The Turkey Boogie in 2005 ended up being the classic case of too many people jumping in a dangerous place. The herd mentality won out and we ended up with 2 jumpers hung up on the wall one right after the other was rescued. The rescues were both done extremely quickly and efficiently, however alot was learned by these accidents and subsequent rescues. Lee Hardesty wrote me this email and I wanted to share it with everyone. He brings up some great points, some which I hadn't thought about. Check it out...
I hope you had fun down south. I've been in Dallas for about a week. Over the last few weeks since Maggot and the other guy hung themselves on the wall I've had some time to think about everything that went on. A lot of things happened that day both good and bad. First off let me say that this is only my point of view. Its just what I saw. Because its from my viewpoint some of the harshest criticism is of me and errors I made during the course of the day. To some degree this is all old news. We'd all like to just sweep it under the rug and forget it. I'm afraid that might not be a good idea. My fear is that this sort of thing will happen again. I don't think we are done pulling people off walls. The sport is growing. There's no way around it. Whether it's next week or next year this is going to happen again.
So here are just some thoughts. I think we can all agree that we lucked out this year. We had some good people and fate smiled on us and forgave our foolishness. A lot of what we did seemed to be improvised to one degree or another and I'd like to see it evolve in to a clearer doctrine on how to deal with this. I like the idea of a high angle rescue course this Spring. I think that what happened this Fall was a good learning experience and the lessons from it should be passed on in the course.
It's been a few weeks and it's nice in some ways to have that perspective. Before all the details are lost I think it would be a good idea for everyone involved to sit down and write down there own evaluation of what happened. Best that they all do it on their own and in there own words before reading this or any thing else. Then I think copies should be circulated so we can each see the actions but more importantly the thought process that went into each of the decisions that were made.
What follows is the story from my point of view. Mostly I'm going to concentrate on what I saw and the thought process that went into my actions at the time. I'll be trying to point out errors and mistakes I made or observed during the course of the day. I hope people will not be overly offended. In the end all was well. I'm doing this mainly for my self and decided to share it with you in hopes of contributing to the course your teaching this spring.
I'd been going pretty hard for several days hanging rope on the King Fisher. I'd found my self to be very out of shape and I was looking forward to a nice relaxed day of riding the Unimog and not having to jug anything. I stopped in town that morning at Pagan and bought a 9.5mm 60m static rope. All my line was hanging on the tower. I wanted to drop over the edge and shoot some stills of the exiting. Maybe some video if some one would loan me a camera. I was just tired of the same old angles. In particular I wanted to film a “roll over†from directly below if I could find some one stupid enough to do one off a cliff. I had in mind the knob that sticks out the wall on the opposite side of the finger from Mari's Gash. A little over hang and I could be back against the wall out of the way. Little did I know the show we were going to have that day. I was just a little too late to film it.
Pagan was a little late opening. So I wasn't setting any speed records getting out there. I packed up a rig and wondered out to the main exit point. Once I got out to the cliff band I dropped all my stuff and went looking for a place to set up. I was just walking along the edge when I met some one headed in the other direction. There were a couple of them I don't remember what they said but it sounded like trouble. I ask them if any thing was wrong and they said some one was on the wall. This was in fact some thing I'd been dreading for a while. Ok, here's my first error.
1. I should have identified my self as a climber and sent them back with directions to my car to get more gear. And given him directions on whom else to look for that might be able to help with a high angle rescue. I was too passive and failed to step forward hoping that some one else would take the responsibility.
2. I should have backtracked right now and retrieved the gear I had dropped. I had every thing I needed to secure him right there.
I ran along the ledge and found the vultures already lined up on the ledge. There were only two or three there so far. I was on the Camera Ledge. At this point I could see where he was hanging. I saw that he was underneath the over hang and quickly realized the problems we were in for. The people there were calling down to him I did not hear him answer. At this time I did not see him move. Ok, here are a whole string of errors.
