Planks at the Perrine

[hamsandwich]

Johnny mentioned...

We always use to keep a simple plank of wood no thicker than 2 inches by the visitors center and they never had a problem with it. The 2 inch plank is really only 1 3/4 inches raised up off the side walk and works perfect and no pedestrians or bicyclist have ever complained about a 1 and 3/4 inch raise off the sidewalk.

We need to preserve Twin Falls __________________

discuss here.

[Rocky_Mountain_BASE]

Agreed. The small regular plank is unobtrusive. Big, unsightly contraptions can have negative impacts.

While we're on the topic of "minimizing our impact", I'm a firm believer that standing on the rail (while fun) is only asking for trouble. You can't place a number on it, but it greatly increases the chances of a car accident. All it takes is a series of bad accidents and that is the type of thing that could possibly shut the bridge down for jumping. If you must jump from the rail, you should try to do it early in the morning (at an off-peak time) and ensure there are no cars coming.

But back on the plank issue, Johnny is right. We should not have large contraptions out there unless there's some type of permit for a special event, etc.

Mike

[lcspx]

heres an idea:

build however big of a plank you want, with little ramps on both sides.
that way people on bikes can just roll over it like it wasnt there.

just hammer all the nails in good so they dont hang up on it, wreck, and sue you.

ive only been to the potato bridge once. there was no ramp, and i hiked out 2 miles east after my first jump there. so what do i know.

not that im sticking up for tom
i've never met him, but i tried talking to him about someone in his 'death camp' who is acting stupid around here, and he wont even respond...

[Chuck Lowenpull]

Funny how the Idaho Dept of Transportation doesn't like planks left on the bridge sidewalk. If someone stays with it or you take it down after every jump then no problem.
IDOT says jumping from the rail is OK but no planks please. They have said this for years and years.
Now you know.

[hamsandwich]

your mom's at the perrine

[skydive1224]

your mom likes plank

[Johnny Utah]

Originally Posted by Chuck Lowenpull

Funny how the Idaho Dept of Transportation doesn't like planks left on the bridge sidewalk. If someone stays with it or you take it down after every jump then no problem.
IDOT says jumping from the rail is OK but no planks please. They have said this for years and years.
Now you know.

I think you moved to Twin Falls about the same time frame as Tom A who use to bring out gigantic ramps that had a raise off the sidewalk of about 5 or 6 inches. This specific thing was complained about by pedestrians and bicyclist because it obstructed the sidewalk. And yes that caused a problem with the authorities.

But before that:

We always use to keep a simple plank of wood no thicker than 2 inches by the visitors center and they never had a problem with it. The 2 inch plank is really only 1 3/4 inches raised up off the side walk and works perfect and no pedestrians or bicyclist had ever complained about a 1 and 3/4 inch raise off the sidewalk.

[huckleberry]

Planks are for bungee jumpers!!

[hookitt]

Originally Posted by huckleberry

Planks are for bungee jumpers!!

Planks are for abs.

[Flying_Mike_D]

To stay on topic of this thread....

I like having a plank out there. As a relatively new BASE jumper it's nice to have a plank to stand on. For new jumpers taking a FJC it's also nice to have a solid platform to stand on (speaking from experience). I didn't have a plank for the first dozen or so jumps from the Perrine and it's really not something you think about that first time you crawl over the railing and realize you are trying to get in the best position possible but you've got a rig that keeps pushing you away from the railing while you are getting all set up.

Like Johnny said, if you just keep it stealthy and don't have some massively thick plank out there that causes spectators to complain I see no foul. Just a small thin plank to stand on basically comes down to the simple fact that it's fun to jump off!

[skydive1224]

Well, a lot of exit points require you to be bent forward. Especially on antennas. Better to learn that exit position at the perrine rather than 500 foot up on your local A. But the plank is always fun out there. There is no feeling like letting go of the rail and standing on a 2 X 4.

Ody

[Flying_Mike_D]

Originally Posted by skydive1224

Well, a lot of exit points require you to be bent forward. Especially on antennas. Better to learn that exit position at the perrine rather than 500 foot up on your local A. But the plank is always fun out there. There is no feeling like letting go of the rail and standing on a 2 X 4.

Ody

Word! Now that's what I'm talking about! I understand what you are saying about body position but really it just comes down to the fact that a plank is just plain ol' fun to jump off!

[Johnny Utah]

Originally Posted by skydive1224

Well, a lot of exit points require you to be bent forward. Especially on antennas. Better to learn that exit position at the perrine rather than 500 foot up on your local A. But the plank is always fun out there. There is no feeling like letting go of the rail and standing on a 2 X 4.

Ody

from his post it sounds like he did learn the leaning forward from the rail exit on his "first dozen or so jumps". Since Mike live in Boise and since most of the time there's not a plank out there anyway, I would imagine he'll be making a lot of jumps without a plank....

as far as the quality of the experienced gained in the skill sense with having a plank vs not having a plank. Both ways can help enhance your survival skill set in somewhat different ways; for example on a lot of jumps you're standing straight up on the edge without holding on to a rail. Often on a solid wall where the wind won't help ya if you hose the exit.... for example...

a lot of jumpers like to do triples and stuff but prefer not to jump from the rail. I personally like to have a plank for certain aerials....It is fun... and in the past we have been able to use common sense and keep the planks low profile without complaints. It would be nice to get back to normal.

[hamsandwich]

my rabbits don't get planks. planks are for mutinous landlubbin pirates.


;-)

[Flying_Mike_D]

Originally Posted by hamsandwich

my rabbits don't get planks. planks are for mutinous landlubbin pirates.


;-)

To clarify what I was saying... I meant based on MY personal experience that I was not very comfortable on my first jump, I was not saying that a plank is ideal FOR a first jump. It was just an observation made about my experiences. I don't think anyones first jump is terribly comfortable from a mental standpoint.

Having jumped with/without a plank all I can add to this conversation is that the Perrine Bridge is a fun and legal (which is good for my profession) object to jump that's in my backyard (relatively) and I enjoy jumping off of the plank. If there isn't one there I'm still jumping.