Burning that Span in the West

[narcimund 0]

This weekend, a couple of dozen base jumpers converged for some fun at that big 486' span in the west. You know which span I mean: the one that shows up in newspapers and television shows and commercial base videos, the one perfect for daytime first jump courses, the one serviced by a friendly riverboat to ferry us to the park or (occasionally) to rescue us from accidental or tragic water landings. I mean the bridge which features prominently in nearly every base jumper's career including two who married there last month with reporters and TV crews in attendance. The span in a city that gives BASE discounts on hotel rooms and free beer in the bars. It's just like the one in the east, except this one is has a better landing area and is legal the OTHER 364 days of the year...

... for now.

Yesterday as I was walking around the visitor's center, answering tourists' questions about those wacky jumpers, I heard sudden loud, continuous car horn honking from the bridge. I looked up and saw a jumper standing on the guard rail, in broad daylight, visible from one end of the bridge to the other. The cars were going nuts with their horns until the jumper hopped off theatrically.

Now, if you've been to this bridge you probably know there's a gentleman's agreement with the police: Don't distract the traffic and they won't bother us. Don, the man who runs the tour boat rides, lobbies the city, county, and state police, the chamber of commerce, and the Idaho traffic department to maintain the openness of this one fantastic object for us. Against the authoritarian demands of the safety nazis, he has managed to keep this object open for years. The authorities have only one request: Don't stand on the rail because it distracts the drivers. Just do this one thing for everyone else's safety and have fun.

So today, imagine my surprise when two hotshots preparing to jump pointed at Don's boat waiting below and said, "I hate that boat being there." I turned and asked them why? I'm thinking Don's boat is nice if you want a ride instead of a sweaty hike. I'm thinking Don is there ready to pull critically injured jumpers out if they go in (which he has done several times over the years). I'm thinking Don's boat makes water landings possible which is the only thing that keeps some injured jumpers in the sport. I'm thinking until my ankle stabilizes I might make some water jumps myself.

The punk said, "I don't want to get yelled at for standing on the rail."

I figured this was a simple misunderstanding, so I corrected him. "It's not him. It's the cops. They ask us to stay off the rail for traffic safety. Don's just trying to keep the bridge open for the sport."

"He doesn't give a shit about the sport. He's just protecting his BUSINESS!" said the snot nosed shit.

(Now, you might wonder if this piece of crap jumper had a single brain cell firing. He should know protecting Don's business IS protecting the sport. But no, this self-centered simpleton thinks burning the whole object is better for the SPORT than Don's business.)

Just before completely giving up, I tried once more: "And do you give a shit about the sport?"

"Oh man, it doesn't matter. I didn't see any cops."

No, you didn't see them, you arrogant turd, but everyone for 1/2 a mile sure saw you and heard the traffic commotion, and you can be SURE word gets around quickly in this little town that's been so welcoming so far.

This guy is almost intentionally trying to burn this object. Even El Capitan was legal once, back before thoughtless shitheads like him trashed it and turned the Park Service into a police force aimed directly against BASE.

--

By the way, Don asked me to spread the word. Next weekend (Labor Day) he's running raffles for free gear, meals, and hotel rooms. He's getting the business community involved for a huge celebration of BASE. He's putting on a massive barbecue for all the jumpers. Everyone's invited to come pump out jumps, impress the cheering crowds of tourists, charm the old ladies running the Visitor's Center, and have a great time.

If nobody ruins it first.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[Skinflicka 0]

Narcimund,

This is a self-regulating group. For a simple fix to this unacceptable behaviour just paste the names of the jumpers in question on this board and Blinc.

S'easy.

Skin

$kin.

Prizes to anyone who gets to read my posts before Mr Aiello's son, Tom deletes them.

[badenhop 0]

Indeed, names need only be witheld to protect the innocent.
'Out' the selfish prick, and maybe he'll think twice.

==================================

I've got all I need, Jesus and gravity. Dolly Parton

http://www.AveryBadenhop.com

[freakydiver 0]

I'm not into BASE quite yet, but yahoos that invade our precious snow hucking backcountry territory with loud bad attitiudes definately get razzed. I say razz the fukkers for sure.

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[narcimund 0]

The jumper in question is a young man I hadn't previously met.

To be clear, I'm not complaining that he stood on the rail once. Anyone can make an error if they don't know the local rules. The reason for this public lashing is that he took an aggressive anti-Don, anti-cooperation position afterwards. He made it clear he would continue to do it except when Don was watching.

He mistakes self-policing for a personal challenge. He thinks this incredibly mild and understandable request is beneath him. I hope he either rethinks his position or stays away from this jewel of an object. The sport has exactly ONE of these and losing it would be a tragedy.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[BASE813 0]

Quote

anti-Don

that is sooooooo wrong!!

