waltappel 1 #1 January 28, 2006 What started out as posting a couple of funny stories seems to have turned into a series. In case you missed the earlier postings, here are some links: "Maybe the greenies don't like it when you act like a fool...": A true story about just how stupid I can get when I'm really frustrated. "More Stupid HumanTricks": A story of me getting stupid with some hot sauce. "My Visit to a Bordello": Just like the title says... "One more reason to hate the doctor's office": Nipple infections are not fun but can be funny. "I am a bad man when I get bored": My encounter with a perv in a laundromat "I am not a smart man when I'm drunk": A BASE site scouting trip gone bad. "thoughtful career choices": Who says mental hospitals are not fun? (ME, that's who!!!) "Glory, Glory, Halleleujia": Don't read this one if you are a homophobe. "practical joke for the practical nurse": A practical joke I played when I was a nurse. "The Romantic Kiss is Not Dead (long)": "God's gift to women "The Ultimate Accusation": Like the title says... "Building Stress Levels": How to give a BASE jumper a heart attack "Lick it Baby!": adventures with my tongue El Capitan. It is a kind of Mecca for BASE jumpers—a spectacularly beautiful granite cliff in an area where everything is larger than life and unimaginable beauty just flows. There is absolutely nothing like it. That beauty is why hundreds, maybe even a few thousand jumps have risked their lives and freedom to experience it. I am one of those jumpers. Without getting into details, you can be thrown in jail for jumping from El Cap. That’s just the way it is. It’s a bad law but the Rangers are obligated to enforce it. You know that going into the park and just deal with it as best you can. So it was, when four friends—three jumpers and a “getaway driver”—crammed their gear and themselves into an entirely too-small car and made the trek from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park, to experience El Cap. The plan was simple. Three of us would hike to the top of El Cap, spend the night, and jump at first daylight. Our driver would spend the night in the valley below. We had radios to keep in touch so we could land, jump in the car, and make our escapes without being seen. Plans are a wonderful thing. Plans are a necessary thing. Plans are really necessary when you are in a wilderness area completely out of contact with the rest of the world. And make no mistake about it. The trail to the top of El Cap and certainly the top of El Cap itself are wilderness areas. There are no roads, only a trail, which is almost indistinguishable in places, and a few markers along the way. The rest of the world is someplace else. This is the wilderness. You can get lost. You can die. And nobody would know. We made the hike in five hours or so, stopping a few times to rest and enjoy the remarkable beauty that seems to abound there. After spending the night on top, huddled together for warmth, it was time. We geared up, went over the plan, and made our way to the exit point, where we would have radio contact with our driver, who was in the valley below. We were ready. “Hey buddy, are you there?”. There was no response from our Jorge, our driver. Shit. What the hell’s wrong?!!! We tried ten minutes later. Still nothing. Another ten minutes. Still nothing. We began to think about Jorge, and his affinity with beer. He didn’t just like beer. Nor did he love beer. He needed beer. Beer was holy water. It was the staff of life—every bit as important as the air he breathed. Our fear was that he had gotten drunk, had been arrested, and the car impounded. Yes, the car. The car with all our clothes, money, identification, and everything else that connected us to the civilized world. Gone. In this very uncertain situation, we had absolute confidence in one thing. We knew we were fucked. It is in situations like that where I have truly found peace with the world and my place in it. It’s very calming. It’s the freedom of having little to lose and everything to gain by taking serious risk. We were ready to jump. Jimmy, the least experienced, went first, doing a solo 10-second delay. We heard the sound of his canopy. That was our signal. Nick and I were doing a two-way. “Three, two, one, See Ya!!!!” Stepping off El Cap is like stepping off the edge of the Earth. If anything in my existence has shown me the beauty of being alive, it would be those few precious moments I have had experiencing the freedom of having nothing, yet having everything. Nick and I had stepped off the top of a granite cliff that rises several thousand feet above the valley floor, me in front, and Nick just above me. There are not words to describe the beauty you see everywhere when freefalling from El Cap. There just aren’t. Every place you look, you see the most beautiful sights that nature has to