3. I did not take the time to properly evaluate the situation. I did not ask the other people there his condition. I went on what I saw from only a few moments observation. I assumed he was more badly injured and would not be able to assist in his rescue.
4. I did not take the time to evaluate the anchor at the top of the cliff. I should have walked over and examined it. I did not know the bolts were there and assumed I would need to work a natural anchor. Even then I should have done more of an evaluation.
5. At this time I should have gone back along the edge and gotten my stuff and begun the rescue. I could have sent one of the others back to get gear from my car and look for other climbers. I have problems trusting other people with tasks and failed to delegate the work.
I went back to my car my self and started gathering up gear. Along the way I looked for the other climbers I knew. Most of them where out at other sites. I didn't recognize any one and was hesitant to involve random people. I started asking around for you and Marta. I started pulling gear out of the car and spotted Brian. I reported what I saw most of which was inaccurate and we headed back out. I gave him my pack and he ran ahead. I was already winded and lagged behind. Out of shape. By now a number of people were headed out there with rope and some gear. We still did not have a real plan of action.
When I finally caught up there was already a small crowd. They had found the rope I’d left but not my stuff. The creative rigging had already begun. They had tied the rope through two of the bolts and clipped it with a carabiner. The only one they had? John Long must have been rolling over in his grave. They were trying to throw the rope to him to secure him. Not a bad idea.
6. I'd assumed that he was secure from falling. After all the flake he was hanging on had taken the dynamic load of him falling on it. It didn't occur to me that he might still fall. I was more concerned with his condition. I was very troubled to later learn that lines had been breaking while we were off farting around.
I'm not joking when I say things were creative at the anchor. It was frustrating. I didn't want to mess with what was already in use. More rope arrived and I got beaners in the bolts and started to try and equalize things. I was surprised how flustered I felt. This was my first rescue. Normally I don't have to work fast. It's a slow methodical process with me. All the helping hands were more a problem then help some times. It turns out there was another climber there. I remember his comment latter. That he'd wanted to help but had stood back out of the way because there was only room for one mind in some thing like this. There were a lot of things we did that would not normally be considered correct.
7. The biggest mistake was made by me in the anchor. The nice static rope was already tied in and I didn't want to mess with it. I used some guy's old lead line to tie every thing off. It was skinny. We're talking half rope. The way I had it tied every thing we did was all hanging on one line. I just wasn't thinking. I climb with heavier ropes. Later when I looked at it did look like dental floss maybe even a twin. Some one brought another line of it back and tied it off as a back up. That was typical of how we worked the whole thing. There was very little redundancy in the system.
8. I had sent some one back along the ledge with a description of my bag to get the rest of my stuff. He never found it. I should have picked it up my self on the way back out. I don't remember seeing it. I must have taken a slightly different route. I might have walked right past it. All my best beeners and ascenders were in there. So we wound up using unlocked beeners for a lot of things.
By now Brian had already rapped down and thrown him the end of the rope. I was trying to figure out a hauling system. We had agreed that we should bring him up if we could. I didn't have quite enough gear to do a z-pulley. When Brian jugged back up only moments later. He was very fast. At least he was panting thank god. The only thing I could come up with was to just space haul him by that one mini traxiom. Not the best system but he wasn't heavy.
9. We should have done something to secure the canopy at this time. We had the white rope there. We could have sent the end down with Brian to be hooked on to the riser. We just were not thinking ahead. I thought the canopy would just lift up with him. I suppose he might have pulled himself over and tried to free it but that's asking a lot of him at that point.
10. Again there was no redundancy in the system we set up. I didn't have another ascender as a back up. Not even a prussic. It would have been better if we'd taken a little more time to work this a little better. We had started in a hurry and never slowed down even when it became clear that time was not a big factor. That's how mistakes are made and many were. Now we got away with a lot of sloppiness but that does not mean that what we did is a good example of how to go about this.
