base428

Jaap, maybe you should let it rest (as Tom previously requested). Chad obviously has his reasons and he doesn't need to justify anything. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

C'mon, the NPS told us that there is no list. How dare we doubt their word. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Who in their right mind would complain to a building owner about a 180 building strike? Regardless, I think some of us have forgotten (or never learned) the history of the NPS and BASE jumpers. It's been 25+ years of discrimination. Do you think a forum conversation with a part time ranger is gonna change anything? Maybe if we send Christmas cards to all the parks, they'll let us jump? The NPS doesn't have to change a damn thing regarding parachuting laws. And things will be the same for the next 25 years unless we get SMARTER and find a way to stop the discrimination. Forget talking to rangers and start talking to your Congressman, Senators, or lawyer. EDIT: Read the attachment for some basic history on NPS/Jumpers. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Good to see a ranger finally post something on here, even if you are only part time. In case you didn't know, some jumpers have been busted in Yosemite via "climbers on the wall calling down to other rangers" and they're probably pointing the finger at you. That is why they are so emotional. What I do know is that legal BASE jumping in National Parks goes far beyond you, me, Yosemite, Bridge Day, and this forum. The actions of jumpers on this forum aren't going to make a bit of difference when it comes to legal jumps in Yosemite. In my opinion, Congressional action and/or a lawsuit (or similar means) might change things. Wishing harm upon rangers in this forum is far less harmful than when Yosemite rangers denied medical assistance to an injured jumper until he divulged the name of his jumping partner. Speaking of Yosemite, rangers seriously disrepected me when they sat on my permit request for nearly five months, then mailed back my check with no explanation. My Congressman is gonna love this one.... However, for Bridge Day this year the NPS wants my $1878 landing zone permit fee by June 1st. They aren't very quick to routinely say NO at Yosemite, but they'll gladly take my money EARLY for Bridge Day. I'm just sorry that I wasted so many years of my life being nice to the NPS only to find out that I (we) were being backstabbed. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Skydiving helmets are pretty much useless in a SKYDIVING environment as well. Sure, then look great and have a nifty face shield. But I found a $10 Barbie helmet down at Walmart that offers better impact protection. Forget about how cool a helmet has to look and let's examine exactly why we wear them. IMPACT PROTECTION. I know too many guys who either weren't wearing a helmet, weren't wearing a FULL FACE helmet, or were wearing a helmet that offered nothing more than a thin layer of material around your head. If someone offered a full face jumping helmet that was able to offer suitable impact protection, then I'll be the first buyer (or test jumper). For now, my helmet collection is getting into double digits as I'm currently trying out a mountain bike helmet. I've only got one head, so I guess I'd better protect it.... (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

65 hours total travel time (Pittsburgh, PA to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), 10910 miles one way. Plane was delayed about 14 hours due to a snowstorm in Japan, then it broke down after we boarded it. I slept for six hours on the plane only to wake up and find out we were still on the runway. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Tom is a new dad. Anna Grace Aiello was born on January 12, 6:58pm, weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and 20.5 inches long. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I wouldn't take BASE509's post that seriously (or anything on this forum for that matter), but he does make a good point. If you qualify for a number, but think it's cool to not get one, then you are cheating yourself out of something special. Obtaining a BASE number is a reward bestowed upon a person for years of hard work. It's an elite club that only a thousand people have ever joined. Plus, there are 72 virgins waiting for you once you join!!! PS. Kramer is a wanker. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

The rhinocam POV is attached. It covers my head to toes and everything to the sides..... (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Personally, I'd rather fly a wingsuit with a bullet cam than a bellymount system. Unfortunately, bullet cams don't have the best resolution right now. Bellycams and wingsuits have been flown together on skydives and base jumps, but it might require you to have some help suiting up. I just got the chance to make some bellycam base jumps with my HDR-HC1 (Sony HDV) and the video is truly amazing. I don't think I'll ever have the guts, but I'd love to fly my wingsuit with my rhinocam (see attached). PS. I've got a new ball and socket system on my bellycams that provides greater camera movement. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

My 8-month old loves our trampoline: http://www.base428.com/gallery/mallory/129_2912.html And she totally digs her new wingsuit: http://www.base428.com/gallery/mallory/128_2899.html (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Several of my family members and a few friends work or have worked in the mines. WV is just like most other states - minimum age 18 to get married (16-17 with parental consent). (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

