steve1

Sorry for your loss Kelly. I know your friend would appreciate what you wrote. Steve

Keith, Quality maps really are worth their price. The last time we went up I bought the Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer. It is full of detailed maps of Alaska and a few maps of Canada. It sells for about $20, but worth the price. I've seen them advertised in Alaska magazine. Their old phone number, for this book, is (207)865-4171. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 298, Freeport, Maine 04032. This info. is about five years old but maybe it will help. The new Highway I mentioned turns West, just South of Dawson Creek. I think at Prince George. Most people probably follow the old Alaska Highway out of Dawson Creek. You'll probably hit some new construction, but most should be paved. Go slow though. There are lots of kelly humps, frost heaves, and pot holes in places. The first time we drove it we were a bunch of kids right out of High School (back in 1969). It used to be all gravel from Dawson Creek up to Alaska. Now nearly all is paved.

You should swing through Western Montana. There's two great drop zones here. The first is about 30 miles south of Missoula, at Stevensville. Ask for Gary (Hod) Sanders. He lives in Missoula. Lost Prairie is West of Kalispell. Ask for Fred Sands. Both places have plenty of experienced jumpers. The drive across Canada is long and sometimes boring. I've driven it several times to Alaska. They have a newer road now that runs closer to the Coast Ranges to the West of the old Alaska Highway. I think it is more scenic. Try to stop at Liard Hot Springs in Northern B.C. It's free and has super hot water right in the river. We usually stop and fish some of the streams and lakes on the way up. We usually take an old canoe along. If you have time you should go to Denali Park in Alaska. It's really a scenic wild place. If you have more time drive up the haul road to the North Slope. You can hunt caribou there about 10 months out of the year. If you are within five miles of the road it is archery only. I got a pretty nice bull there once in August. It was still in Velvet and made a nice mount. An out of state caribou tag is around $300. It's really God's country up there. Once coming back down through Canada we drove over to Dawson City in the Klondike (Yukon). You take your vehicle across the Yukon River on a Ferry. Have a good trip. If you come through Montana ask for Steve Anders. Maybe I'll get to jump with you.

Chuck, I was just wondering if you are a scuba instructor at Key West. I know that Special Forces had a scuba school there back in the 70's. I always thought it would be a great school to go to, right behind Halo school.

Sounds like a great kid, Lisa. They're definitely worth it. I've got a couple of daughters. I always wanted a boy but things didn't work out that way. So I did my best to make Tom-boys out of them. They grew up hunting, fishing, and riding horses here in Montana. One made her first tandem two years ago. It didn't scare her a bit. She's got more guts than I do. The other one will make her first tandem this summer. I hope to swoop in and get a little RW time with her. Can't wait. I've got two old friends that will take her up. One as tandem master and the other on camera.

I don't have a great deal of square canopy time. (only about 120 jumps on a square). I normally jump a Falcon 195 (F-111 nine cell). I jumped a friends Triathalon 190 a while back. It seemed very similiar to my Falcon. It seemed about the same dive rate and forward speed. It did have a much nicer flare and landing though. I only made one jump on it. You might want to ask someone with more comparison jumps between the two.

Thanks Jason and Tallies, I finally got through to Manny and got my order in. I can't wait to get my new canopy. Steve

This isn't really a bird story, but I once read where a skydiver hit an airplane in freefall. He went through the fuselage and ended up inside. He later landed with the plane. He only had a couple of broken bones and was unhurt otherwise. I know this sounds kind of far-fetched, but I read the news clipping.

I had a couple about 25 years ago. The first one my pilot chute and and sleeve were caught in the back of my para-commander. It had a slow turn. I pulled my shot and a half cape wells and went for my belly reserve ripcord handle. The 24' round opened nice and I even stood it up on landing. The 2nd malfunction was on a different paracommander on about jump # 300. It was very similiar to my first malfunction. The pilot chute was tangled in about the same place. I pulled one toggle down to see if it would fly straight and it dove down into a down plane. I cut away under a wildly oscillating 24 foot reserve. I borrowed this belly reserve from a friend. It should have been thrown in the garbage because it was nearly uncontrollable. I landed in a rock pile and sprained both ankles. Aren't you glad you don't jump this kind of gear! It was cheap. That's probably all you can say that was good about it. I haven't had any since. I've only been back in the sport a couple years now. It's great to be back!

