base311

the original post appeared like someone taking credit for a fait accompli. Certainly none of us at the ABP consider it a fait au compli; to the contrary, as clearly stated in the first paragraph - beginning with the third sentence - of the Chronology, "There remains much work to be done because additional language proposed in the rewrite is still cumbersome for unit superintendents as well as backcountry parachutists, and is still NOT what the ABP has been asking for all along: a complete rescission of Section 8.2.2.7. Such action on behalf of the NPS would end a quarter-century of institutionalized access discrimination and level the playing field at the unit-level planning table so individual backcountry parachutists would not have to jump the additional hurdle of seeking a waiver to the 2001 Management Policies each time he or she wanted to jump in a national park." I don't see where anyone was taking credit for a task accomplished; rather, we were merely drawing parallels to the date of the congressional request cited in Ms. Achen's Oregon Mail Tribune article quoting David Barna, spokesperson for the NPS. I don't think any of us disagree. Complete rescission of 8.2.2.7 is only one battle. There are many more battles and multiple fronts we face before anyone can claim victory, but you have to count your battles and - while I am still a bit pessimistic about the language we'll see in the rewrite when it is released for public comment - I must admit that I'm grateful that they've gone as far as they have in the leaked rewrite: it means they're hearing us at least to some extent. The NPS and DOI are under no obligation to change a damn thing if they so choose. Nevertheless, the overall task of access is - and will be - one long hard row to hoe. I am pretty sure Jason only pointed to the Utah document because that is what he had immediately available to show as an example of the access model that the ABP is pursuing, and how easily it would be integrated with the NPS administrative system. When you explain it to people you can see the lightbulb turn on when they get it - and they get it quickly. Regulating and managing backcountry parachutists the same way individual park units manage rock climbers and hikers is administratively neutral and allows superintendents and park users to plan for the activity in ways that are already administratively and legally proven, and allows it to go forth as a routine and recurring recreational activity integrated into the overall backcountry community and management plan. The aviation model, on the other hand, depends on special use rules and regulations that must be developed and promulgated, then tested and imposed on an administrative system not designed to deal with them – and which forces park managers to treat the activity as special, not routine, and segregated from rather than integrated into the general backcountry community. That is why the Yosemite trial program failed so miserably in 1980. Long story short: It took more rangers more time to deal with ten jumpers per day than it did per day to deal with every climber, hiker and day tripper in the whole park! No I think the driving force, overall, is the current administration coupled with thirty years of NPS' policy of saying 'NO,' and the bad taste that it leaves in everyone's mouth. All of those other proposed changes??? ...the NPS had it coming to it. We have internal NPS memos essentially (to paraphrase) saying, "We need to make it look like we are more willing to say 'yes' more often than we do... in essence telling folks we'll take a look at something... but even if we give an initial maybe, we can still say no." I can most assuredly inform you that the ABP will continue to assert itself and its ability to effect change within the NPS/DOI system and elsewhere. Many times you hear folks in the BASE community make statements like, "we've tried everything... we're out of options... blah blah." That is simply not the case. No organization has spent the time, energy and focused enough effort to truly effect change. In fact most of them fell apart internally before they ever got any momentum going. The ABP will succeed. We would appreciate your support, but even if you don't wish to support the ABP, we'll be happy to have you come celebrate with us when we do, "...see [the] appropriate changes," you mentioned. Sincerely, K. Gardner Sapp Executive Director The Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists, Inc. http://www.backcountryparachutists.org Edited to add: thanks go to Jason for making the community aware of these proposed changes!

...man my number has really been up lately... been seeing it all over town, in movies, on the clock, radio.. everywhere.... and now this! Gardner

In BASE you can get an NNBOA# Naked Night BASE On Acid Gardner

Proposal: Parks need an update Officials warn against national park development at the expense of natural-resource protection By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune (elements of this news article not particularly pertinent to the purpose of this post were snipped by BASE311) The move to revise the policies was prompted by a congressional request in 2002 and increasing public demand for modern comforts and activities in parks, such as cell phone reception, base jumping and geocaching, Barna said. (more text snipped by 311) Park Service Director Fran Mainella will have final say on what draft is published in the Federal Register for public comment. Barna said the draft could be out as soon as the end of September. Hello jumpers: Want to know how all this came to be? “The move to revise the policies was prompted by a congressional request in 2002 and increasing public demand for modern comforts and activities in parks, such as cell phone reception, base jumping and geocaching, " Barna said. The above is quoted from “Parks need an update,” Medford, Oregon, Mail Tribune, September 6, 2005, by Paris Achen Here's how: http://www.backcountryparachutists.org/chronology.php K. Gardner Sapp Executive Director The Alliance of Backcountry Parachuting, Inc.

The Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists has made its letter-writing system available to facilitate the sending of letters to NERI Superintendent Calvin Hite. In addition to faxing letters to NERI headquarters, letter-system users may also elect to fax carbon copies to three Congressional members: West Virginia 3rd District Representative Nick Rahall II, and West Virginia Senators Robert Byrd and John Rockefeller. The Alliance has not provided any suggested letter text, as stylistically different letters will always be more sincere and better-received, so you must create your own text. Your letter will appear to have come from you and only you; we are merely providing the means to expedite your responses to Superintendent Hite. edit to remove link ~TA Sincerely, K. Gardner Sapp, Director Jason Dawson, Director The Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists P.O. Box 38202 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 [email protected]

Yup. We've done a few. Gardner

Agreed on the first part; disagreed on the second. I'm curious which of the, "All normal methods..." you describe have actually been tried??? As far as I know, there has never been a unified congressional lobby for change, until now. As far as I know, no one - and no organization - has yet put forth a coordinated effort to employ the normal methods by which a citizen or group normally goes about effecting change: grassroots efforts to lobby congressional representatives; careful watch-dogging of agency movements and their actions to change rules and regulations in a direction NOT in our favor; putting pressure where pressure is necessary; availing ourselves to - and involving ourselves in - planning processes whereby we are included as a user group rather than excluded because of our absense or laxity; ultimately, there has never been an organized systematic and orchestrated plan of action. Sure, there have been a few attempts at change by what amount to extraordinary means. Namely, a civil disobedience jump gone wrong, a few defended court cases which resulted in still more confusion and muddied waters for everyone concerned... I'm sure the list goes on and on. As has already been mentioned, civil disobedience typically is a last-resort tactic that comes only after a long concerted effort to change things by normal means has failed. It could take a lifetime to reach a point before such civil disobedience would be considered effective and appropriate. Nevertheless, the proper channels have not been tried until now. These things take time and patience is truly a virtue in such regard. Arguably, we've waited entirely too long for our day to come. On the other hand, as a user group, we've been flailing about for a quarter century. Herding cats is never easy and, frankly, herding BASE jumpers is harder still. It is time to get organized and get on board. I believe one such group will rise to the challenge and be an organization for change that will eventually come; I'll leave it to everyone else to make that determination for themselves. Our resolve must be tempered with patience, and our actions must be carefully planned and our intentions sure. I know where I have placed my faith and trust, and I know where I and others are doing the difficult work to see success where others have failed. -Gardner

Honestly I don't think it would matter. Unless you could figure out a way to keep him from running flat out the long way across three counties and back everyday... I don't think beer and chicken fingers with french fries and mayo is gonna do it. Stainless steel tie-wraps around the ankles and wrists, perhaps - tied to a post - followed by a feeding tube with a strict diet of blended cornbread and ketchup and cold Schlizt Malt Liquor, pop tarts and bubblegum and catfish with cheese. Grandma's biscuits, brindle gravy and salt-cured ham. And don't forget to save a biscuit to sop the grease out of the pan in which the ham was fried; blend it and feed it. I had to stop hangin' out with him... he was killing me. A comic said once of runners, "man... you ain't got but so many hearbeats... and damn if you ain't usin' all of yours up!!!" I've never seen anything like it. bsbd, Gardner

My suggestion is to hand it off to your local BASE crew. Have them take it to their favorite local crane and have them drop it over pavement. Get it on video top and bottom. Just make sure there are no passers-by who might get injured due to flying bits. Great fun. Like Dave Letterman's watermelon drop, only better! Gardner

I'm not a VW owner, but my buddy just had to have his automatic transmission replaced because it failed. His is a 2002 jetta with the turbo and tiptronic transmission. Just a thought.... gardner