offer. Tracking away from the wall and experiencing the spectacular beauty was all that mattered in our existence. We had nothing and we had everything. Ten seconds. Time to open. Under canopy we were but two tiny specs, tiny and meaningless in front of that wall. We flew over and among 100 ft. tall trees to gently land on a sandbar in the middle of the Merced River. Jimmy was already there. Suddenly, a man popped out of the weeds on the bank and yelled. The Rangers?!!!! No, it was Jorge! We scrambled to remove our gear and stuff it into bags and run to the car. “What the fuck happened to you?!!! Why weren’t you on that radio?!!!!” “You know that stupid little knob on the top of the antenna?” “Yeah…” “It broke off and I couldn’t get the fucking antenna to come up!” “Well fuck you and thankyou!” We laughed about it like good friends do after a misadventure manages to work out ok, and started the long drive home. Nick, Jimmy, Jorge, thankyou for that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveStMarys 0 #2 January 28, 2006 Too cool.....Thanks for letting me live thru your adventurous life, if only briefly. BobbiA miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #3 January 28, 2006 QuoteToo cool.....Thanks for letting me live thru your adventurous life, if only briefly. Bobbi I don't know about adventurous, but you're welcome in my life anytime. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sioux 0 #4 January 28, 2006 WOW. What a great story and amazing picture. Thanks. I was in a bad mood until now I haven't seen such convoluted lines of conversation and such expert chronicling thereof since my days of all day bong marathons in college. ~ Lindercles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #5 January 28, 2006 QuoteWOW. What a great story and amazing picture. Thanks. I was in a bad mood until now Thankyou for the kind words. Moments like that have a powerful effect but can be difficult to describe. The words just somehow flowed out of me this morning and I wanted to share them. Thanks again. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #6 January 28, 2006 QuoteEl Capitan. It is a kind of Mecca for BASE jumpers—a spectacularly beautiful granite cliff in an area where everything is larger than life and unimaginable beauty just flows. There is absolutely nothing like it. *** I've been there dozens of times, but never to experience it as you and only a select few have. Thanks for making it an even more wondrous place through your descriptive narrative! Got Bread?? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #7 January 28, 2006 Quote I've been there dozens of times, but never to experience it as you and only a select few have. So, what are you waiting for? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diversgodown 0 #8 January 28, 2006 That story makes me want to go jump El Cap, I can't wait to start BASE. Thanks for the story. And a goofy says YAAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! ***Glory Favors the Bold*** Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrisFlyZ 0 #9 January 29, 2006 Nice One!! Kris. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trae 1 #10 January 29, 2006 That's reel phookin' crool Walt. Love the racer onya back Some-ones really got to get that place open somehow so we can all have a go. How about total BASE site overload. How many rangers are there? If Every base jumper that could get there went and jumped off the thing all at once (closish anyway ) surely most of yous would get away and what a good story it would make. If there were no incidents it could ..... yeah I know ...not the image to present ...aw...shucks. One of the best BASE sites in the world but no go. You yanks have legalised medical marijuana why not medical BASE. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #11 January 29, 2006 QuoteNice One!! Kris. Thankyou. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #12 January 29, 2006 QuoteThat's reel phookin' crool Walt. Love the racer onya back Some-ones really got to get that place open somehow so we can all have a go. How about total BASE site overload. How many rangers are there? If Every base jumper that could get there went and jumped off the thing all at once (closish anyway ) surely most of yous would get away and what a good story it would make. If there were no incidents it could ..... yeah I know ...not the image to present ...aw...shucks. One of the best BASE sites in the world but no go. You yanks have legalised medical marijuana why not medical BASE. The there is a very long and strained history between the National Park Service and the BASE community over El Capitan. My guess is that there are plenty of people in the NPS who think the jumping ban is a bad policy and certainly the BASE community does. There has been a fair amount of animosity between the two groups over the