Hey folks,

One more plug for fundraising this week. If you haven't already picked up a shirt via https://www.baseaccess.org/shop BASE Access is selling shirts to raise money for its legal + lobbying budget. The two big legal challenges on our plate this year:

- Challenging the Aerial Delivery regulation interpretive rule

- Challenging the Bear Ears National Monument Management Plan which calls out both BASE jumping and wingsuit flying specifically as banned activities, while allowing for climbing, jeep recreation, and atv's.

Not sure what I can say publicly on the lobbying front, but hit Dylan up if you have questions and see some of the success we had at Bridge Day on the BASE Access social channels (ig: base.access, fb: base.access)

Cheers!

Hi, newbie here. Up until about a month ago there was a website LTBJ (Learn to base jump), which seemed to be exceptionally good. (Chris McDougall)

Now when I attempt to visit the site I get a 404 error, ie it doesn't appear to exist any more.

Does anyone know what happened ie did it fold, accident etc etc?

Just wanted to share this fundraiser the SBA put up for expenses in setting up the longer ramp at High Ultimate.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/new-ramp-for-high-ultimate-platform-for-low

Really impressive how quickly they acted to make this tweak to the existing setup that should hopefully prevent a few fatalities.

Hello lovely people

I was wondering today if anyone else who has base jumped or is currently base jumping feels like this or if its just me or 99% of people do not feel the same way

For example I'll go do a Course and get super into it and never want to do anything other than base jump all day/night, its all I think about risk vs reward is still there but I'm able to push it to the back of my mind for the duration

Then I will go through a stage of not being "As into it" anymore and I then start to feel like if I am not loving every second of it then the risk is not worth the reward as much and then I get uncurrent and also realize that there is then the added danger of not being as current which stops me even more

This cycle seems to just repeat itself over and over for me and its led to me not progressing that much which I do not mind but I did/still kind of do want to do big wall tracking before I die

(I have my BASE number but only done one building, one cliff which was a PCA and most of my jumps have been at the Idaho bridge)

The other thing is when I get back to Sydney I do not know where to jump and only have like one antenna an hour and a half away from me that I can jump and also nobody to jump with so that also gets old pretty quick

Just wondering if anyone else ever feels like this and if there is any jumpers in Sydney that would be down to show me some safeish spots for beginner with approx 30+ish base jumps that would also be cool

Or in the Midwest generally speaking?

I just wrapped up my participation in Bridge Day 2024, and for the first time in my experience, there was no "You Dry Faster Than You Heal" award. Also known as the "Dumb Ass Award" for not taking the main landing area of soft green water and instead going for a risky, uphill dirt/gravel landing on dry ground, this is awarded to the BASE jumper who breaks themselves the most intensely or most spectacularly.

This is remarkable, and a testament to all the people who chose a safe but wet landing in the New River. I think it's also from improved BASE training over how we did things back in the olden days. Improved canopies with better flair for landings is an important factor.

Who knows what haydukes were affected/ how do you identify what haydukes were affected? Seeing as how the manufacturers doesnt put the DOM on the canopy, Does anyone have serial numbers for identification? Like all canopies manufactured before xxxxxx serial were affected and after that number they should be good.

Read on a BIRDS post that this is an issue. Have a hayduke i havent jumped much like only 20 or 30 jumps on it because I prefer my BJ and OSP. But every opening on this HD is garbage and so im curious if mines is one of them that’s got the shit Cascades.

If your buddy owned a condo with a balcony on the 24th story, would it be illegal to jump it, since you aren’t trespassing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQDFdcgNizs&ab_channel=hietboi

https://preview.redd.it/67tfj6ltt8sd1.png?width=1719&format=png&auto=webp&s=36e8fda63f3da2e814a36361d3265cabd19a73b1

Are there any resources for how to actually use a rangefinder in a base setting? I'm only doing slider off jumps so really I'm just looking for the height of an object and I don't want to spend the extra money for one that does the trig for me I'm fine doing it myself. Maybe (probably) I'm just a brain dead imbecile but particularly with E objects you can't assume it's a right triangle which is where things get tricky imo. Or is best practice to just get to the exit point and look straight down and boom there's the height? Any info on the trig involved and best use would be appreciated!

