Several BASE jumpers appear to have taken advantage of the federal government shutdown to leap off El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Climber Charles Winstead captured and shared footage of the individuals flying over the park a few days ago.
Yosemite National Park specifically prohibits BASE jumping, though hang gliding is allowed with a permit. The park additionally prohibits the launching, landing, or operating of unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park.
It’s not clear if anyone in the video was caught in the act or identified afterward. During the government shutdown, national parks across the country remain as accessible as possible, though specific services may be limited or completely unavailable.
BASE jumping, which stands for Building, Antenna, Span (bridge), or Earth (cliff), involves leaping off a fixed object and parachuting to the ground. Most U.S. National Parks prohibit BASE jumping without a permit.
