LouYoung

I know that I didn't feel like a real BASE jumper until the first time I scouted and jumped an object, solo, landing on a tiny sand bar, with very few outs. It was jump 81, two weeks short of my one year BASE anniversary. Then that feeling was reinforced 11 jumps later when I got my last letter. And again, 14 jumps later, successfully jumping a very high bust "O" object and getting away undetected. Before all of that (including getting my first three letters, having a "sort of cliffstrike", doing basic aerials, and getting arrested), I just didn't feel right calling myself a BASE jumper. Aynone who knew me during that time called me one (among other things) because that was my sole focus. But I'd have felt like a poser if I came out said, "Yeah, I'm a BASE jumper!" However, if someone does one tandem and wants to be a skydiver, or jumps NRGB and wants to be called a BASE jumper, so be it. They BASE jumped, so they must be a BASE jumper. But for me, it was different.

I think we already do, Tony! We've seen the video!

I agree. Those are excellent pics of an awesome cliff. Lou PS - Just to make my other post more clear, it wasn't about age. Age isn't a measure of skill or prior training. Besides, some of us (me) can't judge. I almost died the first time I jumped that one.

I cringe everytime I see someone new going out to that cliff. With all the talk going around about how dangerous Moab is, this object is worse than 90 percent of the jumps out there. (Of course, in the olden days, some of the old AZ crew did their first jump from this one. Yikes! Now those guys only come out for the really risky jumps. )

Speak for yourself, slider-whore! I'm going out there this weekend... unless it's raining. Damned AZ weather.

Now we need to define object strike. If your canopy touches the object and you don't, is it a strike? If so, I need to change how I voted. My canopy touched a cliff wall on jump 16, but I didn't, and I flew away from the incident. I've never really considered it a real object strike. Should I? Lou

Does anyone here see a significant difference in Ravens vs. SuperRavens? When I bought my "let's practice BASE skills" skydiving canopy, I was told to get a SuperRaven as it will simulate a BASE canopy better than a Raven. I haven't heard anyone else mention the distinction in any of the latest threads. Lou PS - I ended up grabbing a SuperRaven III for a very reasonable price.

14.071.

Just what we expect from a jumper! Get better Matt!

I'm going to be in Tahoe (Heavenly area) from Feb 17 to Feb 21. Anyone in that area that can show me something good? PM me. Lou

A question for anyone who knows: - How many climbing rangers are on staff in Yosemite in the fall season? A statement for Link: - They're not stunts.

That's a good lead. I've been looking for a Wilderness First Aid class in my area and while the DC Red Cross link provided there doesn't help, it did point me in the right direction to find the Arizona Red Cross website and they're offering the same class this weekend. Nice find! For some reason I never even thought to look at the Red Cross for this sort of thing. I had asked around at my local climbing gyms and outdoor shops but I always get pointed to the 2 and 3 week courses that are geared toward certifying backcountry guides. I'm not looking for something THAT in depth, but I should would like to know what to do to stablize a buddy until we can get him/her to real help or vice versa. Thanks for the lead! Lou

Dude, what about that front flip gone wrong!? You felt that one right away! Then you finished with a nice downwind superman! BTW: How you been, man? Been a long time.

I agree. The main reason I had one stuffed in there was for storage for the climb up. The bastard kept slipping out and actually made the climb scarier than it should have been. Doing that repeatedly will surely stretch out the pouch. Not something I've done more than once or plan on repeating unless there's a really, really good reason. Lou PS - I'm a big fan of the Super Mushroom for nearly all my stowed jumps. It might take longer to pack, but if it helps even a little bit, that time packing is time well spent.

I don't ever think I was specifically told not to stow a 48-inch pilot chute. I just kind of realized it would be a bad idea for a few reasons: 1) Stowed pilot chutes hesitate more often than handheld 2) Larger pilot chutes have a greater tendency to hesitate than smaller pilot chutes 3) If the object is low enough to require a short enough delay to dictate a 48 inch pilot chute, then I should probably go handheld anyway 4) It's virtually impossible to fold my 48-inch ZP pilot chute small enough to get it to go in and STAY in my pilot chute pouch As for the 300 foot A with a sketchy exit point and jumping a FOX VTEC 265, I'd probably go stowed with a 42 inch pilot chute packed with the Super Mushroom technique. (Tested this method from 250 feet, actually.) Given the trees at the bottom and depending on the distance I'd need to clear to make the landing area, I'd rather go handheld with a larger pilot chute if I could figure out how to safely climb to the exit point. I'm still a novice, so there might be better ways. I'd definately get advice and/or see how others are doing it if I'm not going solo. Lou