This summer, an iconic rope swing located on the cliffs of D.L. Bliss State Park in California was permanently removed by park officials and law enforcement, with the massive pine that once held the rope losing many of its limbs. It was an undeniably intense way to bring the swing to an end, removing the thick limbs off a living tree. According to Tahoe Daily Tribune, the act served as a battle cry for several cliff-jumping fans.
Filmmaker and athlete Nick Coulter gathered a crew to build an even larger swing in response, using a design originally created by Mike Wilson over a decade ago. The massive jump would provide over 100 feet of airtime before swingers hit the waters of Lake Tahoe.
Unfortunately, as they were testing the swing with weighted backpacks on September 6th, California State Parks officers and El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies arrived by boat and on foot, telling the athletes to remove the swing while threatening arrest for anyone who jumped.
Professional BASE jumper Chase Reinford decided he wasn’t going to give up, climbing onto the platform and leaping off just after an officer said “If you do decide to jump, you’re going to jail.” After surfacing, Reinford was ordered to the shore and handcuffed booked into El Dorado County Jail on charges including obstructing justice, geological destruction, hosting an event without a permit, and participating in dangerous games.
“I didn’t think they had the right to tell me I couldn’t jump. I think it steps on our rights to recreate on state and public land. I’m not harming anybody, damaging nature in any way, and the only person at risk is myself.” – Chase Reinford
