NickDG

Technically, you're right it's not a fid. But, I've heard a lot of things called fids. Even the metal strips used to stiffen old military back backs. Now, let's not get started on Botkin . . . NickD

I've always thought it went Royal Gorge in 1970, New River Gorge in 1979, and then Greenie sometime in the mid-1980s. I didn't know about Greenie until 1986 or 87 when Mike Allen and some visiting Brits did a widely circulated video. But, I'd bet the locals are jumping prior to this and keeping it secret . . . but I don’t know how early or who made the first jump. Adam or Dennis might know . . . The IPBC (I think that's The International Pro BASE Circuit) held a "legal" event/competition at Greenie in the summer of 1998 and we all thought for sure it was the beginning of "Bridge Day West." Anyway, this morning I received an e-mail from someone I know and trust saying regardless of what happens, and whatever agreement is reached, jumping in the "usual manner" will continue. The lesson here is a model, I hope, for future access agreements. Make your deal, but don't allow yourself to be pressured into becoming the BASE police . . . NickD

http://www.airtrash.com/ Click on the "New Guy" And yes, I awoke the following morning still wearing my new "hat." NickD

"YouLoo" is a cool seal symbol, congrats . . . NickD

A few hundred of us need to show up at the "General Plan Meeting" and man, where do I sign up for the National Paratrooper Association . . . Another bit is while they've cited, chased, and otherwise harassed us for years, they don't mind pimping the bridge for Hollywood money. In the end, at sites like this it won’t be our adding another chapter to the book of grand human accomplishments, or doing what so many said shouldn't and couldn’t be done that will win the day. It'll be the fact that opening this place for everyday use will line their pockets. It's sad that's how it works, but when the time comes and we make "the deal" let's make sure we don’t give away the store. We've a real chance to have access here more on our terms than theirs . . . NickD

>>In the words of some guy named Clem... "Riskin' it all for NOTHING!"

Yes, it was "thin" like that, but it wrapped around the body more towards the bottom of the container. Moe came up with modified pack job that had most of the canopy in the bottom section. And wing suits LOL to us in those days they were something barnstorming parachutists used in the 1930 and 40s and usually in the end not very successfully . . . NickD

The closest we've come to an invisible rig is "the Blade" manufactured by Tailored for Survival in the late 1980s. The photo doesn't do it justice but its wrap around design made it disappear when worn under a suit coat or light jacket. Moe said he and Lane tested the rigs by walking around in a local Department Store and nobody took notice. A Hollywood stuntman friend of ours walked up to the rail at Bridge Day dressed in a special white suit. When he climbed up on the rail and "fell over" all the spectators, and quite a few BASE jumpers, crapped their pants . . . NickD

Even though he didn't get out and walk around it's still impressive. Check the video . . . http://www.mounteverest.net/story/FrenchEverestMysteryChoppersUtopiasummit-VIDEOMay272005.shtml NickD

Well, I'm proud of you then, you made a lot jumps since and picked up all the ratings . . . Cool! NickD

http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=355CB376-1162-4985-B1C6-117F1570AD07 NickD

I jumped with Capewells too and the problem I see with them in the BASE environment is, even when closed, they aren't that snag proof. I'm thinking of the bridle catch during an over-rotated aerial or just plain being unstable. They are also so beefy a bad landing, or hitting something can have the Capewell break your collar bone. The later versions of the Capewell, like the Velcro closed types, aren't secure enough for BASE. (Hell, they weren't really secure enough for skydiving). The Rocket Releases were intended for non-emergency use and can be hard to operate in a hurry or if you are hurt. I think the only time a quick release is needed is for intentional water landings, or for when there is a chance you "might" land in water. Other than that if the Three Ring scares you go with L-bars. Ditching your gear in a hurry with L-bars just means dropping the whole rig, and a hook knife will always get you out of tree. Another thing is even with the recent "incident" we've been using the Three Ring system to BASE jump with for almost thirty years without an undo amount of problems . . . NickD

>>I have a huge poster of a BASE jump above the couches where tandem passengers fill out the waivers.

>>and, if so, why was it rejected?

A slider is what saved The Pick. He snapped a mini-riser (Type-17) and the broken riser caught in the slider. Instead of going in with nothing he spiraled in and survived. It's hard to imagine BASE jumpers, even the newest ones, getting to a point where improperly set up three ring systems becomes a major sport-wide problem, but I also never thought our skydiving brothers could get as gear complacent as they've become . . . so there may be something to it. If your rings are making you paranoid, sure you can foul them so they won't release, but does anyone remember "cross connectors?" These would still allow you to release the canopy in the water, in a tree, or LOL, when a security guard has you by the pilot chute . . . NickD

I worked with Fred at Cal City. Here he is when he came to visit us at Perris . . . NickD

I would think strings from a musical instrument, due to their wound exterior might damage the inside of the line. Something smoother is probably better. Here's what I use, safety wire with a grommet handle . . . NickD

Wow, for minute there, I thought DDog busted out . . . NickD

Here's a cool tool you can use to locate and find info on antenna towers . . . I love the name of the website "Find a Site" LOL . . . http://www.americantower.com/OasisPublic/MapPoint/default.asp Make sure and d/l the "National Site List" it’s the Mother of all tower lists. NickD

Another shrimp on the barbie .... NickD

The World BASE Association is here . . . ! The Yosemite Skydiving Association is here . . . ! The Cliff Jumpers of America is here . . . ! The Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists is here . . . ! Not knocking it, Brothers, just keeping it all straight for when we are all gone . . . ! NickD

>>How do you think,where is the best place for basejumping in the world?For you?

>>Hmm.. isn't it just a regular DZ?

We are screwed in the media for the same reason every other form of "outside the norm" activity is. NBC TV during the early stages of the American space program tried to fix that when they employed reporters like Jules Bergman. Jules was an aviator himself and a big space buff, he understood things and reported events in a way layman could understand. They've essentially stopped doing that and now most aviation events, especially accidents, are reported with inaccuracy and hysteria. We are victim to the same thing. The end of objective news began in the 1970s. Rather than report what facts they had, I noticed newsreaders began going off script and adding a little comment. Like after reporting a skydiving death, after the who, when, where, and how, they'd look into the camera and say, "that's nuts, and something I'd never do." No one noticed it was the end of giving the public the chance of drawing their own conclusions. It was the beginning of "infotainment." Until they wake up and spend a little money really being as accurate as they advertise, and until the day comes BASE news is delivered by a BASE jumping journalist it will never change. "And that's it from Smellveggan . . . This is NickD, BASE 194, back to you, Bob." Don’t hold your breath . . . NickD