11. We had talked about how to attach the rope to him. Some one said the chest strap, which would probably have worked. I told Brian to try and get the three rings. I wasn't comfterbal trusting the 70101. It's not really meant to be structural. When we hauled him up I realized we had been lifting him from only one three ring. With one beaner. In retrospect it would have been better to have split the two with a runner or tied a double bowline to suspend him from both. He was probable in a hurry. He may have been a little short of rope down there at the bottom. We're lucky there was no spinal injury. It would have been nice to keep him more symmetric if only for comfort.
12. I didn't take the time to really rig or anchor my self properly I just stepped down on two slings to give me a little length. I was short on gear and had not taken the time to make the best use of what I had. This limited my movement and kept me from being as effective in the hauling. Most of the work was left to Brian.
13. Once we had him up close I called up asking if they could secure the end of the brown rope a little better and pass a loop down. This was probably not very clear and a bad idea to have them messing with what was already there. They clipped the end of the thin white rope and I tried to get a little wall hauler pulley on him to haul him over the edge. I should have had that ready before I even stepped down. In the end I don't know how much good it did any ways. They seemed to just mussel him up at that point. Good thing he didn't weigh much.
Once he was up they seemed to have things well in hand. The guys there seemed to know what they were doing. Even now I don't know who they are. Were they EMT or First Responders? I don't know. I wish I had a better idea of people's skill level. After checking him out they carried him off and my part in that affair was done. We decided to go ahead and get the canopy. Brian stepped back up to the plate again that day and rapped down to it. He took along some gear top try and get in above it. I remember the look on his face when he was looking up at me from the bottom edge of the cap rock just before he made the big swing. To this day I don't know how he got in there.
14. When he was getting ready Brian noticed that there was no knot in the end of the rope. He stopped to pull it up and tie a nice big one before he made his big whizzing decent. A very good idea. The scary thing is we almost missed that.
He got a peace in above the canopy. I don't know what or how he did it. If we had a line to that canopy we could have skipped that drama. This was all pretty casual. He even took a camera down with him and was stopping to take pictures of people jumping.
Now, strike two. I couldn't fucking believe it. I wonted to laugh. I wanted to cry. It soon became a lot more serious as we realized he was probably hurt pretty bad. We sent the end of the brown line down to him on a biner and tossed the rest after. He tied them off and passed the knot to rapelled on down to where he hit.
15. Some where in this he pulled the piece that he had above the canopy. I don't know why he did this. It made getting back to the canopy rather difficult.
16. I was getting ready to rap down to join him but the people coming up from the bottom were already there. I wasn't needed and would have just been in the way. Some one had given me a cervical collar(neck brace) I'd planned to take it down with me but Brian wound up having to do without it. We should have clipped it to the rope when we sent it down to him.
From here on I was mostly a spectator. We had a couple of radios there at the exit point. I had a chance to lessen to a lot of the traffic. I have to tell you that there was a lot of confusion. Many of the messages were unclear. I don't think there was good contact between the parking lot and the bottom. I tried to relay a few of the messages but in the end I gave up not wanting to add to the confusion.
17. There are some very standard and well-established protocols for radio communications. Part of the trick is knowing what they are going to say before hand. If you know the script or at least an out line it's much easier to follow. First, announce whom you are addressing. Second, state who you are and where you are. Third, give the message. Forth, restate whom it is for. When you receive a message, acknowledge it and read it back to make sure it is clear. It hasn't gone through until you have a confirmation on the read back. As an example Tri County traffic, Cessna 61326, approaching from the North-east for landing, Tri County
This is a point where things seemed to break down a bit. It may have been clear to the other people involved but I found it confusing. There were messages for the unimog driver but which one? Where did they need him to be? Who was it that had the good radio/ cell phone that would reach the town for the ambulance? Did he have to turn around to go back up to make the call? There were calls relaying his condition as they carried him down.
