Retired

[base515 0]

As of today, I've retired from BASEjumping. After 9 years of not thinking of anything else, I hardly think about it at all anymore. Time to try new things. To all those I have shared an exit point with: Thank you, I cherish every memory, good and bad. I've made some of the best friends I'll ever have through this sport, but I've loss some also. I have no regrets.
Wish me luck in my new endeavors.
Sincerely
Mike Bartlett


And Remember, the Force will be with you, always

May we live long and die out

[BASE1036 0]

Go easy bro...
If you ever get the itch...Look us up..

Daniel
Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Tasers - Pepper Spray - Stun Guns and more!
www.dallassecuritysupply.com

[leroydb 0]

Thank you for everything you have done for the community.

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[Calvin19 0]

wanna go paragliding now?

goodspeed in your travels.

[base1072 0]

well your gonna live longer than us

[avenfoto 0]

much respect. good luck in all your future ventures.


congrats. you win.

[Brandoliem 0]

Well, you know you'll be dearly missed... who else is going to cut my shoelace free from razor wire (while laughing hysterically, threatening to cut off my pants, and walking through the gate)? and make me an award so that i'll NEVER be able to live it down? and pass out on Ray's couch with a 'fuck it' stamp on your neck (while dragging your bloody toe)? and strap a laser beam to the head of the infamous carolina corn snake? and bitch about my 3-D jenga skillz (while downing cookies like a champ)?!

Ice shields will never be the same...

Much love, Mikey!!

-Brandy

PS - dibs on your pin rig!

[Lonnie 0]

I've thought about this as well. However I still have to do at least one more before I pack it in.
It's not easy to turn away from something you loved so much.

ALL THE BEST!!

NEVER GIVE UP!

[Spiderbaby 0]

Dude, don't sell your rig!!!! Even though Brandy is a mega-hottie and should get first dibs. Keep it around and in a safe place. One day, Yosemite might get opened. With the right people inviting you, Bridge Day might suddenly sound kinda fun years from now. I mean, what's one little Bridge Day after you've been resting your soul for a while. Short story long, I say keep the rig. And congrats on not dying so far. Faretheewell my man!

"It takes a big man to cry, it takes an even bigger man to make that big man cry"

[base704 0]

Well...
I guess that you've managed to do what most of us want but few manage to realize.
As pointed out by 700; you give us yet another lesson...

To enjoy 9 injury free years of base jumping (over 600 jumps worldwide), and be able to walk away satisfied is no small feat, to say the least.

To that I can only say: Thanx...for all you have taught, and will teach me.

Given the choice, I'd like to follow your example to the letter...

You can get a lot more done with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.

[Faber 0]

Hey Mike i which you the best,i wanted to share a exitpoint whith you some day,No i just want to have a laugh over beers
Stay safe on what ever you deside to do,rember true freinds dont let you down,not even if you dont jump anymore..

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[GreenMachine 0]

I wish you well in your new endeavors!!
Oh, and enjoy your new found free time.

Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

[EPX 0]

man, hope i can get there one day, hardly thinking about it at all... cheers!

you want me to do what???

[Mac 1]

Quote

To enjoy 9 injury free years of base jumping (over 600 jumps worldwide), and be able to walk away satisfied is no small feat, to say the least.

Thats pretty cool....

Enjoy your retirement....

[Tyrod212 0]

Hey Mike, good Luck in whatever you choose to do next! I'll never forget jumping with you guys off that freestander in WV. Your one of the best jumpers i ever stood on an object with. Good Luck again!!

[sabre210 0]

well done and good timing.

ian

[pauly632 0]

You suck!!!!! JJ... Are you going to take up golf??? Oh yea I have your disks.... Congrats and we will hit the white bottles again soon brother....

Peace,

Pauly

[ChrisHall 0]

Good Luck Mike, I hope you have as much fun with your next adventure as you have had with this one. Take care friend.

[raym666 0]

Michael Jordon retired too...say it isn't so! If gay porn is your calling then have at it!

We'll miss ya at the exit point but hope you will still help ward off the CCS if we ever stop by your neck of the woods. You are are always welcome to attempt to drink with the ATL crew. We have no problems sending you home bloody, violated, and hungover! Keep the rig...Brandy will only put it in the water!

Seriously keep in touch bro and good luck to ya!

[eUrNiCc 0]

Mike,
I think it takes bigger balls to walk away from the sport after your career than it does for most people to walk into it. Congrats on a long and safe run. You got to be a part of the golden age of BASE in our area and open some really unique objects. The hard work that your generation has done is already benefitting the next... Thanks.
Thanks for answering my phone calls in the middle of the night.
Good luck man!

Egad, A BASE life defiles a bad age.

[MyTwoCents 0]

Hey,

were you part of the crew that tried to corrupt me in a Bridge Day 2005 hotel room?

I've had a great FDC since and Yuri has been excellent mentor, albeit remotely.

I hope I'll run into you and the crew again some day, cause I got some pancakes that need powdered sugar.

Unless, of course, this is a case of mistaken identity.

Pipe and a pancake?

Jaap

[Steepfriend 0]

Mike,
Was there any single deciding factor in your decision?
Just curious.
Good luck in your future games!
--wayne

[base60 0]

I don't know you but I think that's one of the ballsiest things I've heard in a long time. I understand it. After 24 years of base I can honestly say it doesn't do a thing for me. Nor does skydiving. Doesn't make my heart beat faster at all. But no-one gets out alive, so now you have to die of cancer, or alzhiemers or on the freeway with your spleen on the passenger seat while they cut you out of the car. Quite frankly I WANT to die base jumping or skydiving. What better way is there? Damn I'm gonna regret posting this!

[badenhop 0]

Good luck to you.
So now that you're
no longer into BASE,
got any Mojos to sell?

==================================

I've got all I need, Jesus and gravity. Dolly Parton

http://www.AveryBadenhop.com

[base570 1]

wow brother......

This came as quite the suprise to me and I don't know how to take it.

We have been jumping together since the beginning. Always competing. always searching,always having a blast.

We enjoyed too many exit points to name and opened up nearly everything we found in North Carolina. You helped me in all aspects of jumping and I thank you for that.... you rock! You were there for my 1st building, Antenna and earth along with hundreds that were to follow. We suffered bad times as well as had really great times. We travelled over Europe in 1999 and learned a lot, saw a lot and met a lot of people. We dealt with our first tradegy that same trip when Thor Alex went in, unfortunatly that would not be the last death we would see We have jumped from the tallest manmade structures on earth and we have jumped some pretty low shit but no matter what, I enjoyed them all.
You have served BASE and your state (NC) very well over the years and anything new that you do will hopefully bring you as much joy as I know BASE has.



Thanks for having my back all these years and I hope to retire injury free like you some day... although I think I'm going for 1000

PS- for those of you wondering.. Mike is getting out because he just couldn't compete with me any longer. He only has a lower BASE number than me and that is killing him inside. His night number is higher, his naked number is higher. I beat him to 500 jumps, he can't do aeriels, I opened more objects than him, I have more total objects than him etc. etc.

I'm sorry Mike, I know it's hard to deal with but quitting????

Love ya bro,

can;t wait to see your next adventure....

Jason
570