bag to make it
look normal. I didnt have a stash bag. I had
a soft suitcase tied with Dacron lines so I
could utilise it as something similar to a
backpack. I was a bit on the munchie side as
we all were, except Hot Rangeress. She
proceeded to tell us about the dangers of
thunderst0rms and giving me crap about my
Florida hiking sandals (Yes, I forgot my
shoes again). I gave the potatochip bag to
Dennis and then this bird swooped down and
snagged it. Dennis picked up a stone and
threw it at the perch where the bird was. He
didnt hit the bird but startled it and it
drop the bag, Rick almost caught it before
it hit the ground, he had munchies also.
Then Rangeress explained the genus and the
name of the bird and how annoying they could
be but it was protected in a Nation park...
The name of the species is Stellar (annoying
schreeching snagging assole number one who
ever took flight in a national park bird.)
Jay.
Rangeress then left after wishing us a good
time. Brenda asked Rick for some of the
potato chips. A California thieving ass
ground squirrelrat was running away with the
bag. The stellar jay swooped in and they
were fighting and it was just too much. So
we wrote off the chips...
Oh, so back to the hike.
We made it up the stairway to hell that
was built by juvenile deliquints that had
the unfortunation to be institutionalized in
that area. We did the cables We got on the
summit as sunset was going down. It was
awesome.
I heard someone from far away say my name.
It was Jamie and her friend. She said that
she brought breakfast stuff anyway and
started blahing about which way to cook eggs
was the the best..Sunnyside up vs poached
blah blah. Dennis and Brenda winked and left
the campfire so it was only Rick and I and
Jamie and her companion.
I asked her if she could see something
above... "Like what?" she asked. The Milky
Way? I replied. as it was as moonless night
with severe clear and we were at ca. 9,000ft
msl She was a city girl and couldnt see the
stars. She was impressed with my knowledge
of the constellations and I got laid... ok,
bad joke. What really happened was that her
companion passed out from exhaustion, Dennis
and Brenda were doing the hoochiekoo and
there is us. Jamie, Rick and I at the
campfire. It was about 2300 hrs. Jamie
started going on about breakfast again an
hiking back down together and blah blah..
She went for a wee and Rick and I discussed
if we should tell her our plan do a criminal
act at sunrise. We decided that we would
break the news to her at midnight, It just
seemed like a good idea..the time i mean.
So, midnight rolls around and Rick explained
in detail why we didnt want to stick around
for breakfast, that we were going to take a
shortcut down to the cafeteria. She asked
where the shortcut was and we pointed to the
edge. Then we explained that were going to
have some illegal fun by BASEing off. and
she said yes of course sarcastically. I dont
always get sarcasm. So Rick and I showed her
the rigs.
Mind you that we were drinking a Whiskey
from Scotland.
The protocol was to bring a bottle up to
the secret stash place, take the bottle
there and leave the one you brought. Old
school. Any ways we woke up the next morning
on an overhang with a hangover. Started
gearing up and Jamie said "you guys are
serious?". Rick says "F*&^%%g rats". They
had eaten through his stashbag for some nuts
that he was holding out on us. Serves him
right. Jamie ask if her companion could
photograph us. Rick, Dennis and I all had
the Yosemitebeard. Brenda didnt though.
Short discussion it we said it was ok, I
told her our campsite number. The campsite
that Moe Villetto wouldnt tell me, Remember?

Muhahaha. Rick told me the flight plan which
was the delay window and stay near the
mountain as opposed to flying out over the
valley where one could be easily seen as I
sipped some water from a plastic bottle. Our
jumps went off with out a hitch. Well, as I
was slope swooping down, I felt a cold
trickle down my leg... Hmmmm,I thought. The
plasic bottle cracked because of the

barometric pressure diff. It looked like I
pissed my self... So we were walking out and
then the Rangers appeared and started to
interrogate us but then saw thought that I
pissed my pants and let us go.....We made it
to the cafeteria and they had a brakfast
special for 99 cents I think. We robbed some
tourist and bought breakfast. No, ok, Rick
was still in the money because of what I
paid him back, so he bought us breakfast..I
am thinking "Dangit! I owe him again". But

Rick said, "Hey, how would you like a cold
beer", I mulled this question a bit and
asked him if it was a bit too early.... to
be asking stoopid questions. So he showed me
how to open the trash receptacles and
scavenge the drink cans (5cents per can)
from them. Dennis and Brenda went back to
the campsite in the meantime for some
hoochiekoo..again.....Rick and I scored big
time on the can deposits, got a six pack and
snagged some pizza from the asian leavers,
drank it at the base of Yosemite falls,,

Life was good.