West Virginia is not the economically depressed area that has apparently been embedded into your minds. Do you believe everything you see on TV or read on dropzone.com? Coal miners make much better money than $15-20/hour in many areas (especially double/triple overtime). And $16,000 for a new house is absurd! I live about 30 minutes away from the affected mine and the average home price in my area is higher than Pittsburgh, PA or Charleston, WV (as in hundreds of thousands of dollars). The FBI fingerprint center is about 5 miles from my new house. And I work in Congressman Mollohan's building right next to the NASA IV&V center. As for many women not graduating from high school, I have to disagree. WV has a program called the PROMISE scholarship that pays full college tuition for graduating students. So many students have qualified that funding for scholarships is of concern. Sure, West Virginia isn't the richest or best dressed state in the USA. But please don't make it sound like we're a third world country. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

It's always been the goal of the Bridge Day Video Crew to capture each and every jump on video. Therefore, I'm wondering if anyone else did not see themselves on the DVD? I have not had the chance to watch it yet, but as a jumper and organizer, I believe the most important thing is capturing every jump on video. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I've got a local 320' antenna that is similar. It's an outside climb (bolts) AM tower, which makes getting on it quite interesting. So yes, your tower looks jumpable. AM Tower Pic (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

We already hashed this out last month, but allow me to add one last message. Talking to the media is a risk, even when you are dealing with trusted reporters. I've seen the good and the bad over the years. The media has helped me more than hurt me, but one thing I've learned is that you can never trust them. Be cautious. Warn them that you'll be talking to their boss if they turn it into a witch-hunt. The best way I've determined to give them information is through emails and/or letters. It makes it harder for them to mis-quote you if it's written down. When they call you, write down all their questions and then take your time to respond via email. We've got some interesting plans in store for the media at Bridge Day 2006. After the Discovery Channel tried to sneak in my boom truck basket this year, we are going to restrict media access into our area in the future. Cya! (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Sorry, but I have never and will never give any list to the NPS. From 2002-2005, they've not received anything from me. Actually, I've argued for several years that the requirement to hand over the list be removed from the permit. So, no, I do not have the list. But I would love to see it and hand it over to the appropriate media so the world can see the discrimination. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Actually, some rangers are OK. Most are not. If we just stand around and wait for the NPS to allow us to jump, it's NEVER going to happen. I also think that we need to show the world what's really going on between rangers and jumpers. It's time we show how we are discriminated against and we need to tell everyone what we want in our LOUDEST voice. Until earlier this year, I cooperated with NPS as much as possible. Then they stabbed me in the back with fee increases and million dollar insurance policies. Even more ammo is available here A very trusted source informed me that the NPS wants us out of Bridge Day more than ever. We are setting a precedent with each successful Bridge Day. PS. I'm still waiting on my Yosemite permit response. It's been 4+ months..... (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Since many NPS rangers waste tax dollars reading this forum while on the job, I believe this might be the best place to offer some cash to all the underpaid rangers out there. I want a copy of the NPS's BASE Jumper Suspect List and I'm willing to pay $500 cash for it. Anonymous submissions are welcome and I can paypal you the money. PS. Christmas is fast approaching - you could probably use the cash!!! (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I haven't seen or heard from Eric in many years. Definately a cool dude. The funny thing is that most jumpers have probably seen him, but never knew it. (check your DVD collections) (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I thought I remembered your name. You whined about the $75 jump ticket price not long ago. If you can't afford a jump ticket or DVD, then you are in the wrong sport..... (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Check has not cleared. It's not for Bridge Day, but rather a big wall out West. They confirmed receipt of the permit request in writing, but have simply failed to respond. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

So it's been four months since my Special Use Permit request and $50 check went out to a specific National Park and I've heard nothing. Several phone calls and emails have not been answered. If I remember correctly, by law I must receive a response within a certain time period. I might be wrong on this though. Anyone have further info on the requirement for the NPS to respond? (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Boom crane basket and Group shot at Holiday Inn Enjoy. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I just read the caption and am very disappointed in the writer's comments. Even though it was LIFE magazine, I made sure they got the facts right - including me correcting them that BASE is only illegal in a few places in the USA. Their fact checker apparently didn't care what I had to say. And this was not the article that they read back to me before it went to press. Sounds like someone else "spiced" it up a bit before it printed. I guess you really can't trust ANY media unless you are the one printing the magazines or distributing the DVD's. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.