Does anyone know where to find the documentary „the men who jump off buildings”

It’s a British base documentary with prolific British base jumper, Dan Whitchalls. It’s been one of my favourite base docs but I can no longer find it!!!

Any help would be appreciated

Hey all so I'm a pretty new base jumper and I've recently been looking through basebeta for some exits near me. Some of the exits have "ledge measurements" that look like a series of number as follows Ex: 5m/-10m, 20m/-35m

Is this saying there is terrain 5m horizontal from exit and 10m down or am I reading that wrong? It's definitely more prominent on WS base exits but feels like good info for my slider off plans. Just want to make sure im reading it right. Would love to get some info from yall thanks in advance.

https://preview.redd.it/oalysjdypzqd1.png?width=1238&format=png&auto=webp&s=a99e9c47792f1b4a861b33eda2ef768b19eb3a05

Anyone who discusses+researches the history of BASE jumping in Yosemite and the National Parks should be aware of the broader context of Yosemite in the 1980s, which is a park beguiled by corruption scandals (cc u/SubstantialPaint). The superintendent of Yosemite during the time, Robert O. Binnewiees, was fired as the result of illegally wiretapping citizen activist Chuck Cushman. The prosecutor who assisted in that wiretapping, Marshall Scott Connelly, was also the first Yosemite prosecutor to wield the aerial delivery regulation against jumpers.

Connelly was reported by a fellow staff member in 1983 for alleged inappropriate relations with underage boys. The NPS ignored the reports and it wasn't until 1998 that Connelly was arrested for allegedly kidnapping, tying up, and molesting a teenage boy.

Connelly went on to serve 14 months in prison. It's worth noting that a year after Connelly was charged, Dennis McGlynn would serve 3 months in prison on charges related to BASE jumping in a national park.

I recommend reading the book "Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia" by ranger Paul Berkowitz for a better understanding of Yosemite National Park during that era, as well as the scandals that continue to plague the park until the present day.

See Fresno Bee article transcription below:

Headline: Police hold Yosemite ranger on molestation charges

Article text:

A Yosemite National Park ranger living in Fresno was arrested Friday on suspicion of molesting two teen-age boys, police said.

Fresno police detectives arrested Marshall Scott Connelly, 58, and searched his home in the 6600 block of North Raisina Street about 2 p.m.

Connelly — who goes by Scott Connelly — is a veteran ranger who works as a legal officer, prosecuting misdemeanors that occur in the park.

The alleged attacks against the boys, ages 14 and 16, occurred a year apart — one in 1997 and one about two months ago, said Lt. Jerry Davis.

In the attack said to have occurred a year ago, Connelly allegedly lured a boy into his pickup, took him to his house and molested him, Davis said.

"The victim reported the crime some-time later but was not able to give detectives enough information about his attacker or where he lived," the lieutenant said.

In July, another boy came forward and told detectives that he was walking in northeast Fresno when Connelly grabbed him, forced him into his pickup and tied him up, Davis said.

Connelly then took the boy to the Raibina street home and molested him, Davis said.

"The victim was able to escape and give us enough information to tie the two cases together," Davis said. "We then got a warrant to arrest him."

Davis and Sgt. Tim McFadden declined to comment on what was seized from Connelly’s home, near the corner of First Street and Barstow Avenue, saying there could be more victims.

A neighbor said Connelly had lived at the home for about 10 years.

He was booked into Fresno County Jail on charges of kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual assault, child molestation, and attempted child molestation. Bail was set at $700,000.

Connelly has worked at Yosemite several years as a legal officer.

Park spokesman Al Nash said Connelly has a special assigned to the office at Yosemite Village.

His duties include filing charges on misdemeanors and petty crimes in Yosemite, authorities said.

“He has been suspended pending resolution of this case,” Nash said.

