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October 26th, 1999, 08:26 AM
http://www.nps.gov/htdocs1/mrnrpt/msg00383.html
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Tuesday, October 26, 1999
INCIDENTS
99-617 - Yosemite NP (CA) -
Demonstration; BASE Jumping Fatality
On Friday, October 22nd, Jan Davis, 60, died
while attempting a BASE jump from El Capitan in
Yosemite Valley. Davis' jump was part of an
organized act of civil disobedience protesting
the NPS air delivery regulations (36 CFR2.17(a)), which make BASE jumping illegal in national park areas without a permit. The demonstration
organizer, Avery Badenhop, who is the NPS
permittee for the 300-plus BASE jumpers at
Bridge Day at New River Gorge NR, wrote a letter
to the superintendent informing him of his
intention to hold the demonstration. At a
meeting with the chief ranger before the event,
Badenhop was informed that the jump was illegal,
that those who did it would be charged criminally,
and their equipment would be seized. Badenhop
would not identify the number of persons who
intended to make the illegal jump, but hinted
that it might be as many as 50. He also said
that there likely would be a large crowd at the
landing area in support of the illegal jumpers, and that he intended to attract as much media
coverage as he could. With the potential for the
demonstration overwhelming the park's resources,
a Pacific West SET team (USPP) was called in for
the incident. Davis was the fourth of five
jumpers who showed up at the top of El Cap to
jump. The first three made successful jumps and
landed to the cheers of about 150 people, some of
who were waving flags and banners in support
of BASE jumping in national park areas, and were
taken into custody. Davis then launched and
free-fell for more than 15 seconds until she hit
the talus slope at the base of the cliff. Her
body was evacuated by long-line under the park's
contract helicopter. Those who witnessed the fall
saw no sign of her pilot chute ever being
deployed to initiate the opening of her main
parachute. Badenhop, who was to be the fifth
jumper, opted not to continue and walked off the
mountain. At least three TV camera crews and an
Associated Press reporter covered the
demonstration, and broadcast and print coverage
has been intense. Park special agents are
investigating the incident; decisions about
prosecution will be made following consultation
with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
[Dan Horner, SA/Ops Chief, YOSE, 10/25]
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Tuesday, October 26, 1999
INCIDENTS
99-617 - Yosemite NP (CA) -
Demonstration; BASE Jumping Fatality
On Friday, October 22nd, Jan Davis, 60, died
while attempting a BASE jump from El Capitan in
Yosemite Valley. Davis' jump was part of an
organized act of civil disobedience protesting
the NPS air delivery regulations (36 CFR2.17(a)), which make BASE jumping illegal in national park areas without a permit. The demonstration
organizer, Avery Badenhop, who is the NPS
permittee for the 300-plus BASE jumpers at
Bridge Day at New River Gorge NR, wrote a letter
to the superintendent informing him of his
intention to hold the demonstration. At a
meeting with the chief ranger before the event,
Badenhop was informed that the jump was illegal,
that those who did it would be charged criminally,
and their equipment would be seized. Badenhop
would not identify the number of persons who
intended to make the illegal jump, but hinted
that it might be as many as 50. He also said
that there likely would be a large crowd at the
landing area in support of the illegal jumpers, and that he intended to attract as much media
coverage as he could. With the potential for the
demonstration overwhelming the park's resources,
a Pacific West SET team (USPP) was called in for
the incident. Davis was the fourth of five
jumpers who showed up at the top of El Cap to
jump. The first three made successful jumps and
landed to the cheers of about 150 people, some of
who were waving flags and banners in support
of BASE jumping in national park areas, and were
taken into custody. Davis then launched and
free-fell for more than 15 seconds until she hit
the talus slope at the base of the cliff. Her
body was evacuated by long-line under the park's
contract helicopter. Those who witnessed the fall
saw no sign of her pilot chute ever being
deployed to initiate the opening of her main
parachute. Badenhop, who was to be the fifth
jumper, opted not to continue and walked off the
mountain. At least three TV camera crews and an
Associated Press reporter covered the
demonstration, and broadcast and print coverage
has been intense. Park special agents are
investigating the incident; decisions about
prosecution will be made following consultation
with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
[Dan Horner, SA/Ops Chief, YOSE, 10/25]