Moab Restrictions

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4/20/00 11:42 AM Inches: 10.7 REGULAR BC-UT-BASERegulations Bjt 04-20 0445
BC-UT—BASE Regulations, Bjt,415 Sheriff wants to place restrictions on BASE
jumping in Grand County cgw2jc

MOAB, Utah (AP) - The Grand County Sheriff wants to place restrictions on the growing number of BASE jumpers flinging themselves off cliffs in his county. For the most part, BASE jumpers are free to practice the risky sport, and deputies and search and rescue crews to bail them out of jams. But BASE jumping’s growing popularity and danger have prompted Sheriff James Nyland to consider reining in the jumpers. Deputy Archie Walker said this spring has brought a record number of daredevils to the red cliff canyons surrounding Moab. BASE is an acronym for buildings, antennae, spans (bridges) and earth, the structures from which the jumpers leap. Jumpers are equipped with parachutes and throw themselves from the cliffs to float to the canyons below. BASE jumping is not new in southeastern Utah. For four years jumpers have participated in the annual Tombstone Challenge, where participants make a series of jumps from cliffs near Moab known as the Tombstones. Outside state parks and major city limits, BASE jumping is legal. But Nyland said a recent rash of serious BASE-jumping injuries has convinced him the sport needs regulation. Already this year, four people have been seriously injured while BASE jumping and had to be rescued by the sheriff’s office. The latest incident happened Sunday when a Michigan man was critically wounded after jumping from a 200-foot cliff near Millcreek Canyon three miles east of Moab. “It’s amazing that someone hasn’t been killed yet, but that’s coming,” Nyland said, adding that 200 feet is much too low for a parachute jump. Huge numbers of jumpers flock to the Bureau of Land Management-owned desert surrounding the slickrock capital of the world. Nyland said bad weather Tuesday was the only thing preventing one ambitious jumper from attempting to set a world record for the most BASE jumps in a 24-hour period. But besides the potential danger, Nyland said, cost considerations have led him to think about a legal change. “They (BASE jumpers) don’t understand the amount of money it takes to conduct these rescue operations,” Nyland said. “They aren’t paying anything to offset the costs to our taxpayers.” Nyland plans to sit down with BLM officials to discuss specific restrictions that he will take to the Grand County Council for approval. While Nyland said he wouldn’t favor a complete ban, he would recommend limiting jumps to specified safe areas. But until then, jumpers remain free to fling themselves from any cliff on BLM property.

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Let's compare the statistics...

http://mountainzone.lycos.com/news/moab10-13.html

c ya

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More reading material ...

http://www.gcsar.org/

http://www.gcsar.org/silt.htm

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we all knew it was too good to last...

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http://www.gcsar.org/statistics/statistics.htm

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Looks like they better put some restrictions on the mountain bikers while their at it... what a joke.

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"set a world record for the most BASE jumps in a 24-hour period"

why?

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I spend a fair amount of time in Moab jumping the cliffs. I feel like it’s a bit of a second home to me. I love the daylight, the great visuals, and the general sense of freedom. Are we going to give all that up without a fight? Limiting the number of sites would be like having a candy store with only a few types of candy. Sure the BLM and local Law can easily restrict our activities; that is unless we speak up. I’m against regulations, ratings, and the man breathing down may neck. If we can show that we have support, large enough numbers, and some general sense of unity maybe we can actually be vocal about our rights in the BLM lands. Soon it will be restricted sights, then restricted times, WHAM we’re in National Parks! Let’s unite and fight the man. We all have some sense of bravery (we do jump of things), we should quit hiding like rats and take a stand.
I hate politics, but here I’m willing to take a stand. I’ve seen too many new sites open up in the last year and there are thousands more that are waiting to be jumped. Each site has some unique feature whether it is a cool visual or just some interesting feature on the hike out. Please don’t let them take OUR land from us. My email is jnoose@bigfoot.com We need to find some way to unite let’s consider groups like CJAA or even starting some group to save Moab. We need to put our stupid freaking egos and differences aside and get on the ball.

Jeremy

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“They aren’t paying anything to offset the costs to our taxpayers.” Nyland plans to sit down with BLM officials to discuss specific restrictions that he will take to the Grand County Council for approval. While Nyland said he wouldn’t favor a complete ban, he would recommend limiting jumps to specified safe areas.


Well myself and a large group of friend are planning a trip out in July and plan on Dumping a lot of cash into the county of Grand. I would go as far to say up to $1000 to just the County not to mention the state of Utah will get even more. I can't say the money issue is the one at hand here. I would never go there if not for the legal jumps and they would never have that money!