The Idarus Company in South Africa is really hard to get ahold of. It seems like faxes and even phone messages won't work. I've been trying to order a canopy from them for almost three weeks now and haven't even been able to get an order form from them. I think the company is good, but the communication system is all messed up. Good luck, Steve

I've got a couple sets of mini-risers. I took these off my two canopies and replaced them with standard width risers. One set (of the mini-risers) is fairly new with dive loops. Most all of the more experienced jumpers at my drop zone use the larger, wider, standard-type risers. I'm just wondering about strength wise. Are mini-risers strong enough? The older set, that I have, need to be thrown out because they are not double thick (like the newer ones are) where they connect to the harness ring. I understand that the early versions sometimes broke in this weakened area. I would imagine that if you were jumping with a collapsible slider that slid down your risers, that maybe you would have to go with mini risers. And one last dumb question: Is there any advantage to the smaller mini-rings versus the larger standard size rings. I would think the mini-rings would release more easily if you had severe line twists and your head was wedged against the rings. I would appreciate your imput. (I'm full of stupid questions!) Thanks, Steve

I had the same plan a while back. I bought a box of Ritz, black die. There were different types of material that accepted the die better than others. I ended up with kind of a gray jump suit with black grippers. I probably should have left it be. It didn't turn out too well. Steve

It's taken me a lot of years to figure myself out. Like many skydivers I enjoy pushing the limits in a dangerous sport. For me it is very satisfying and almost addictive. There in lies the danger. One day things can catch up to you big time. I don't have a death wish. There are undoubtedly some in our sport who do. But if things are too safe or if things aren't challenging (I become bored with what I'm doing). I think this is the reason many people are taking bigger and bigger risks. They enjoy the challenge and adventure that is involved. Many of us may be chasing an adrenaline fix of sorts. At any rate I have to watch myself, to make sure what I'm about to do is safe enough. I've read some psychological explanations for all this. Some sound more accurate than others. At any rate........ I once watched a movie where a monkey was teasing a very big snake. (don't quit reading now, there is a point to this) The monkey would run in and hit the snake. He did this several times until finally the snake grabbed ahold of the monkey and ate him. The announcer then stated that anyone who wants to commit suicide, Nature is usually quick to accomodate. And so is skydiving! Hook turns and giant relative work formations scare me. But some day, when my skills reach a high enough level, I'd like to try them. But only then with the greatest care I could muster. In other words I don't want to end up like the monkey in this story. I want to end up a much older fart than I already am.

A while back I was having trouble keeping up with a base that was way too floaty. Our load organizer suggested that I get some slow sleeves (I think that is what they are called). I bought a set and they did seem to keep me up better. I used these on several loads and they didn't seem to adversely affect my flying in any way. In fact I like them. I was just wondering if there were any opinions out there on using them. In an earlier post someone mentioned they may create problems when reaching for a grip. I can see how there could be more drag, but I haven't noticed any problems yet. I only used them on 5 or 6 jumps at Perris. I didn't need them on the other loads I was on. It is handy to adjust your fall rate by using a pair of baggy sleeves.

Thanks for your input. As forgetful as I am I don't think I'll use a molar strap. I heard of people, years ago, who used to tie the top of their lines together to keep things neat. The only trouble was that some people would forget about this and create a streamer malfunction. I was wondering what you would consider a bare bones rigger kit? I planned to order a closing plate and closing device and maybe some shot bags. I have a packing paddle. Anything else that I really need. Thanks a lot Steve.

I am trying to get geared up to pack square reserves and to get my riggers ticket renewed. The rigger I am working under said that the molar strap that he uses on packing reserves may be considered a no no by some riggers. He said he uses it to keep things neat and orderly when putting the canopy in the bag. I was just wondering what some other riggers thought on this issue. It seems like it would be hard to miss this huge strap, but I heard one story about a rigger who packed up a reserve, forgetting this strap. Luckily a malfunction didn't happen or the owner would have gone in. I'd appreciate your ideas. Steve

Jan, I was scared of most everything when I first started. But sometimes fear is a good thing. Getting the adrenaline pumping from fear can make you more alert and ready for whatever happens. I felt the same way when I first starting riding broncs. After you get a 100 or so jumps it won't be scary any more. It'll just be really really fun. Don't worry about landing on your own. Most DZ's have a radio in you helmet so they can talk you down and you will start with a really big slow canopy. When I started in the olden days, everything was static line. It worked okay and is still used at many drop zones. Aff may be a better way to go though. My daughter wants to make another jump. She has already made one tandem. I think we'll go with Aff if she chooses to continue.

New gear is really expensive. I ordered a used container from Lisa At Square 1, for $200. It had over a thousand jumps on it, but it is in about perfect shape. Maybe a little faded, but nothing is wrong with it. It's a talon 2 and fits very well. Give her a call. I'll bet she can set you up with another good deal.