We head back to the camping.
To sort out the Elcap hike for the next day
with Dennis and Brenda. Dennis was angry,

Brenda was gone away.... Dennis said to just
leave him alone, I wanted to say "like
Brenda just did?" But I didnt say it. but I
still like to push my BASE bros...But I have
learned not to mosquito slapp on the exit point.....
Anyhow, Rick said lets do the Cap any way
without Dennis and Brenda. Game on. My
Target was in range. Dennis told me to take
his guttergear, A pegasus wth no flare
power. So I did. Then things got
interesting..

To be continued if ya want. This story is
for Walt's Wedding present. I dont want to
muddle up the forum if the BASErs dont want it....
Take care,
Space

I do like chugging Habenero sauce. So that is no legend to me. It is kinda normal for me.
About the theory of "relativity".
Base jumping by the seat of my pants or is BASE jumping in my Jeans.
I got tired of doing a reclimb just to get my deployment bag. I thought it would be better to jump down with it. But one would need 2. It is kinda cooll if ya think about it.
I must go and get it. Then you rescue the bag and hook up the 2nd DBand jump and then you think "Dang, I left my direct bag up there. I must go and get it"
Dang, I left my direct bag up there.
Oh. The theory of relativity.
My Raven III fit perfect in my levi cutoffs Direct bag. It was a perfect size for my weight. So it would logically correct to assume that a smaller jumper would have a smaller canopy and smaller jean... Muhahaha.
I still wonder about those tower engineers speaking over the radio sayin that OMG, There is some empty pants hanging here also.

Space, keep it going!

please space! this is an awesome story, continue!

Thankyou!!!! These stories from back in the day *need* to be documented. This one reminds me an awful lot of a couple of Mike Allen's short videos.

And hell yes, please keep it going!!!

Walt

I never chugged habanero sauce and it's a damn good thing. One time I was sitting around kind of bored so I decided to down a full tablespoon of habanero sauce because I was convinced that there was no way it could be as bad as everyone said it was. Wasn't bad at all for the first half second or so, but then life started taking a downturn in the form of feeling like I had swallowed a hot coal! Figured I'd end up in the hospital if I did not do something quick so I went to the bathroom and puked it up. Naturally, it burned coming back up too. Not only that, on an especially high-powered round of puking, I got some of the habanero-laced toilet water splashed in my eyes. As they say, if you're gonna be stupid, you'd better be tough. I'm a lot better at being stupid than I am at being tough but was ok after a few hours. LOL

Please keep those stories coming!

Walt

Try or mean that you shouldnt try to sneeze habenero..
I got it down to a science, Hotology. The different burns. Tongue burn is the the mildest. After burn is a close second. Sneezing the stuff is way bad. Stomache burn is about in the middle. Weanie burns are light. How does one achieve a weinie burn? dont wash your hands after handling the Habenero group family and take a leak...
Reminds of a an epic BASE trip with Bill Legg and Yuri Grasshopper in 1996.
We were low on money, Bill and I. So, our diet consisted of salami, bread and habenero Tabasco..
We over induldged because you can use it as an alarm clock. All natural. We had to get up early for the walls in Chamonix. So Bill and sucked down a lot. at 0400 hrs we both woke up... But I got my pants on faster, So, I made to the communal toilet down the hallway. Bill was looking at me with those "Please hurry up" eyes. There was exactly enough TP for one scalding hot drippy crap. plus one sheet 4x4x inches.. TheTP holder was one that hid the roll and the lead would hang out of the holder. So. I took that last sheet, and wet it, stuck in the holder where the dry part was hanging out visible. I smirked back to the room and Bill asked if was safe to go, "Yep, I opened the window" was my reply. He lit out for the toilet and I told Yuri what I did but ask him to pretend that he didnt know. when Bill cameback into the room, his pants and underwear were at his ankles so he was walking like a penguin. He looked at me and said lovingly, "I hate you". Yuri and I went into laffing convulsions...To hear Bill describe the experience is awesome. He explained about the burning lava volcano, the relief that followed, and when pulled on the TP tail this wet glob of paper fell on his hand.. he said he had about 3/4 of an inch by 4 inches to clean up with. My gear smelled funny after now that I think about it...