[badenhop 0]

Hello,
There are actually more sites like the one mentioned,
fortunately they are less commonly jumped, and even
less talked about. Hope Leo doesn't find them.....
Thanks for your concern regarding OUR sites.
Avery

==================================

I've got all I need, Jesus and gravity. Dolly Parton

http://www.AveryBadenhop.com

[jimmyp 0]

OK,
Before everyone starts to get the tar heated up for the feathering, I have contacted him to let him know that the heat is on. The conversation that you had with him at the exit point really doesn't sound like him, but people definitely have their moments. When I saw him exiting from the railing, Marta and I explained to him why this was uncool and told him to stop and he did. He didn't understand why he shouldn't do that, but now he does.
Really, this is all my fault. I stopped exiting from the railing last year along with everyone else.
(about the time they put that traffic light in).
On the morning that this incident happened, I was alone on top of the bridge and noticed for the first time that I can remember, there was absolutely no traffic on the bridge in either direction,and no spectators on either wall. I did the unthinkable. I hopped up on the railing and jumped immediately. Thinking I had got away clean, I knew that I was naughty, but thought no harm had come of it. It was a nostalgic moment for me and not to be repeated. Anyway, he had seen me do this and wanted to try it.
The moral of this story is that there is always someone watching you at the bridge. Marta and I are always trying to set a good example by cleaning up ours and other's empty cups, taco bell bags, etc...in the packing area by the visitor center, talking it up with the tourists and the folks who work at the bridge, curbing our language in the boat especially when Don has clients on board for the tour and generally being the ambassadors for the sport as we all are when we are anywhere among the public especially at the bridge. I let my behavior slip for one second and the ripples started without my even knowing it.
I can't put him out to dry for this one. His attitude sounds crappy at the exit point on this one occasion, but he is a great kid and very new to the sport and I would hate for everyone to think that this is what kind of a person he is. He does not have a bad attitude and is very excited about our sport.
Jimmy P

[motherhucker 0]

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull," said the Elder, "Stand to Centre for shame in the sight of your fellow gulls!"

It felt like being hit with a board. His knees went weak, his feathers sagged, there was a roaring in his ears. Centred for shame? Impossible! The Breakthrough! They can't understand! They're wrong, they're wrong!

"...for his reckless irresponsibly," the solemn voice intoned, "violating the dignity and tradition of the Gull Family..."

To be centred for shame meant that he would be cast out of gull society, banished to the solitary life on the Far Cliffs.


Luckily for Jimmy (and the rest of us BASE slobs), he and Marta have already banished themselves to the Far Cliffs known as Moab, Utah (and it's not such a bad place )

Good on ya Jimmy for sticking up for the young gulls. As for your jumping from the rail--well, It's good to know even the jumpers whom I respect most make mistakes occasionally. Makes me feel a bit better about my own.
mh


edited to add: if you haven't ever read this story, I highly recommend it-- you can find it at http://www.42.dropbear.id.au/jls.html, but I'd go buy yourself a copy.

[Zennie 0]

Quote

Good on ya Jimmy for sticking up for the young gulls. As for your jumping from the rail--well, It's good to know even the jumpers whom I respect most make mistakes occasionally.

It takes a lot of cajones to step forward and fess up to a mistake in front of everyone.

Ya got class Jimmy.

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[Spiderbaby 0]

Yeah Jimmy, if ya hadn't fessed up, "Team Scared Shitless" might of had it's scared name tarnished. Your'e still the Captain baby!!!!

"It takes a big man to cry, it takes an even bigger man to make that big man cry"

[Dd0g 0]

Jimmy is a prince, on many levels, and a testament to the quality of folks in our sport. Hope to see you this weekend, Jimmy, and hope the back is healing up well my friend!

Peace,

D-d0g

+~+~+~+~
But this, surely, was the glory that no spirits, canine or human, had ever clearly seen, the light that never was on land or sea, and yet is glimpsed by the quickened mind everywhere.

[andrewstewart 0]

Quote

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull," said the Elder, "Stand to Centre for shame in the sight of your fellow gulls!"

It felt like being hit with a board. His knees went weak, his feathers sagged, there was a roaring in his ears. Centred for shame? Impossible! The Breakthrough! They can't understand! They're wrong, they're wrong!

"...for his reckless irresponsibly," the solemn voice intoned, "violating the dignity and tradition of the Gull Family..."

To be centred for shame meant that he would be cast out of gull society, banished to the solitary life on the Far Cliffs.


Luckily for Jimmy (and the rest of us BASE slobs), he and Marta have already banished themselves to the Far Cliffs known as Moab, Utah (and it's not such a bad place )

Good on ya Jimmy for sticking up for the young gulls. As for your jumping from the rail--well, It's good to know even the jumpers whom I respect most make mistakes occasionally. Makes me feel a bit better about my own.
mh


edited to add: if you haven't ever read this story, I highly recommend it-- you can find it at http://www.42.dropbear.id.au/jls.html, but I'd go buy yourself a copy.

If you like christian allegories, sure go buy it . :-|

[ManBird 0]

Quote

If you like christian allegories, sure go buy it . :-|

That's a Mormon allegory. Big difference, actually.

"¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯"

Click

[skreamer 1]

Hey LJ

Was it the part where they called you a sissy that really pissed you off and caused you to tell them 'You know what, I don't want to film you guys anymore...', put down their camera and walked off the bridge?

Why didn't you go to them afterwards and tell them to their faces they were punks, snot nosed shits, arrogant turds and thoughtless shitheads?

[TomAiello 26]

This thread has been very useful, I think.

I also think it has finished serving it's useful purpose.

Edit: Names removed at the request of the original poster.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com