I am including additional sources below:

“The concern I was attempting to raise had to do with Connelly’s reputation for an attraction to underage boys, supported by his pattern of recruiting young gay men in the community to work directly for him as informants, paying them with ‘buy money’ and shielding them from prosecution. The conflict and suspected impropriety was obvious. That topic was discussed in detail, on-and-off tape, by me and others. But for the purposes it was good to at least finally obtain some confirmation, on tape, that the GAO was familiar with the issue” Paul Berkowitz. Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia: The Ranger Image and Noble Cause Corruption in the National Parks

“Yet another of the original suspicions I and others shared with both OIG and GAO officials was apparently never investigated by anyone, not by the OGI, not by the GAO, and certainly not the Department of Justice; Connelly’s suspected relationship with young informants and underage boys in the community” Paul Berkowitz. Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia: The Ranger Image and Noble Cause Corruption in the National Park Service

“Another sensitive but well-known subject was Connelly’s predilection for underage boys and young men…It was widely suspected, but apparently accepted, that Connelly took advantage of his position by recruiting young men in the Yosemite community as paid informants to satisfy his personal sexual desires” Paul Berkowitz. Legacy of the Yosemite Mafia: The Ranger Image and Noble Cause Corruption in the National Park Service

State of California v. Marshal Scott Connelly, Consolidated Fresno Judicial District Case #F98911279-8

“Binnewies transfer followed accusations of bugging,” Merced (CA) Sun-Star (McClatchy News Service), Jan. 28, 1986

Hi, I'm a journalist. I'm looking for people who took part in the 90-day trial that Yosemite granted to BASE jumpers in 1980. It only lasted 40 days. Park authorities ended it after participants rode bikes and pogo sticks off El Cap, allowed for more than the agreed-upon 12 jumpers per day to participate, and otherwise made what some saw as a mockery of the rules.

Seems like a funky fun story about an extreme sport. If you were a part of the trial and know someone who was, reply here or feel free to message me. Thanks.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.caed.386161/gov.uscourts.caed.386161.61.0.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.caed.386161/gov.uscourts.caed.386161.61.1.pdf

Mentioned I'd throw these links up for some folks who asked at Brento. Big thanks to the folks who helped with that process nearly one year ago:

• Todd Shoebatham

• Topher Ludlow

• Kenny Daniel

• Dylan Avatar

• Graham Hall

• Lane Coates

• Justin Beitler

• Shannon Searls

For legal nerds, another relevant case to watch that can impact BASE jumping in the national parks is USA vs Pheasant https://www.cato.org/legal-briefs/united-states-v-pheasant , specifically on nondelegation grounds

To anyone considering, actively participating or retired BASE Jumper.

Florida as of July 1st 2024 has implemented a new law protection critical infrastructure and anyone found on the property of said infrastructure shall be charged with a felony trespass. All "A" objects fall into this category. 

Please keep your distance and be safe out there.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine (state.fl.us)

2024 Bill Summaries - The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov)

Not a base jumper but since a lot of lives in paragliding got saved by a simple square parachute especially when caught in a deep spiral with no chances to fix it I asked myself why don’t base jumpers carry one. Here is a example where it could have been used to avoid (near) death:

https://youtube.com/shorts/GHaGtcqpVXc?si=ozRtxQG1mQJI0t2u

A paragliding reserve deployment looks like this in a spiral:

https://youtu.be/FHGf2O495Rw?si=t1JkS6Vi0igg7M35

And since paragliding reserves weight less than 1 kg and can be stored quite compactly I wonder why nobody thought of the idea to give base jumpers a second chance in case of a tension knot or whatever problem that (with enough height) can be saved by a simple reserve that safely takes you down

Many, many, many years ago, probably 1996/97/98 at Sydney Skydivers dropzone in Australia I saw someone wearing this T-shirt with what I remember was called the BASE jumper manifesto. It was quite long, in not very large font, and covered most of the back of the T-shirt. I don't think I ever managed to read the whole lot, but I think it started something like this:

As I stand <something something> with my life so precious in my hands ...

I'm not after the T-shirt, but I'd really like to find this manifesto. Anyone ever come across it ?