RiggerLee

I’m afraid you’re all missing the real point of elongating the second ring. The biggest problem with mini rings, and they are far inferior to regular three rings, is there size. The leavers are substantially shorter. The internal forces are much higher and they are absorbed by smaller, some times lighter weight tapes. I’ve seen them fail and all of the failures I observed happened when the tape on the small ring broke. Extending that first leaver reduces those forces making the whole system much more forgiving. I’d like to think that Aerodyne, in their advertising, is just trying to put this in terms the “average” jumper can understand. The truth is that most jumpers are not very well informed as to how their gear actually works. But what ever their reasoning I’d have too say that their three ring design constitutes the biggest step forward I’ve seen in years. I was very disappointed when it was not better received. I just wish I could have been there to watch Booths face turn green with envy, white loop? Is that the best he could come up with? Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

RW-7 or the heavier RW-8? Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

Jump into a canyon with no idea how you will get back out of it. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

Come to Baffin next spring. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

This isn’t directly related but the comments on global warming made me wonder. As it happens there was a huge rock fall earlier up on Baffin this year. The pillar on Scott Wall that was the route climbed by Jason and Jason from Vancouver fell down. I’d say the peace was about 800 ft tall. Exploded on the lower slope, smashed through the sea ice, and it looks like the wave broke the ice for a good distance around. More of it came down while I was there. I was bummed. I’d hoped to get a jump off it. Fortunately the old exit point was still there and nicer then ever. It was also a very wet warm year. Pag also had a warm year and a short ice season. One night in April it even rained. Makes me wonder if there is an increase in temp variation causing more freeze thaw cycle. I guess the lesson is that these objects are not eternal and you should go jump the over hangs while they are still there. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

I know of one that is six or seven years old now. To the best of my knowlage it is still packed up and still a virgin. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

I had two jumps when I did my first solo. My next, I don’t know, 60? 70? Jumps were solos. There just wasn’t any body to play with. I wound up teaching a couple of students just so I would have a couple of people to play with. I was running around scooping out antennas all over the place. I remember when some one finally showed up with more jumps then me. Oh that was such a relief. At last I could see how a “real” base jumper did it. I could at last let some one else take charge and for once I didn’t have to give the FJC to the newbe that was with us that night. The funny thing was it turned out I knew more about it then he did. And as it turns out a lot of his practices were even scarier then mine. My point in all this is that you’re going to find that base-jumping is a very individualistic sport. It’s as safe as You make it. Don’t put your faith in any thing but your self and your own judgment. It’s a mistake to abdicate that responsibility to another for any reason including experience. One other thing. I realized a long time ago that if I was going to pursue these dreams that I was going to have to do it alone. There just was not that many people interested in doing these things. I could ether go on alone or give up the dream. I’ve been soloing ever since. I’m not saying it’s a good idea. I may very well die that way in the bottom of some canyon or on some glacier. In fact I’ve been making a real effort over the last few years to solo less and to try to jump with other people and get them to come with me. It’s all part of my anti Tomb Stone campaign. Still I think people should do it. I’d even go as far as to say that you haven’t really grown to adult hood as a base jumper till you’ve gone out and found, pioneered, and opened sites on your own alone with no guidance. I think it’s one of the most rewarding things you can undertake. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

300 hr? As I recall my first rig took me a week of late evenings after the shop closed. That included drawing the patterns. I can't say that it was a thing of beauty but it did work. In fact I've still got it. It's hanging on a rack in the corner I can see it from here. Would have gone quicker but I'd only seen a couple of "real" base rigs at the time and I was working from memory. Built metalless as well. That one was a rush job. Two days. I thought I had a shot at one of the local B's. Looks like a Jansport back pack. I appoud your ambition and your dedication. Man, three years. I wish my attention span was that long. My only concern is not that your trying to do this but that it is taking you so long. Maybe you had better find some one that can sew. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

He wasn't very high above it. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

It's huge. The double keel is a real big boy canopy. The single is... I don't recall the number. It was like 250 sqft. The double is over three hundred. Doesn't really flare. Lands soft as a feather just becouse has such a low sink rate. Turns surprisingly well. Opening on the double was nice. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

It's Me. I jumped the rig the following weekend affter I picked it up from the family. I thought she might like to see what it looked like. I beleave rigs like airplanes are ment to fly. It's there purpouse, there meaning. At times I wonder what stories an old plane or rig might tell of all the places it has been or things it's done. All the people it has tought to fly over the years. I hope the rest of his gear also finds it's way into other hands. Perhaps a young student. I hope they will apreceate the history that comes with it. Perhaps it will pass on some of those experences as it whispers to him at the exit point. I remember his first A. How tired he was climbing. How scared he was climbing over the railing. How he closed his eyes and his breathing slowed. He opened them and all the fear was gone. It was almost like he was in a trance. Peacefull. I remember how serine he looked as he stared out at the sun just cracking over the horizon. Then he launched with out saying a word. I'm sorry. It's very late at night. I can't sleep and I'm waxing metaphysical with out a spellchecker. I should know better. As his gear get's passed on it might be interesting the get a picture of the new owners jumping it. Lee Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

