ABP Phase II BCMP Discussion

[BackcountryParachutists]

As our illustrious executive director outlined last issue, the Alliance of Backcountry Parachutists worked quietly with the National Park Service to rewrite its parachuting policy, which in the following ways advanced the effort to gain and maintain access to jumpable cliffs in its jurisdiction:

a) Blanket prohibition is dead;

b) Decisions about backcountry parachuting are now back in the hands of individual superintendents, who can now say yea or nay; and

c) Parachuting is listed by name as an activity that can be an acceptable park use.

And as Mr. Sapp also mentioned last issue, we’re ready for Phase II access efforts: gaining actual access to one or more NPS units for routine, recurring recreational access based on the backcountry management model.

This forum has been created to help the ABP and jumpers communicate during this long and involved process.

We all want the same thing. Fair Access.

[fixMe]

HELL Fn' yEaH!~!

i PREdict black or powelL Will be first??

bIG E's in the golden state would be nice. but beggars can't be chooser's.


so who all is wokin' over in this ABP orginization now?


how many folks' is workin' over dher?

aloha

[BackcountryParachutists]

http://www.backcountryparachutists.org/aboutus.php

[nicknitro71]

How much better am I jumping El Cap now than when I first did it in 1996?

[lifewithoutanet]

How much better am I jumping El Cap now than when I first did it in 1996?

Probably not much better. But that's the thing. Progress won't happen overnight. I know that's the most oft-made statement by those trying to work within the system, but it's true.

The removal of specific language (and addition of some) in the Management Plan is a step in the right direction, though, don't you think?

The ABP (or any other group) can do one of a couple of things:

1.) Work in the dark and face criticism for not sharing what they're doing.
-OR-
2.) Celebrate their successes--no matter how small or large--and try to rally more to support the end goal.

What would you most like to see from them?

-C.

[nicknitro71]

Jason called me up and we had a nice talk.

I have told him what I am writing here which is that I am very skeptical that they will accomplish anything.

Nonetheless kudos to them for trying.

[Johnny Utah]

Yosemite will be tough, but I can foresee the NPS eventually letting us jump in other lower traffic parks. I think the ABP is wise for approaching other parks first as they have stated. Sure I have doubts too but this course of action seems to be the most promising to me so I have hope.

[hamsandwich]

I'm hopeful and have confidence that we will see low traffic parks open to responsible jumping within the next few years. The bureaucracy that the ABP is working with move very slowly, and for a group that is used to instant gratification (climb, jump, land) it can seem like nothing is happening.


-

[BackcountryParachutists]

I'm hopeful and have confidence that we will see low traffic parks open to responsible jumping within the next few years. The bureaucracy that the ABP is working with move very slowly, and for a group that is used to instant gratification (climb, jump, land) it can seem like nothing is happening.


-

Some of our initial correspondence to the DOI and NPS took months to get any reply back. Some letters we never got any response. It can be so frustrating at times but the system is in place to all our benefit (right ) and we are properly moving through that system right now. The ABP is right where I wish we could have been when I first spoke to Gardner about this process several years ago.

Jason Dawson
Legislative Director

[BackcountryParachutists]

A Unit Coordinator works with the Legislative Director to include backcountry parachuting in that unit's backcountry management plan. At its current stage of development and activity, the ABP does not require a full-time or even part-time Unit Coordinator for each park with jump-able cliffs, but does require that the Unit Coordinator be guided by the ABP mission statement, seek to achieve its goals, maintain regular contact with the Legislative Director, and perform the following duties as needed:


*Coordinate with the unit planning officer during the backcountry management plan development process.
*Gather onsite data.
*Deliver reference materials and other information and items to the unit main office.
*Attend meetings.
* Maintain project management log on backcountryparachutists.org website