Finally there was a decision made to fly him out from the bottom. I’ve herd a lot of criticism of that especially with the time involved in getting the chopper there. I was not down there so I can’t say. I can see them being unwilling to risk a bumpy ride with a fractured pelvis. It doesn’t take much movement to damage blood vessels. On the other hand he was just carried down a mountain. I think he would have done better waiting in the hospital. But that’s just me. I wasn’t there and it wasn’t my call. It seemed on the radio that he was getting a lot of flack down at the bottom on this. When he came on he was demanding a chopper. I’m not inclined to question decisions made under fire. You have to pick a plan and follow it. It may not be the best choice but that’s not the time to debate it.
I got bored and decided to take a look at the canopy. At this point it would be very nice to have a line to it or at least have the ropes running through that piece. First I just rapped down. I was looking down and I thought I’d be able to reach out and touch this corner. No way I wound up trapped in space with it 18in out of reach. Shit. One long jug later I was ready to try again. I got as big of a push as I could. I should have taken even longer slides. I was too timid and could not maintain the energy of the swing. One problem was I was using an ATC. I had it backed up with a sort of prussic on the break line to free my hands. This didn’t let me really free fall it. And frankly I was being a pussy. I wound up in the same place not able to get bouncing. After that second free hanging jug I’d had it. I was ready to give it up for the night. Enough flailing in front of the cameras for one day. Later I heard the chopper finally arrive and that put an end to all the excitement.
On the whole I think both rescues went well. At least they were successful with no one else getting hurt. Always a good thing. For a bunch of people who didn’t know each other just throwing this together on the spot it ran amazingly smooth. I’d just like to see all of us learn from this. If you’re going to teach a course this spring what happened was a fine case study for them to examine. I don’t know if this will be helpful to you at all. I did it mainly to sort things out in my own head. Perhaps it will bring something to light or dispel some of the mystery of what went on.
I’ve been thinking a little on what you might teach in the curriculum. I’ll do a little more research and try and get back to you on that. Until then have fun and take care of your self.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
BASE JUMP IN MOAB UTAH
The Following article appeared in Skydiving Magazine. It was written by long time jumper Donk about Moab and it was so awesome we asked if we could reprint it here. If you are planning on coming to jump in Moab, have a look, there is some very valuable information here.
Respecting Moab (and back country parachuting) - it may not be for everyone
By
Anthony “Donk” DiCola
Contributions by
Jason Bell
Tom Aiello
Jimmy Pouchert
Marta Empinotti
Clint MacBeth
December 3, 2005
After attending the most recent “Turkey Day Boogie” in Moab and given the large number of injuries and reckless attitudes displayed by some of the jumpers, perhaps it is time to draft a short informative paper to better educate first time visitors and provide an outline on how to safely BASE jump in Moab. Much of this information is very basic BASE knowledge, but over the years there have been an increasing and alarming number of preventable incidents and the unfortunate injuries and deaths of some of our BASE jumping brethren. Our relationship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) could turn fragile and the generous gift they have given us, allowing us to use their beautiful parks to fulfill our recreational passion, could be lost if we don’t better respect and self police our activity in their parks. Maybe this guideline and a reminder of how much we should respect the Moab region will help individuals better prepare for their next BASE jumping adventure in Moab.
Moab - what you might not know or probably missed during your adrenaline induced surge to an exit point
Around 200 million years ago, before the Atlantic Ocean came to be, dinosaurs trekked from oasis to oasis across near-infinities of windblown dunes in the great western sand sea of the super-continent, Pangea… just kidding, but Moab is the remains of geological era long past and as many of us can attest, there is feeling of being on another planet when walking across some of the long sandstone rock fins high atop the desert floor surrounded by intricate sandstone patterns and arches, Indian petroglyphs, uniquely placed water holes filled with new life, oddly placed luminescent green pastures, and those very delicate miniature crypto-forests that are the base for all life in this high desert environment. In short Moab is absolutely spectacular and you really should look around and absorb all Mother Nature has created for us…then flick it!