Yes that's a double keel. Tom Manship. When I herd that he went in I put in a bid on his old rig. I was afraid some young twit of a jumper would throw it out not knowing what it was. The family was kind enough to intrust it to me. It's one of the few double keels that I know the location of. Nice canopy. I was trying to explain to his sister what it looked like. She found a pic of a single. You might refrence her to this pic. I don't think she's ever seen it. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

A little bit of Tom back in the air. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

Stay in Collage. the way things are going at Skydive Dallas you're going to need a fifty thou a year job to afford it. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

Does any one else think that loop looks a little long? Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

I can’t wait to see the responses to this one. The site seems to be running slow. The over flow from your in box may be responsible for crashing the whole server. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

This is it. Last call, all aboard, train pulling out. There are slots open. Who’s packed, crampons sharp, ice axe ready? This is a no frills expedition. There are no guides, no support, and no fucking helicopters. It’s skiing, hiking, climbing. You’ll be pulling a 200lb sled over a hundred miles. 5-6 weeks late April to early June. I’ll be buying tickets soon and will have exact dates within a week. You’re looking at about $4000 for the trip if you have all your toys and are ready to play. Expect temps as low as –15 F at the beginning. By the end of the trip it will be quite warm. This is my third trip up there to this area. The first one I was on the ice for 7 ½ weeks. The second I was there for over three months. The walls are beyond any thing you can imagine. I wound up alone on both of those trips although Ox and Dave were up there for a few weeks during the first one. This whole thing started with some people I met over Thanks Giving. As it turns out the last one bailed today. So who wants to play? Yep, this is last minute but who is ready to throw down right now on the trip of a lifetime. I’ve already mailed 80lb of food and my rope. So I’m going. The question is does any body want to come with. I wont bullshit you it’s a rough and tumble, exhausting, hard-core trip. This can quickly turn into epic shit. Expect leads, crevasses, rock fall, avalanches, arctic storms, and to be stalked by polar bears. I’m up grading my 12 to a 10 gage full of slugs. I don’t blame the people that bailed. I respect them. This post is fishing for a one in a thousand chance of finding some one. If you’re in send a resume ASAP. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

There were a number of changes made when Hazlet worked on the supper Raven. Some of them are easy to spot. The Supper Raven has two tapes running up from the attachment points on the rib. They skipped the one running backwards at the D, low load area. The Raven only had one vertical tape. It makes a difference. You can see it from above. The Supper Raven has a less “bumpy” airfoil front to back then the Raven. The Bridle reinforcing is different. The supper Raven has a one inch wide span wise tape on top and bottom. As I recall the old Raven had only a patch. I’ve got an older canopy here in the shop but I’m too lazy to dig it out. I think the Raven had a vertical zigzag rather then the two horizontal bar tacks of the supper Raven at the line attachment point. I might be confusing it with another canopy so check me on that. If people are really looking I have a bunch of Supper Ravens 2, 3, and 4’s. They were reserves that were in service for only a year or two. Few if any jumps. Bad news is they need to be relined. Long story, bought them at a Gov. auction. They made me cut the lines off. Well most of them any ways. Some got “missed” some how… But those have all been sold. The only question is are you man enough to jump a Pussy Pink canopy? Lee lee@applieddeceleration.com info@applieddeceleration.com www.applieddeceleration.com Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

This is Lee in Dallas. Does any one know where I can find Dave Barlea, spelling, Baffin vet. Thanks, Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

This is Lee. I'm still around. I've kind of joined up with another guy. We have a 5000 sqft shop here in Whitewright near Skydive Dallas. We're still working on the new web site so it's not really finished yet. you can find us at: lee@applieddeceleration.com tom@applieddeceleration.com www.applieddeceleration.com Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

How's it going. I shouldn't criticize. I'm not the speediest climber or jugger myself. I hope your hip is feeling better. I'd love to have a copy of your video. I'm not a geek. I guess the best way to do this is to get a disk of the m-peg or avi. You can send it right here to the shop: Applied Deceleration P.O. Box 312 Whitewright, TX 75491 You can also reach me here at: www.applieddeceleration.com Lee@applieddeceleration.com I turned in the slides today and should have them back by the end of the week. I'm not sure but I should have some pictures of you. Did I jump before you? You might check the web site in a week or so. If you like any of them we can send you the file. Lee Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com

This is Lee. I just got back into the shop. I’m the one that laid rope on the “Big Mud Pile” How do you people come up with these names? In any case I was wondering if we could get a copy of the video shot off of it this Thanksgiving. We’d like to have it for the shop and a number of other people have asked including the climbing shop in Moab. I think some of the climbers from there were on the Cork Screw when you jumped. They’ve helped us out a lot over the years. Including some new rescue pullies for Jimmy. We’d be happy to send you a CD, DVD, Tape or what ever if you could burn us a copy of any thing you have from it. I’ve got a few pic’s. They should be up on the site in a few days. You can reach me at: www.applieddeceleration.com info@applieddeceleration.com Lee lee@velocitysportswear.com www.velocitysportswear.com