Without a doubt, *someone* who reads this is going to do it to one of their friends....

Awesome! LOL

Walt

i got this buht jolokia; makes habaneros look like something you'd spoon-feed your 3 week old!

I have just sipped some "Naga Jolokia" and then read your posts, I agree with you about Habeneroes, they are sooooo old school...
Take care,
space

Part deux. Elcap!
So Rick and I headed up the Falls trail,
left Dennis behind...Our plan was to do
sunset load.took us (me) 8 hours. I am a
flatlander remember..Yosemite Falls was
about the half way point. All these hikers
we met that were coming down had drank the
water from above the Falls apparently. It
causes an an overwhelming desire to tell up
hikers how long of a hike is left.
We were going twice as far. So my general greeting
turned to what could be called bad words.
No, I do not want to know how much time we
have to get to the Falls, Thank you very
much. But I was able to sum it up in 2 words though..
So on with the hike...Rick stepped on a
coral snake or almost. Red touches yellow,
kill a fellow....Red touches black, Jump El Cap
3 more hours we arrived.
But there was some one with a campfire. So
it looks like a clean jump may not be
possible. It was Brenda though. So we adapted our
plan to jump the next morning.
Meanwhile, Some others of our Florida BASE
crew showed up. Dennis took them to the
Rostrum, had a non BASEr jumper drive
Brenda's van. Day light was dwindling, The
jumper/driver got caught in a traffc jam and
arrived 5 minutes after the last jumper
landed. they got busted. The Rangers sorted
out that it was Brenda's van. That there
were other jumpers in the park. (Brenda,
Rick and I).
Back to the top. Of Elcap the next morning.
after a cold night sleeping with one
sleeping bag between 3 jumpers, inching
closer to the remains of the campfire till
we were covered in ashes as the light of
dawn crept over the Valley. Rick was
jumpmaster, he said I go first, Land on the
Devil's elbow beach as it is a clean LZ, no
stones, only sand. Follow the river back to
the campground.
But there was an unseen prob. The fact, that
it is light on top, but in the Valley, it
was still quite dark. I kicked out a 12ver,
opened and lined up on the beach. But there
were 3 boulders in the middle of the LZ. Not
really a prob for avoiding but Rick had said
it was clean...As I did the flare toggling,
I realized that the boulders were actually
peeps in sleeping bags,,, I landed less than
15ft from them.
Undid my chest strap, b-12
leg straps, started realing in the canopy.
Then Brenda runs past me with Rick shortly
behind. I was think WTF? Then I saw a
flashight bobBing up and down in pursuit. I
thoughtit was maybe Dennis farking with
us... The voice behind the bobbig light
Yelled, "Stop! We know who you are." Rick
and Brenda were following the river. The 3
boulders who were peeps in sleeping bags
were Rangers. It was a nightmarish scene
from some Zombie Apocolypse movie.. The
Sleeping bag Rangers all tried to jump up
and grab me. But they had sleeping bags on
muhahahaha. I just sidestepped them and ran
perpendicular to the river to get away from
the bobbing flashlight Ranger or if it was
Dennis or what ever.
I played the game.Since I wasnt finished reeling in the
canaopy, As I ran, I tripped over the lines
with bobbing light Ranger on my tail. I
rolled through the fall and ended on my feet
again and tripped over the lines a second
time 30ft later. Boobing Ranger grab the
canopy and said I got you. I was thinking
"No ya dont, you have a handfull of Dennis's
gutter gear" I rolled out of the gear and
ran for the meadow.
From uptop, there is a
view of the river and beach, meadow and
forest with lots of laid out trees, like
some god dumped a boxfull of wooden matches
dumped onto a forest.
I know that following anything under pursuit
is not good.. I avoided the river, the trails and stuck to the underbrush,
I jumped upon the fallen trees
in the forest and made big time gains
running along the trunks.. I was still
wondering if it was a Dennis game.
I heard a car coming down the trail. (I was
at a bottleneck in the Valley, River,
