base428

What about Johnny Utah? I think he's more qualified than the trainers sent by some BASE manufacturers. Others agree as well. Keep in mind that when you say "BASE Gear Manufacturer", that doesn't always mean that the head of the company with 1000+ jumps will be the one training you. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Hey 515, my paranoia post was directed at Mick. I just happened to click on the reply button to your post. Geez, you got busted by just saying you jumped? Damn. Cool Fact: Did you know that there is a 5-year statute of limitations on NPS jumps? You can show the NPS your cool video of a "non-sanctioned" leap you made more than 5 years ago from one of the tall cliffs in any NP and they cannot do a thing! At least, that's according to Fred (one great BASE attorney). (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Paranoia.....will destroy ya! I can just see the headlines now: "Hunt for Osama put on hold while US Government tracks down secret BASE jumping forum" (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Read the post again Mick.....he wants a secure WEBSITE, not a forum. Those are two completely different things, as you well know. You sound like a friggin' lawyer or even the NPS? (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Easily done. I have a new webhosting business where I sell hosting services, email, FTP, private secured directories, and Miva Merchant shopping carts to a handful of BASE jumpers. Only BASE jumpers are on this server and I've got full control of it. MH, email if interested. PS: Is this what you're looking for? http://www.vertical-visions.com/private/ (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

You'll hear a canopy LONG before you'll see it. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Thanks for the resurrection, Tom! This is a tough issue. At times, I also feel like ringing the necks of the offending NPS personnel who abuse their powers (hint: NPS pulls guns on jumpers in WV - Oct. 2003, NPS confiscates gear from Clint and friends - 2004, etc.) . However, as most of us know, anger and retalliation isn't going to get us anywhere. If we're going to fight the good fight, let's do it the right way. Mudslinging and threats of lawsuits will only bury us further. Have you spoken to your Congressman or Senator lately about BASE in National Parks? At least one BASE jumper has....and he got his Congressman to write several letters to the NPS. These letters were a big step forward for us. There is nothing preventing us from presenting our own plan to the NPS for legal BASE in National Parks. As I said before, bend over and take it like a man when you get caught in a National Park, OR you can do something positive to change their policy toward BASE! (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Why is it illegal to have a parachute in a National Park if you're not jumping? What law was broken? Just curious....as this crosses over to BDay as well. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

http://www.dailymail.com/pollBooth.php3?qid=wvquarterpoll&cnSess=91a9c25d2dc Damn that US Mint.....and the Bridge Day quarter was clearly the winner according to another poll.

Not yet. Ed sent a few out to the jumpers who pre-purchased the DVD while at Bridge Day 2003. He had some minor bit rate and compatibility issues with the double sided DVD's he's using. He's now burning them with a different DVD and working on the bit rate fix. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

We have 8 days left to vote on the final WV quarter design that features the New River Gorge Bridge. Unfortunately, one of the five finalists (the "Bridge Day" quarter), was axed by the mint due to coinabililty issues. Regardless, the New River Gorge Bridge is prominently displayed on one of the two final designs. The other (losing) design is a lame quilt. Please VOTE for your favorite design (hint: New River Gorge Bridge) at the following URL: http://www.wvgov.org/wvquarter Full details are here: http://www.wvgov.org/FullArticle.asp?index=911 (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Does THIS POST look familiar? Edit: Note that the last two Bridge Day's had an average age of 36 with over 1100 skydives and 60+ BASE jumps each. Females accounted for 12.2% of all jumpers. Cya. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

DVD's are supposed to be in transit to my office for arrival this week. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

All that typing for nothing....oh well. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Good thread. I believe that the stock brake settings from the BASE manufacturers are set for the "lightest" jumpers, rather than the average jumper out there. When testing my new canopies for the proper DBS, I have always found them to be "way off". To add or modify a DBS setting, you can mark the location and send it off to the manufacturer. Or you can purchase some FIDS and matching brake line and install yourself. Another thing to look out for is the location of the toggles on the brake lines. Some jumpers will adjust this for slider off jumps, essentially making a shorter brake line. edit: updated w/ "lightest" jumper. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Mamahucker, you are a crackin' me up today, yo! I have seen antenna radiation signs disapper, I've seen BASE numbers and stickers at exit points, and YES, I watched the NPS break into another jumper's car (I watched from a crowded nearby parking lot). As for the Gucci bag and lipstick, I'll admit that Donk's apple-pie and Subway sandwich humping sessions at the Turkey Boogie have really influenced me. Donk really knows how to bring out the woman in me......NOT! Peace to all you BASE freaks out there!!! PS. Bruce "Butt Bleeder" Kramer is coming to my house today to stay for a few weeks......he's helping me with doors and trim....God help us! PPS. Sorry this thread is slowly hooking in to the ground. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

