A recent spate of illegal BASE-jumps at Yosemite National Park during the government shutdown made national news and it looks like park rangers have stepped up their response times to discourage the illegal activity.
While nearly all National Parks having halted social media operations as we enter the 30th day of government shutdown, the folks at Yosemite decided to fire off a report of that they had busted BASE-jumper near El Capitan on October 29th just minutes after a visitor made a report of suspicious activity.
Recent Base Yosemite BASE Jump
“On October 29, Yosemite rangers responded within minutes after visitors reported a “BASE jumper” near El Capitan. Thanks to the quick reaction, coordination, and sharp observations of visitors and rangers, the individual was located and cited for illegal air delivery.
The individual received a mandatory court appearance citation. The National Park Service would like to remind all visitors that parachuting, paragliding, or BASE jumping within national park boundaries is illegal. These activities can endanger both participants and others in the area and disrupt park operations.”
6 CFR 2.17(a)(3) prohibits BASE jumping across all National Parks in the United States. BASE Jumping has been banned in Yosemite since the mid-1980s. The elicit activity has led to several injuries, fatalities, and high-risk rescues over the past several years.
“We do not tolerate illegal activity in Yosemite National Park. Our law enforcement rangers remain efficient, effective and vigilant 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These convictions demonstrate the professionalism and dedication of Yosemite’s protection team in upholding federal regulations and ensuring the safety of both visitors and first responders.” – Yosemite National Park Superintendent Raymond McPadden.