highway and trail in a narrow space).. So I
ducked down behind some bushes and saw that
it was a Ranger car. So then, I knew it
wasnt a Dennis game. Then I had a moment of
clarity. The Ranger car was heading to the
LZ. That meant I had passed up their
estimated range of my escape. Muhahaha. But
the bottle neck was a challenge. I crawled
through the underbrush and emerged behind an
other Ranger car parked for an ambush for
anyone coming down the trail. Respect, He
had parked at a vantage point that he could
see every thing that would pass through the
bottle neck, The way was closed. for the
moment. So I had to wait it out.
I hid under some vines and leaves. Just as I got the
last leaves in place, I heard a radio
crackle from a few feet away. There were 2
Rangers on bicycles. I could only see the
stripes of their uniform pants and the gun
holster, pepper spray hand cuff radio
utility belt. They stopped just 3 ft away to
reply on the radio. My devil inside made me
want to jump up and say "BOO!!!" and scare
them but logic won out and I was trying so
hard to not laugh.
Suppressing hysteria is
not easy. I was scared and amused at the
same time. They left, so then I waited on
the ambush car to leave and when they did, I
joined a big group of foreigners hiking
along the trail. we passed by a few more
Rangers waiting in cars. But they were so
obsessed with looking down the trail for a
solo illegal fun seeker that they never even
looked at me... I almost lost it. I dont
know why I want to laugh when I am in danger.
I got back to the campground to an empty
camp. No Brenda, Rick or Dennis. So I went
to the food storage box and grabbed some
veggies (we couldnt afford meat) to saute'
and a couple slices of bread. I refueled the
camp stove, started pushing the plunger pump
for pressure. And this bastard of a
California ground squirrel rat (Remember?)
stole my veggies. I chased it over a few
camps and he took my food down in a burrow
and wouldnt give it back.
I filled the entrance with stones so the
little bastard would die with my food. I
turned around to look for more and bigger
stones to jam down the burrow entrance. And
then saw 2 rangers walking to our camp. I
sat down at a picnic bench of some elses
camp (who were not there) and grabbed a book
that was laying there and pretended to read
as I watched the Rangers search our
campsite. I had to stifle my laugh again.
One cannot find a BASE jump in a tent !!!
Muhahahaha. After the Rangers left, I
thanked Mr California Ground Squirrel rat
and unblocked the burrow and walked back to
our camp.
I heard a screech from a Stellar
Jaybird (remember?) in the tree of our
campsite. I looked up and saw that he had
taken my bread.... and was standing on it on
a tree limb 12 ft up, laffing at me. I gave
up, Lost it, laughed hysterically for the
next 10 minutes because I didnt care about
eating anymore.
There was some logic there that is elusive
now. I calmed down and then decided that i
needed some cash and so went to raid the
recycle bins for beverage cans. As I walked
out of the camping place, In the parking
lot. I saw Sky Jumper (Note: I say Sky
jumper out of respect that he may not want
to be identified, He is like a Bro to me.)
from Florida who was the driver for the
Rostrum the evening before (Unbeknownst to
me). I turned to walk his direction and he
saw me and shook his head "no".
Clarity moment. I saw why Sky
Jumper said "no". He was being in-terror-
gated by the Rangers. we did some shifty eye
movements to communicate a meeting at the
gas and drink station later. we talked a bit
under the disguise choosing a beverage under
the non seeing eyes of the Rangers. I got
the Beta on the Rostrum bust and beta'd him
on the El Cap jump.. I asked him if he could
buy me some razors to shave off my Yosemite
beard. I had Hydrogen Peroxide to bleach my
hair but forgot razors.
It was straight up out of a spy movie, Sky
Jumper sat at an eating place reading a
newspaper like some of the others and then
laid it down and walked off. Never looking
at me so it seemed. I went and took a seat
near and picked up the newspaper. The razors
were inside. Muhahaha!