Cya
Pauly

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I stated a while ago in an email after Mari was hanging on the wall. I said "am I the only one worried about losing BLM land". This comment was made by me before I even had one jump on BLM land and i'm willing to do my part. If restrictions are placed, or rights to BLM land compromised, it will affect all Western states that have BLM lands. I intend to go to MOAB to jump during memorial day weekend and longer, but that probably will not help with this situation. It does not matter how many statistics are posted on this board unless someone is going to present them to the BLM council. This needs to be done A.
S.A.P. Anyway, I'm going to send a portfolio to the BLM land management office and would like to know if there are more addresses to send to. I will include the statistics and stories from the above examples. Also, if there are more examples that I could print out and hard copy please post them on this board with the appropriate links or send them directly to my email address at headdown@hotmail.com .. The addresses I will send them to on Monday and will also fax to are located at this link.
http://www.blm.gov/utah/moab/index.html
To summarize, post some statistics and stories or email them to me and I'll send them out. If a one sided case is presented to the BLM managers without a counter case, it could be the start of losing access to BLM land. I am not trying to represent everyone, but I will submit the documentation so at least the managers have some information supporting the base jumpers.
Also, as I have just re-read the posting it states.."Nyland plans to sit down with BLM officials to discuss specific restrictions that he will take to the Grand County Council for approval. " If someone could also let me know how I can write and Fax to the Grand County Council, I am willing to do that also. Anyway, at a minimum, I will send a postal hardcopy to the BLM managers with the information that is in these postings. Maximumly, I will submit as much as People are willing to post or email links to reliable statistics and articles supporting Moab and/or BLM base jumping to BLM managers and the Grand County council,...all this on my own time and money... and by Monday and possibly Sunday if Fax numbers are provided to me. I have access to Fax machines, print shops, High speed high resolution laser and color laser printers, coping machines, etc.. as I am a Computer networking engineer and PC specialist. I'm willing, just give me something to fight with.
Brian S
headdown@hotmail.com

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If the average S&R Dept. receives a budget of 200K(on a cold day in hell) a year and the average S&R deployment costs 10K, in 3 MONTHS WE have utilized 20% of THEIR entire budget....and what did they receive ...oh yes your $1000 DOLLARS OF WHICH MAYBE $3 WENT TO THEIR DEPT....

Don't evade your responsibilities..... entertaining ourselves in "their" communities is just that....write a letter boys and explain how we help their community......

I heard Rexall Drugs has a spring sale on ACE bandages two for five bucks

Bend over and smile boys we are raping each other
and this time we blew it....

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"up to $1000 to just the County"
Wow! and I have a new AM radio

thankyou your assistance is above and beyond

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It's a green thing. Our taxes spent there wouldn't buy a butterfinger. Heli rescues average 5-7K, blood is hard to get off sandstone.
Fact is, many jumpers do travel to sites with empty pockets and no insurance, expecting the EAGLE to carry them through any disasters, legal or accidental.
Blah blah blah
We had to know this was coming.

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This is amazing, a person trys to help and you get this type of response. It is more of a comparison. I perceived that the $1000 was to support buisnesses in Moab, and anyone coming to Moab pumps money into the tourist economy, thus keeping the locals employed. It is a valid point,for example, I made a special trip to go to Moab during a convention in Salt Lake City. I spent two days at the a local motel, plus food and gas. Multiply that by a number between 200 and 1000 or many times more and you have money being available to keep the local businessmen in business. NO, not by ourselves do base jumpers support MOab but I presume if a 1000 base jumpers come from out of town and spend $250 per visit, that's a quarter of a million dollars worth of business that would otherwise be lost. This figure could be low or high since I do not have statistics. Also, it's the point, do boaters, mountain bikers, hikers, etc. who need rescue from the SAR pay for all that help? I appreicate all the help but if the above statistics from the other postings are correct, those other groups cost the SAR more money and resources than does the base jumping community and that is the point and that point needs to be heard. As for letters, ...certified letters have meaning, all letters have meaning, I have written to judges, lawyers before court cases and they have been entered and taken into consideration when evaluating court cases and hearings. You would be amazed the power of the pen, in my life I have had to fight for everything I have gotten, nothing has been handed to me.
One last point, if the BLM land becomes restricted for base jumpers then why not restrict other land use activities just on the basis of the SAR having to help people out because of mishaps that have happened to some but not to others.
Ok, enough said...I won't respond to anymore babble but remember, letters do have weight to them and more than a quater ounce.

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This is amazing, a person trys to help and you get this type of response. It is more of a comparison. I perceived that the $1000 was to support buisnesses in Moab, and anyone coming to Moab pumps money into the tourist economy, thus keeping the locals employed. It is a valid point,for example, I made a special trip to go to Moab during a convention in Salt Lake City. I spent two days at the a local motel, plus food and gas. Multiply that by a number between 200 and 1000 or many times more and you have money being available to keep the local businessmen in business. NO, not by ourselves do base jumpers support MOab but I presume if a 1000 base jumpers come from out of town and spend $250 per visit, that's a quarter of a million dollars worth of business that would otherwise be lost. This figure could be low or high since I do not have statistics. Also, it's the point, do boaters, mountain bikers, hikers, etc. who need rescue from the SAR pay for all that help? I appreicate all the help but if the above statistics from the other postings are correct, those other groups cost the SAR more money and resources than does the base jumping community and that is the point and that point needs to be heard. As for letters, ...certified letters have meaning, all letters have meaning, I have written to judges, lawyers before court cases and they have been entered and taken into consideration when evaluating court cases and hearings. You would be amazed the power of the pen, in my life I have had to fight for everything I have gotten, nothing has been handed to me.
One last point, if the BLM land becomes restricted for base jumpers then why not restrict other land use activities just on the basis of the SAR having to help people out because of mishaps that have happened to some but not to others.
Ok, enough said...I won't respond to anymore babble but remember, letters do have weight to them and more than a quater ounce.