BASE jumping is not the only danger to you in Moab
Enough background on Moab and let’s talk about why we really go there…to BASE jump. The very first thing you will notice when you arrive in Moab is that the entire area looks like a playground to the BASE enthusiast A sandstone sea of 300 to 600 foot shear walls with long sloping taluses that will have your heart pounding with excitement the minute you pull into the valley off Highway 191 or if you came to town from the east and were blown away by the scenery off Highway 128 that rolls along the Colorado River passing by historic land marks like Fisher Towers and Castleton Tower.
But this playground is also deceivingly dangerous to the BASE enthusiast because most of these walls are only 300 to 400 feet high - making object separation very difficult. Huge slopping taluses are filled with dangerous bone breaking boulders ranging from that perfect softball sized ankle breaker to the size of a box car and between which lay jagged sharp flakes from years of tumbledown and natural erosion.
Many of the best jump sites are some distance from basic medical services provided in Moab due to the long hikes over undulating terrain, in long winding canyons, and in very remote areas like Canyonlands National Park. Typically trails or semi improved roads that are accessible by vehicle are nearby but you should still shiver at the thought of carrying one of your broken comrades across this most demanding terrain for even the healthiest biped in good hiking shoes.
Then there is the climate, which is one of the high desert where the temperature can fluctuate from a comfortable 65 degrees mid day to sub freezing in minutes during the fall and late winter or in the summer from an early morning 75 to a deadly mid afternoon 115 degrees. If the novice to Moab is not prepared or times their trip to an exit point poorly they could find themselves in an extremely hostile and unforgiving climate.
These climate fluctuations also create some very turbulent air. The result of desert winds sweeping across the sandstone valley thermals swell up the walls from the heat of the summer rocks, and canyon formations create dangerous rotors in even minimal winds.
And less we not forget about the critters that lie in the huecos or in between the rocks that we are lunging from or holding on to as we make our way to an exit point. Critters are fascinating, but these desert critters can be dangerous. Moab is home to rattlesnakes, a few scorpions, and even black widows. And you might be surprised when reaching for a hand hold or resting on a rock because there could be a midget rattlesnake there which are actually much more poisonous than the huge diamondbacks found in the Eastern United States.
But thousands of people visit Moab annually and “survive” all the natural fun created by the terrain, including climbers, bikers, hikers, motor sports, and nature enthusiast alike but there are certainly some basic safety precautions everyone can take to prepare for a trip to Moab and minimize the risks imposed by both the environment and the sport we love.
Experienced required for Moab - Apex BASE, located in Moab, recommends that jumpers have a minimum of 50 BASE jumps before jumping the cliffs here. But more important than simple numbers is the practice and experience acquired during those jumps. I.e. Not all jumpers with 50 jumps are adequately prepared for jumping in Moab and some with less might be.
To be properly prepared a jumper must have practiced slider down object avoidance, by making slider down bridge jumps and practicing canopy control immediately after opening. Launching in a full floater (facing the bridge) position, a jumper can easily simulate a 180 degree off heading opening, and practice turning the canopy. Whatever your chosen method of turn, you should be able to consistently turn the canopy away before flying under the bridge to be confident that you will be able avoid striking a wall.
• Medical Coverage and life insurance. This is as much for you as it is for your loved ones or the local agency that will eat the cost of a rescue if you do not have any insurance.
• Take basic first aid course – they are cheap, even free and I can’t tell how many times I have found my self in a situation where even the most basic first aid skills helped a potential serious injury.
• Having a first aid kit is a great idea even if it is as small as some sterile gauze an Ace bandage, pain killers, and some antiseptic. Enough to clean a serious wound, improvise a small splint for that compound fracture your friend just got when he slammed into the talus, and could even be used as a make shift tunicate to stop any arterial bleeding induced when that femur ripped through the quadriceps. You can always improvise with a shirt or jacket but if you are looking at hours or even days without help, some antiseptic and your favorite pain killer will go a long way.
• Get some body armor. At a minimum have a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. Recently a lot of the most experienced jumpers are actually wearing full motocross style body armor Dainese body armor for example. If jumpers with 500-1000 jumps are wearing this, it is probably for a good reason.