Sky Jumper came shining through! I shaved
and tried bleaching my hair with the Hydrogen
Peroxide, I only succeeded in turning my
hair red.
Our Next door neighbor camper was
a hair dresser and I got her to give me a
nice hairdo. from long to short hair with
style. The style part was her idea, I have
no clue about stuff like that.
Then it was 10 am. Nine to fiver office
workers were just getting in the work groove
and I had made a BASE jump from the Goal of
my pilgrimage, avoided arrest by Rangers
numerous times, Had a makeover, Met my Sky
Jumper Bro, and realized in my haste of
hiding in the leaves and vines that it was
Poison Oak. In retrospect, I think it would
have been less pain to be arrested for my pilgrimage.
Back to the Beta. The night before, Lukas Knuttson (RIP),
and others of the Florida BASE crew had arrived. Got busted on the Rostrum.
Rick and Brenda got nabbed following the river. I ran the wrong way and got away.
I went on another recycle can rummage for travel money. As I was walking past the
camp station the Rangers were looking through photographs trying to
identify the one that got away. Me. But my new styled look fooled them.
Muhahaha. One Ranger looked me directly in the eyes and dismissed me after comparing
the photos with me. i stifled my tendency to laugh as that Stoopid Jaybird screeched again.
I hung around the boulder with the
a climb called Midnight Lightning that was
impossible for mere humans to climb. It is
smack dab in the middle of the campground
that a lot of climbers use. I met some
climbers and after scoping them out, I told
them of my dillema. They said they would
drive me out of the park. I sorted it out with Sky Jumper
to drive the speed limit out of the park for 20minutes exactly
and I would be there. I passed out from exhaustion at the stop off.
I never heard him blowing the horn. I then hitchedhiked to Davis California DZ.
I met Lukas K. after he had been released from jail. He sorted me out with some packing
so I could have some money to eat. And then Jamie showed up. Remember Jamie?
The breakfast Lady on HalfDome? She was going to do a tandem jump because
of our jump turned her on to freedom of flight. I recognized her but she at first didn’t
recognize me because of my makeover. I now had no beard, short red hair....
That damn bird screeched again. But it didnt help, I just busted out laughing we hugged
and she was crying. "What's up?" I asked....

to be continued.... if ya want.

yes please!!! as i still have not made my pilgrimage to the cap.

Great story, keep it going.

oh man most interesting internet post I've read in a LONG time. Please continue!!!

+1

You should write a book.

Good stuff Tracy!
Did this incident occur in late July 1990?

Yes, it is theoretically likely. how would you know?
Take care,
Tracy...

I'll let you know in a week or two after I get back from Moab. Don't have the time right now to get into it.