From (login=tara, pw=brad to bypass registration): http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/KTVKLNews20050620.2a717f3e.html Base jumper at ***edited to remove site name*** Lake injured 08:56 AM Mountain Standard Time on Monday, June 20, 2005 azfamily.com Staff A man who tried to base jump off a cliff at ***edited*** Lake was badly injured Monday morning when his parachute apparently failed to fully open. The call came in shortly after 7 a.m. According to Sgt. Travis Anglin of the ***edited*** County Sheriff's Office, the 48-year-old man hit the rocks when his chute partially opened, then landed at the base of a cliff that's about 700 feet tall. Rescuers from the Rural Metro Fire Department and the sheriff's office are on the scene. The area is remote and the spot where the man landed is not level, making it impossible for a helicopter to land there. A rescue team will have to carefully move the man down the hill to a level area closer to the water. Anglin said he believed the man suffered a broken leg -- an open fracture -- and had briefly lost consciousness. The good news is that the man has been awake and moving. Once rescuers get to the man, he will be airlifted to the hospital. eof vibes Gardner

Shirley you jest?!?!?!

Safety my arse. Read the FIA's letter to Michelin in response to their (Michelin's) heavy handed demand to change the rules to save Michelin's bacon. Michelin brought a fast tire that couldn't last. FIA was 100% in the right to refuse to accomodate Michelin. Brigestone had no problem bringing a tire that lasted. The only ones that endangered Michelin's drivers was Michelin. They should be embarrassed and ashamed. Here here! Can you imagine the fallout that Michelin is gonna have with respect to tire sales in this country (and others)?? I, for one, won't be buying any michelin tires anytime soon. I'm gonna buy me some bridgestones! What a marketing/sales disaster... and F1 disaster! BTW, Isn't Michelin a french company?? Gardner

Don't apologize for shit! I spend my money any damn way I wish. My car breaks down and I see a Motel 6 and a Hilton side by side. I'm fucking at the Hilton on 600+ thread count sheets baby!!! Then I'll call a friend to fly down, pick up my ass and we will burn 50 bucks an hour of fuel to get my ass home!! Get some! Heeeelllll yeah... GET SOME!!!!!! These whiners have obviously never slept on 600+ thread count egyptian cotton sheets. GET SOME Gardner

Wow. There they are, my sentiments exactly - all wrapped up in one perfect post. Gardner

Afterwhile the noise level will become deafening to the point someone will ask that it be turned off somehow. Patience, Creativity, Action and Steadfastness fair access. responsible use. worldwide. Gardner

Davidek said you could puff on his phat phornicating phallus on the way to TF if you want a ride. LMFAO

Lookie what I stumbled across.... http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=728&show=localnews&newsid=632797 The part I really like is how they involved the skydiving stakeholders in the process BEFORE they made a decision Stay tuned I'll be happy to provide email addresses for all those county commissioners. I've already notified govrelations@uspa. Gardner

Palm hearts, black olives, artichoke hearts, and avocado.

We're tearin' it up here man... when the conditions are right we go. Wish you were here. Earl Redfern, May 18, 2000. To you and Clint, All the best. Gardner http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=498244

Dang at least stay on through the w/e; I'm sure there'll be be a buncha folks rollin' into tf by thurs. ;) Gardner

***(stuff snipped) "wonder if thats been jumped yet" everytime I look at a kinda high object. I'm sure there must be some skydiver out there who is planning to BASE and is obsessed with persueing(spelling) that. but your "obsessed" maybe different to another persons classing of obsessed My general observation has been that - even given my relative early entry into the sport - most everything that immediately catches the eye has been jumped. Only the most obscure - or most difficult to access - is left for the taking. Even in BASE, there are always those who have gone before (many and often un-named or unknown), and hard they went. Even in BASE, there is little left for the taking (but obviously more than for the average joe). God bless new construction, -Gardner

A prior manuf., when asked what he was up to, used to say, "just shipped another loaded gun..." Thank gawd for the safety, -Gardner

LMAO Tonight it was Gallery's Girl next Door. God I love the GND issue.... hot hunnies in nexta nuthin'.. Have Metallica T-Shirt; Will Travel. My next book title.... Laughing all the way to the tar pit... Gardner P.S Can you say WDI? That's Wind Drift Indicator for the uninitiated. Who wants to go first? Be my guest.... Every object is worthy of being someone's first jump. heh heh.

LMFAO @ metallica shirt comment... dum dum dum dum duuuuhhhhhhmmmmmmm. LOL Gardner... Yeah drop us a line @ [email protected]