• Always bring radios. Having a decent set two-way radios, available at any Wal-Mart, will at least keep communication open between your jumping party. Also there is usually a common EMS or BLM frequency you may get lucky with in the event of an emergency but more often than not it is just a great tool to get the “I am OK but don’t land here!” or “the winds were really squirrelly, maybe wait it out some”, from the bozo who just jumped in a 10 mph wind over a landing area you did not walk first. (Yes I have been that bozo too)
• Check cell phone coverage and have a contingency plan if no phone coverage is available or you don’t own one. It may not work but when it does, you will be kissing that cell phone service provider you cuss on a daily basis. There are many sites in Moab where you will have cell phone coverage on top of an exit point but none in the canyon below. Having one person on top with a radio and cell phone relaying emergency information to the local EMS from a radio on the bottom can save life and resources.
• That phone or 10 mile range $300.00 Garmin radio/phone you brought is not going to be worth much if you don’t know who to call (911 is obvious) but knowing the local BLM and EMS numbers and frequencies can greatly improve the type of response. Also having emergency contact numbers for your friends or family will help others help you.
• Bring and/or have access to basic climbing tools. Having a small section of rope, some webbing, or a few slings will really help out on some of those sketchy exposed climbs to an exit point and more importantly help you safely climb back down if you can’t jump.
Personally I carry fairly elaborate climbing bag in my Jeep with 2 60 meter ropes, slings, aiders, jumars, carabineers, cams, ATCs, etc...Basically anything a climber might use to go up a sheer face but is really handy when you have to go down (or up for that matter) to rescue your girlfriend who just had a 180 degree off heading opening, smacked the wall and is dangling by a 6” piece of reinforcement tape 250 feet above the talus.
• And it wouldn’t hurt to spend a few days at a local climbing gym or find a local climbing club tell them what you do and I am sure they will eagerly teach you how to tie proper knots, basic rappelling, climbing and ascending skills.
• Create a utility kit with a few tools, Leatherman, lighter, spare shoelaces, spare batteries, but most importantly have a headlamp or some type of light on your person, especially for those afternoon hikes into some of the deeper canyons. The sun sets quickly and you don’t want to be hiking out in the dark or even worse trying to rescue somebody without any lights.
• This is a BIGGIE- know your own physical limits if you have never hiked, climbed or done much more than sit on your couch waiting for your buddy to get the local elevator working or only do the annual trip to the potato bridge and spend $200.00 with Don the boat guy maybe you shouldn’t be making that 3 mile hike to some remote exit point, and certainly shouldn’t be “thinking” you will be able to climb some “class 5” section or jug a 100’ line if you have never done it before. A great rule of thumb used by hikers and climbers alike is if you are not 100% sure you can climb down, don’t climb up.
To test of your physical fitness when you first arrive in Moab, if you are really itchy for a jump, try that large rock formation reminiscent of something you might find in a graveyard . This is basically a hike to the exit point but if you are sucking wind here you may want to limit your “expeditions” to new exit points this trip.
• Ask a lot of questions before you go, while you are there, and listen to experienced jumpers and if you are not 100% ask again. The more experienced BASE jumpers will actually be more impressed with your concerns, attention to detail, and willingness to learn then they will by watching you flip some catawampus aerial, slam off the wall, then have to be airlifted out ruining everyone’s jumping day and giving the BLM another “bad taste” about BASE jumping.
• Again, if your not current or only have 20 jumps off the potato bridge, Moab is not for you.
Gear Preparation (Most of this is BASE 101 stuff)
• Before you even be make a BASE jump be sure you completely understand the flight characteristic of you canopy particularly your canopies stall point if you have not yet, jump your base canopy from that “safe object” or better yet from an airplane and find out where that stall point is. Know it, be comfortable with it, and even practice riding this point. Some very experienced jumpers have even gone as far as adjusting the “break setting” or “Cats eye loop” placement so that it is at the appropriate point when deploying. To deep and you are in a stall to shallow and you are flying to fast.