Part 3.2. The aftermath...
"we hugged and she was crying. "What's up?"
I asked...." She told me that when she
watched us jump, while her companion snapped
photos, she thought Wow! those are my friends ,
and they are flying. I am unable to convey
the emotions she said this with. But I could
see the fire lit in her eyes about freedom.
Then, i heard a screech of a Stellar Jaybird
as he crapped on me. left shoulder. she said
that was good luck after we recovered from
hysterical laughter. I want to say that
though it seems like a romantic encounter,
it wasnt. It was just good people meeting
good people. In other words, I didnt get
laid ;-)
2 yrs later. Dennis (Remember him?) had
left Florida on a business trip that put him
passing through New Orleans. I gave him the
contact for the local jumper.
Note, New Orleans was my site. I had a whole city to
my self and the nearest BASEr was 300 miles
away. JV, the now local and my student took
Dennis out for some jumps and went to the
French Quarters (Party section of town) for
some drinks... JV, was infamous. WTC #4, MTV
hero type blah blah... and he had a surprise
for Dennis. Working in the Bar was Jamie the
breakfast Lady.
Apparently, JV was bragging
about being a BASEr and this Lady didnt just
accept it. She told JV that she watched some
BASErs jumping HalfDome in Yosemite. He
asked if she knew the names. Snap! the
circle closed. Small world...I went back and
met her but she never continued with sky
jumping. I lost contact then as we all do
with great friends.
So we go back in time to Sept 1990, 3 or so
moonths (Ha, a correct misspelling) after. I
was packing for Deguello 20way team from
Spaceland DZ in Texass. the nationals were
in College station.
It was also the first freestyle comp also. There is a point to
this so just hang with me. Lukas K. (flyer)
and Andy Duff (photovid dude) took the first
place.
My 20 way team made the podium also.
then it was party time. But Lucas said "NO.
You must help me drive to Sacramento
California to go to court for getting busted
on the Rostrum"...Because we were the
Florida BASE clan, I could not deny
him....Even if we werent part of the BASE
clan, I would have accepted....Lucas was
that type of guy that you would do anything
for...Lukas pushed himself so hard. he was
exhausted as we left College Station Texass
DZ as the party started. Going onto the
highway, Lukas stopped at the stop sign
and,,,, and....
Hey Lukas! Whats up? he had
fallen asleep 15 minutes into the trip. to
California... in his out of state rental car
that was suppose to to only be driven in the
state of Florida....I made him go in the
backseat for sleep and took on the driving
task.. things get a bit blurry in my memory
for the next days. But to some it up, Lucas
and i got a driving rhytym and perfected
highway driving driver change without
stopping. he made his court date and Rick
got sentenced to 90 days in a federal prison
and all the gear was confiscated.
Dennis, Brenda, Lucas and another well known jumper
were released and had to pay a fine of 1 to
2000 dollars, the week they spent in jail
helped offset the cost.
.Dennis appealed the
fine. Said he couldnt pay it unless he sold
his gear. So they agreed to let him sell his
gear and pick it up at the cellar of
confiscated gear as long as he had a bill of
sale. So he got the bill of sale. the money,
presented it and they open the cellar and
said take your stuff, I think that he picked
up about 17 rigs. sent word out that he had
commondired confiscated rigs. just id the
rig and he would ship it to them..
So Lucas and i started driving back to
Florida, 53hours from Cal city DZ to
Deland,.....we lost 3 hours on a 1600ft
antennae jump. But we gained a jump...
got out gear back because Dennis's
and lawyer ‘s (FM) ingenuity. Lucas went later on to Chamonix.. Sent a post card to Deland Florida Drop Zone describing a bit about the European lifestyle and cliffs and spoke about it being a pilgrimage for BASE jumpers…. I started packing my stuff to go….again.

I have left out the nogo attemps in my story, Hikes of
hell etc. This is something that concerns me.
’Most BASE courses teaches one how to jump.
I mentor how not to jump. But may
be I am spacy. ;-) It takes a lot more energy to do the right thing.
My non jumps are as exciting as my jumps. Albeit slower in the thrill scale mostly.

Lucas and I went from the nationals comp in Muskogee Oklahoma to an antennae and …
No, I stop now. NSTIW (NoShitThere I Was) stories are on hold for now. I want to hear some from you.
take care,
space

Was it an ok wedding gift?
Take care,
space

+1!!!

It was not an ok wedding gift--it was phenomenal!

Thankyou, space!!!!

Walt

Are you telling me to shut up politely also? ;-)

Thanks for the push. I need, we need it sometimes.
You rock Dude.
Take care,
space
ps, I want o skype your wife... Muhahahhaha.

Hell no--keep 'em coming. What makes them really amazing to me is that I knew you back in the day and have no doubt these are true stories!

I had forgotten about Dennis retrieving a shitload of gear from the Rangers' dungeon. That was legendary.

Speaking of legendary, for those who haven't seen it, here's video of space from back in the day: http://www.basejumper.com/..._1987_or_88_814.html

space you can push this thread past second page I bet

Awesome story
Thanks for sharing, had me laughing

Awesome video. I want more stories!!!

Here is one about a misadventure that 460 and I had. Not even close to being as surrealistic as any of space's stories, but maybe it will prompt some of the others here to post a story or two....

http://www.basejumper.com/...nk_Scouting_769.html

Enjoy.

Walt

Awesome story. Please everyone post a jump story,,
Take care,
space