Zennie, I know almost nothing about freeflying, but I'd like to learn. That is the nice thing about the sport today. There are so many dimensions that you never run out of challenges. I was at skydive Oregon a while back. I wanted to do some relative work but a free-fly boogie was going on. Pat Works was giving instruction there. I made several jumps with him. One jump just the two of us went out. It was fun. I'll bet Pat shook his head at some of my attempts to sit and go head down. I would like to do more of this but my first love has always been RW. (Maybe some day I'll do more free-flying). Pat later wrote an article in skydiving magazine about this weekend. He said that all his students did well, except for this one "village idiot". I hope that wasn't me he was talking about!..... Steve

Skyrose 7, I recently bought a ski helmet to jump in. I think it would be every bit as good as a protec helmet, if not better. Just be sure to cut off any snag points in back (such as goggle loops etc.) I haven't had a chance to jump mine because I found a used Z-1 at Elsinore. I think I'll save the ski helmet for skiing. Everyone used to use motorcycle helmets in the olden days. I made over 300 jumps with one. The extra weight could be a factor. I remember having a few severe openings in the olden days, when my face actually hit my chest mounted reserve. Many days I would wake up with a stiff neck from jumping. Having too heavy of a helmet might have been a factor. I doubt if a ski helmet is heavy enough to cause serious neck injury, though. I know it's considered cool to jump without a helmet. I've banged my noggin too many times on hard landings, airplanes, and other jumpers, to think of jumping without one. I'm just a 400 jump wonder, but I've got friends with thousands of jumps who say the same thing. Some jumpers who know the dangers and jump without one. I've even some relatively new jumpers go without a helmet. (Not me!)

I find the big formations that are being built now days fascinating. I'm just wondering if they are worth the risk involved. About a year and a half ago three guys from our DZ went to Chicago for a world record attempt. Only two of them came back. One was killed in a mid-air collision on openning. I guess one wave of jumpers got over the top of another. If I was good enough to be asked on such a load I'm not sure if I'd do it. One of the three jumpers that I just mentioned says that he plans to return to Chicago and try again. He says it's a rush that is hard to explain, to see that many people exiting at once and being part of all this. He also said it was a long ride home without their partner. I've heard some people say that there was too many low time jumpers on this attempt to be safe. Any comments on all this?

Jason, I wonder if everyone thinks we are ratfinko, communist, bastards, now. Lisa treated me so fairly (when I bought my container) that I do feel pretty guilty trading elsewhere. I guess I'm just a cheap-skate at heart. Have you heard anything yet about import duties? I'm still looking into this part of it. Steve

I was wondering what was wrong with me. I guess I'm Nutz also. Now where are these naked women at the bonfire at?.......Thanks for the therapy Dr. Quack.

I know the price sounds too good to be true. Apparently the British rand (whatever that is) isn't worth as much now and the American dollar is worth more in South Africa right now. I read a post from a lady in U.K. who turned me on to this web site. The price I was quoted for a new Hornet 170 was $575. I tried to phone in my order this morning. The easiest way is to fax things back and forth. I plan to do that tomorrow. Freight is around $70. to the states. Custom colors take 4 to 6 weeks. The web-site is www.icarus.co.za... You can't buy a good used canopy for this price.

The bad news is that I'll be 52 in April. The good news is that I have plenty of years of skydiving ahead of me. I quit jumping for about 25 years and started up again when I was about 50. It's great to be back. I must have an obsessive personality, because about all I can think about is jumping. I may be going through my second childhood or something. A couple friends are in there sixties and still jumping every chance they get. Your shoulder could be a problem. I've never hurt mine jumping but a hard landing might mess it up. I don't think opennings would be a problem, but I could be wrong. I wonder if it would be possible to put both toggles in one hand in an emmergency situation (if your shoulder did go out). I think that is what I would do. One nice thing about being older is that most of us are more financially secure at our age. I know a lot of younger people who have a hard time financing this sport. I'm far from rich, but I am able to make more money now than I did in my twenties. In the 70's we were paying about $3.50 for a cessna jump to 8,000. You could also buy a new PC canopy for around $300. Even though things were cheap I had a hard time making ends meet back then. Probably the best part of the sport to me is the comradery you develop with your fellow jumpers. I had a hard time convincing my wife that skydiving was something I had to do. After several months of wining and pouting (on my part),she finally gave in and let me buy a rig. Don't quit. We need more old farts in the sport. And don't forget..."Youth is a fleeting thing, but Imaturity can last forever."