When in Rome....dress like the Romans I guess. I agree Tom. Whatever it takes to fit in. Unfortunately, even here in good old WV, you may get a 2nd look from a local if you have camo on in the wrong place....like at one of our many bridges in hunting off-season. Just don't forget your rifle. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Did you guys ever think that I can be a friend to someone, but not approve of their lifestyle? I've got several gay friends, however, I don't like nor do I approve of their homosexuality. Am I the only one here that thinks sticking your dick in another man's rectum is quite odd? (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I can understand wearing camo pants if you are in a place where people normally wear camo pants (like here in WV). But wearing any camo in an area that doesn't normally see camo, like in a National Park or whilst riding the elevator to the top of a building in a big city, is just asking to get busted. I've seen guys with camo stash bags wearing camo pants and jacket and I just wanna tell them to go change their clothes. I think that jumpers should dress to blend in with society, not to blend in with the fall foliage. Black and dark colors are good, but too much camo or anything out of the ordinary makes you stick out like a sore thumb. Other things to avoid: -Using bolt cutters to remove locks. -Stealing "Antenna Radiation" signs. -Writing your BASE # or putting stickers at the top of objects -Leaving anything parachute related visible in your car (I once watched the NPS break into a car because of knee pads in the back seat!) Try to carry: -Radio, no matter what object or situation. -Water -Cell phone -Money -Small first aid kit (bandaids, gauze, etc.) if you can. -Flashlight (never leave home w/o it....you never know how long you may be stuck in the woods). -Small poncho to protect you, or your gear, in the rain. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I have no mercy for litterbugs, partiers, thieves, mid-day lazy jumpers, unstealthy jumpers, or any other butthole BASE jumpers who contribute to the demise of a good BASE site. The rules are simple and they are well known. I always tell it like it is. If you want to jump in my neck of the woods (and you're not another local), you better call me first. If you screw up, then you'll surely get a nasty phone call or email also. Don't drink, don't do drugs.....try not to ruin the site. Don't wear 100% camo, don't put SKYDIVE stickers on your car, DO carry a radio......it's pretty easy. No mercy for rule breakers. Kudos to Earl and Gardner for the first and only tar and feathering that I'm aware of!!! PS. Damn, I'm sounding like Motherhucker more each day! edit: mispelled Gardner's name...forgot the D. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I guess the 66% of America that is against gay marriage is not posting to this thread? Marriage was established for one man and one woman. Do what you like, but deep down inside everyone knows that homosexuality is not normal. However, you guys are both BASE jumpers, so you will always be my friends. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I used to be president of the West Virginia University Skydiving Club. Membership turnaround is inevitable, as many college students join your club just to make one jump. How do you keep them onboard for a year or more? I don't think you really can unless you find those truly dedicated, addicted students out there who you know will continue in the sport. We also had the following which helped attendance: -Ran a Skydiving Club booth for the entire first week of school with videos and rigs for students to explore. -Hand out pencils/pens with your club logo. -Advertise in the college newspaper. -Advertise on the college radio station. -Attend the Collegiates. -Sucker your college into funding your trips to the Collegiates and other events like we did. -Have your members wear " Skydiving Club" jackets. -Jump onto campus illegally (I did that once...) Good luck. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I got this from a production company.....if you have good quality Petronas video, then please contact them. Make sure you read the entire post before you send your handheld miniDV footage. Chances are that if you're shooting Beta, then I don't need to mention that giving away footage in exchange for your name in the credits is completely worthless --------- > My name is Wes Kim, and I'm an associate producer with Screaming Flea > Productions in Seattle. We're doing a show for National Geographic Channel > on Sears Tower, and I was wondering if you had any footage of Petronas > Towers that we could license. We only need a few seconds of an establishing > shot for a segment that will comment on Petronas Towers vs. Sears Tower, and > of course, we probably can't use anything showing BASE jumpers, so if you > have anything that might fit the bill, please feel free to email or call me. All we need is a few seconds of wide-angle establishing shot that shows the full height of Petronas. It should be a locked-down shot -- no handheld -- and the acquisition format should be broadcast-quality Beta or DigiBeta. Any leads would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > Wes Kim, Associate Producer > Screaming Flea Productions > 5950 6th Ave. S #109 > Seattle, WA 98108 > 206-763-3383 x206 > 206-719-6261 (cell) > 206-763-3393 (fax) > wes@sfpseattle.com > http://www.sfpseattle.com (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Good question. I'm not sure about the rights these companies have against sneaky legal weasles like myself, but I do know that many of my packages have made it through to the sender with success. I can only assume that if the USPS is willing to take the garbage from you at the counter, that they'll follow through and deliver it. Since a lot of this bulk prepaid crap is delivered in large bundles and sacks, chances are they'll not find your box of coffee grinds and dirty underwear until they are sorting their own mail. I think the real issue here is having the balls to hand over a big friggin' rock with a postage paid envelope to the 69 year-old elderly lady behind the counter. It's kinda like the rush you get on a BASE jump.... (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Having been shocked on an AM antenna before, hopefully I can help you (it's a long story...). You should be fine with the plank. Arcing can occur at shorter distances, so be sure you are always cleanly and sufficiently separated from the ground as you first touch the tower. Or you can do as I have done in the past. I convinced my jumping buddy to try to jump onto the tower and if he got shocked, I would beat his arms off the tower using an old wooden rake found nearby. It worked. He didn't get shocked. Damn, that would've been fun to whack the shit out of his arms as he got juiced, since he's the one who got my ass shocked on the other tower mentioned in the first paragraph. Just keep an eye out for the isolators that are painted to match the tower....sometimes, you can't see that it's an AM tower. Zap!!!! Cya. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.