Yosemite National Park (CA) BASE Jumping Arrests
http://data2.itc.nps.gov/morningreport/ At dusk on July 15th, Valley rangers were dispatched to the Mirror Lake area in response to a report of BASE jumpers seen coming off Half Dome. About 30 minutes later, three men, each carrying full backpacks that were consistent with concealing BASE gear, were observed briskly walking down the Mirror Lake Loop trail. When rangers questioned them, they gave answers that did not make sense. Kirby W. Hughes, who was holding a head-sized, ball-shaped object tightly wrapped in a shirt, told rangers that it was just his sweatshirt. Further investigation revealed that it was a skydiving helmet with a digital camcorder attached. Hughes and his cohorts, Allan D. Fox and Brian K. Cork, were all arrested for conspiracy and air delivery. A search of their packs incident to arrest revealed another skydiving helmet and camcorder, three parachutes and harnesses, and two Birdman wingsuits (flight suits with cloth "wings" under the arms and between the legs used to greatly increase horizontal glide and freefall time).
[Submitted by Todd W. Bruno, Ranger, Valley District]
Not likely. Maybe if they were jumping a B this could of been viewed as a front against society, etc. but this was not the case in this instance. They were out in the woods enjoying their sport. Just sounds like more bureaucratic bullshit to me...