years, though, because of behavior of people on both sides of the issue. The policy actually has a provision for issuing permits to jump El Capitan, but with the exception of a six-week period many years ago, the Park Service has steadfastly refused to do so. That policy comes from way above the level of any of the Park Rangers. Some years back the BASE overload approach was tried. A mass group of BASE jumpers assembled to jump El Cap, knowing they would be arrested. The group had actually arranged it with the Rangers ahead of time. They cooperated with the Rangers in the planning and organization of this protest and I never heard of any animosity on either side. So the Rangers were there. So was the media. So were hundreds of spectators. Tragically, one of the jumpers, Jan Davis, died on a no-pull while her husband, Tom Sanders, a well-known American skydiving photographer, cinemetographer and video guy, filmed from the valley below. Speculation was that the gear she was jumping, borrowed gear because she knew it would be confiscated when she was arrested upon landing, was at the root of the problem. She was a very active skydiver and had she had her own gear, as she probably would have had El Cap jumping been legal, that fatality would likely not have happened. That's all speculation, though. Here is a memorial page for Jan Davis. What's not speculation is the effect her death had on the attempt to get jumping legalized. While the ban on jumping El Cap was very likely a contributing factor in Jan Davis' death, it certainly was a factor in Frank Gambalie's death. He had successfully jumped El Capitan and landed and drowned in the Merced River in the valley below El Cap while trying to escape arrest by the Park Rangers. The ban is bad policy, in my opnion. While it is absolute fact that the above fatalities would not have happened if the jumpers had not violated the policy, it seems just as clear to me that the absence of that policy would have spared their lives. There have been ongoing efforts to legalize El Cap jumping for decades and I hope that both sides have matured enough to let go of old attitudes and make it happen. And if/when it is legalized, I would be honored to jump El Cap with you and any of my other dz.com friends who would care to spend the time with me. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,534 #13 January 29, 2006 The thing to remember is that at least part of the reason for the ban is the way that some (and only some) jumpers treated the mountain. Like a party zone, from what I understand. No better way to fuck it up for others. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #14 January 29, 2006 QuoteThe thing to remember is that at least part of the reason for the ban is the way that some (and only some) jumpers treated the mountain. Like a party zone, from what I understand. No better way to fuck it up for others. Wendy W. Wendy, I believe it's a LOT deeper than that, but bad behavior was certainly a significant factor. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zodiac 0 #15 January 29, 2006 It is certainly a great story BUT, it could be counter productive to us to bring up such detail level of ground crewing and jumping logistics. Remember the evil ones read this forum constantly, and you might say they know the deal already, but why refresh the info or actually educate them against us. In my opinion, jumping logistics should be ban from this forum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #16 January 29, 2006 He had approval and acceptence from a very respected BASE jumper prior to posting. He would never do anything to hurt the sport.Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #17 January 29, 2006 QuoteIt is certainly a great story BUT, it could be counter productive to us to bring up such detail level of ground crewing and jumping logistics. Remember the evil ones read this forum constantly, and you might say they know the deal already, but why refresh the info or actually educate them against us. In my opinion, jumping logistics should be ban from this forum. First of all, if you are referring to the Rangers as the "evil ones", I disagree. They don't make policy, they enforce it. Granted, some seem to take it much more personally than others, but chasing BASE jumpers is a tiny fraction of their overall responsibility. I seriously doubt they put any real effort into it on a regular basis. They just don't have that kind of resource. Besides that, how about just showing them some respect? I'm sure they have mixed feelings about the ban. I doubt seriously they have mixed feelings about the kind of disrespect you show by referring to them as "the evil ones", though. And I said nothing that is news to any of the Yosemite Rangers. That jump was years ago and things change. I actually left out a couple of significant details needed to make it work. I'm sure the Rangers know those details too. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikePelkey 0 #18 January 29, 2006 *********************************** El Capitan. It is a kind of Mecca for BASE jumpers—a spectacularly beautiful granite cliff in an area where everything is larger than life and unimaginable beauty just flows. There is absolutely nothing like it. That beauty is why hundreds, maybe even a few thousand jumps have risked their lives and freedom to experience it. “Three, two, one, See Ya!!!!” *************************************** Stepping off El Cap is like stepping off the edge of the Earth. If anything in my existence has shown me the beauty of being alive, it would be those few precious moments I have had experiencing the freedom of having nothing, yet having everything. Nick and I had stepped off the top of a granite cliff that rises several thousand feet above the valley floor, me in front, and Nick just above me. There are not words to describe the beauty you see everywhere when freefalling from El Cap. There just aren’t. Every place you look, you see the most beautiful sights that nature has to offer. Tracking away from the wall and experiencing the spectacular beauty was all that mattered in our existence. We had nothing and we had everything. Ten seconds. Time to open. Under canopy we were but two tiny specs, tiny and meaningless in front of that wall. ****************************** Perfectly eloquent Walt. I wish I had your gift for words.In theory, there is no difference bretween theory and practice. In practice, however, there is. - "RIP Forever Brian Schubert. Always remembered, Never forgotten" - Leroy DB http://www.johnny Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #19 January 29, 2006 QuotePerfectly eloquent Walt. I wish I had your gift for words. Thankyou. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zodiac 0 #20 January 29, 2006 Hi Walt, I actually enjoyed your story. I still think there is sensitive info in your story that can confirm and educate some of the "enforcers". As you said it, "that jump was years ago and things change", you are absolutely right on that. I know for a fact that currently the "enforcers" have allocated specific surveillance dedicated for jumpers on key hours. I have seen, on regular basis "enforcers" on foot hiding in the woods, waiting for the moment to strike (or to "enforce"). Things now are a lot tricky and there might be active jumpers still operating under such. No offense intended to anyone, just trying to be conservative in regards to broadcasting jumping logistics, that's all. And yes it is still sensitive info, period. Peace. Z. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #21 January 29, 2006 QuoteHi Walt, I actually enjoyed your story. I still think there is sensitive info in your story that can confirm and educate some of the "enforcers". As you said it, "that jump was years ago and things change", you are absolutely right on that. I know for a fact that currently the "enforcers" have allocated specific surveillance dedicated for jumpers on key hours. I have seen, on regular basis "enforcers" on foot hiding in the woods, waiting for the moment to strike (or to "enforce"). Things now are a lot tricky and there might be active jumpers still operating under such. No offense intended to anyone, just trying to be conservative in regards to broadcasting jumping logistics, that's all. And yes it is still sensitive info, period. Peace. Z. No offense taken. I understand. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivermom 0 #22 January 29, 2006 I've seen El Cap up close, and that was inspiration enough. I can't imagine climbing it, much less stepping off of it. I can safely say I will NEVER BASE jump, but I would love to watch you and a bunch of others do it. I remember watching the documentary about Jan...shortly after I decided to take up this sport. What an amazing woman.Mrs. WaltAppel All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #23 February 1, 2006 Quote How about total BASE site overload. How many rangers are there? If Every base jumper that could get there went and jumped off the thing all at once (closish anyway ) surely most of yous would get away and what a good story it would make. It would be a disaster. There is only one 2 lane road leaving the valley and they could search and catch everyone. Quietly getting everyone up the long climb is more doable, but still likely to get noticed. Hopefully there will someday be a change in NPS leadership. Start with a Bridge Day type annual event, move to monthly, see how it goes. The sport is much more mature in terms of gear/training than it was in 1980, no? The Falls Trail would be so much more fun if you only had to go uphill each time. My knees don't like that descent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
