tfelber

Less than two weeks short of 41 when I made my first BASE jump on March 20, 2005.

That's interesting... I've never really seen any data as you presented or thought about that aspect of a jump in that way. (You'd think that is something I should have thought about before the jump) With a about a 3-5mph wind (may have been greater, Tom would probably know) from my back, I jumped a vented Fox315 slider off hand held with a 2.2s delay (video review from the time I left the bridge until I threw out the PC) and felt I did not have enough altitude to do a 180 and land in the large landing area so I opted for the beach. Does this sound reasonable? Tom, in reviewing your video with Dwain, how long were your and his delays?

I voted other...Main reserve entanglement worries me the most. Nearly having one adds to that fear.

He wesn't getting full altitude if i remember right.

I have asked a few questions regarding this in the recent past and have not been completely happy with the response. One of my questions was how much force should be applied? From my background, I am a test engineer for the aerospace industry, and reading stuff here and on Blinc, I have conceeded to the following: 1. There is indeed a pulley effect which doubles the effective force required to break the loop. 2. The knot in the breakcord, due to the angular components of the force, reduces the strength of the cord by as much as 54%. 3. The dynamic loading of a static line jump creates an instantaneous force much greater than 80 lbs when using an 80 lb weight. 4. Gradually adding weight to a piece of breakcord yields results consistent with Item 2 above. While I would still like to know how much force should be applied, I quit asking because what's being done works. (I have two static line jumps and they both opened

Ross should be able to answer that, Ross?

Check this out... http://www.sportsden.com/productgroup.asp?0=226&1=462&33=240 A couple of guys had these at the bridge. They look pretty good as afar as protection and weight. Edited to add: Ross, above, was one of the people at the bridge.

That's quite interesting...I have been a contractor for over 15 years and while I like to be knowledgeable about a given project once I reach that apex I find myself becoming less and less involved until finally I move on to something else.

Probably a lot more predictable!

I've dealt with several of the PD Guys/Gals and have no issues with their actions. The demo's were sent promptly and as scheduled and they even let me keep the Sabre2 150 an extra week due to me spraining my ankle playing softball. I do know that they won't let you progress faster than THEY are comfortable with NO MATTER WHAT!!!

It works quite well. I was much more afraid jumping out of that tree than I was leaving the bridge. It prepared me quite well! Well there was the slamming into the park bench that added a little to the stress...

I have given this some thought recently. Before starting BASE jumping, I did 3-4 balloon jumps and 6-7 heli jumps (not in preparation for BASE jumping)and I felt I always had control. However, how would I know? There was no one else jumping with me. There was no object nearby for reference. I really wasn't thinking about whether I was stable or not in the first few seconds because I had lots of altitude to get stable. So maybe my perceptions were not necessarily reality.

And fear, and the shakes, and...

I told the person I jumped the 170 footer with that I needed to jump this object more to get over my fear of it and he replied "If you get to the point you don't fear it you should probably quit jumping it because complacency will kill you."

I can only reflect on my limited experience and overly analytical thinking, but I was far more comfortable at a 480' span my first 6 jumps than I was a couple of days ago on a 170' E. I felt that I had more time to deal with issues that arise at the higher altitude. I had no problem climbing over the rail, thinking for a few seconds, and jumping. The low height object took me 15 minutes to get off both times I jumped it. It was much different looking at the ground and knowing if things went wrong I would have almost no time to deal with it and a hard surface a very short distance below. Both jumps went well with an on heading, 2-3 second canopy ride. Was it easy? In a way... Once you step off there's not much to do but land and if things go bad there's not much you can do! However, in retrospect, with the higher speeds and longer delay of the taller object there are more variables that need to be accounted for. The lower object seems like it either works or it doesn't, but that's probably what had it take me so long to exit. It was definitely a WAY more intense experience for me!

Here's the letter I sent...

I recently sent a letter to my congressman regarding BASE jumping permits in National Parks. Here's his reply... I guess I'll try again...

I would have to say NOT. The people on the bottom part of the list are BASE jumpers who died doing something othr than. The people on the first part of the list died BASE jumping. Ken died trying to achieve an exit point and had never BASE jumped previously... If you put him in the top part then Neil should be in the top part. The bottom portion seems to be in rememberance of BASE jumpers, not things to avoid while riding a MC or flying an airplane.

Thanks Tom for a great FJC and exceptional hospitality!!! At the time, I thought jumping out of a tree to practice exits was a little much, but it did certainly take the edge off.

Good meeting you Nate. Send me your email and I'll keep you up-to-date with the latest FrenchyNauti(TM) videos...

Jason, I probably owe you a public apology. After re-reading my previous post it seemed to me to be very inflammatory. I'm not sure why I expressed my views in that manner. So I'm sorry to you and Miles for presenting my thoughts as I did. I think what I was really trying to say is if you make an income from jumping, jumping in NP, or organizing events like BD, we (other jumpers) shouldn't discredit you for that effort. After all in reality anything that becomes available from your effort constitutes MORE legal access. I think part of my anger was based on the overall lack of clarity of the direction you and others are trying to swing things; i.e. the Fatality List thread and no response to my offer of assistance (although you have since responded) made me question your motives. BTW, my wife thinks I distrust everything. Last night I told here I thought "The Apprentice" was probably fixed...

That is what I want to believe and I will donate ALL of my time to pursue those ends.

Jason, I would reply to you via a PM, but you have PM's blocked! I have no reason to piss you off because I don't even know you and I think we both want the same thing, however I have offered my assistance in regards to legalizing BASE in the NPS and I haven't even received a response! Do you want to have this happen or do you need to be the ONE? As for Miles, I only know you from videos and online conversations. More power to you, but what is your and Jason's real aspirations? I'm all for everyone getting rich (Tom, if your not already rich you deserve to be), but this is a community where honesty is cherished and deceit is scorned. So if your goal is to be financially sucessful doing FJC's just say so. This is a very, very small community and you surely know this. I hope to jump with all of you, but all of the cover up and misleading coments serve no one.

Glad you didn't die!!! See you up there soon...

Really good work!!! Many different camera angles, pans, and zooms! Your video talent is awesome! Keep it up...