• Accuracy approaches and flat turns will get you into the smallest of landing areas Moab has to offer so practice them every time you get under your BASE canopy. I learned a “hard” lesson my first trip to the Cave of the Swallows and Moab is no less forgiving in many of its landing areas.
• Know how to fly and land your canopy using risers only for both heading correction and in the event that you have blown a toggle/s on opening. Riser control is very different and takes practice to get use to.
• Yes, it is a pain in the ass but if you know you are spending a week in Moab take the extra 5 minutes to remove your slider to get better span-wise pressurization and make sure you do a complete line continuity check after removing the slider…actually, do it twice.
• Adjust your toggles for no slider flight meaning once you remove your slider (or reef it down) and the control lines are outside the slider grommet and keeper ring your control plane just changed dramatically and if you do not move your toggles “up” the control line, to compensate for the line “slack” now added, your input and canopy response is going to be considerably slower than before and may impact your ability to react accordingly.
• Stow your toggles properly LRT or whatever nice little acronym you use or your manufacturer advises on how to securely stow your toggles for no slider jumps so that you don’t blow your toggles on opening. Again this is BASE 101 but without the slider if a toggle comes off during deployment you just lost that toggle/s and are probably turning towards the wall.
• Pack with the nose fully exposed and wrapped around the pack tray. I actually pull my nose almost half way over the first fold and completely clear the center cell “inside” so that I can clearly see the lines and risers. This would require a pretty detailed explanation so of you don’t get it please email or ask your BASE manufacture.
• Roll your stabilizers related to above because the only “fabric” you really want catching air initially is that center cell and you especially do not want ether side of the canopy to start inflating or grabbing air causing a rotation.
• Proper PC selection for the delay. If everything in Moab is 300 – 500 feet there really is not much choice here but consult your manufacturer for the proper PC selection for a 1 – 3 second delay. Personally use a 42” PC for everything in Moab and find it to be spot on in that 2-3 second range but all manufactures provide excellent delay/PC/slider recommendation chart.
• When packing, double-check your bridle attachments and be sure the bridal is routed properly once the PC is stowed. Sounds simple but we learn difficult lessons from the experience of others.
On a recent trip to “Eco” oddly enough, I left my 20’ section of rope in the car and we decided to remove and tie our bridles together to get up a sketchy 5.8ish section of the climb (we went the wrong way). Everyone checked, double, and tripled checked the bridal attachments once we got to the exit point.
• Calculating the appropriate delay will really help keep you alive. Try to plan on opening in the “sweet spot” of each object that you jump. The sweet spot is the most ideal, most overhung and/or furthest way from the wall your delay will allow with a good launch BUT still deploying high enough to correct a 180 degree off heading with risers and not landing on the talus.
• Hand held or stowed. PC size and object height are the basic factors but jumper comfort should also help you decide what is best for you remembering that with a stowed deployment there is always the potential for a missed PC, PC hesitation, and even the dreaded bridal knot.
• There are several recommend methods for stowed PCs but the basic premise is to get the PC catching air as quickly as possible and minimize bridal entanglement. Johnny Utah’s “Super Mushroom” is an excellent example but there are other simpler variations.
Now that you have prepared your gear, 100% confident in how it will perform, and fully assessed the jumps before you, it is time to get to the exit point.
• Before you even start off to and exit point, be sure to walk the lading area and look for any and all outs in the event of an off heading opening, wall strike, or brain lock.
• Check the winds. I have seen some people using those handheld Brunton wind meters Not a bad idea but if you are using this to check the winds, it is probably to windy to jump in Moab.
• Make your decisions to jump before you even go to the exit point. If the winds are too high on the ground or even suspect, don’t start up. More often than not, and I am as guilty of it as any, once you are up at the exit point you are more likely than not to jump. It’s much easier to say NO on the ground or in your hotel room than standing on the exit point with a 5-10 mph wind blowing in your face. The old “wait for the lull” mentality will get you hurt or killed. It takes strong character to walk off an exit point especially when faced with the peer pressure of other jumpers “risking it all for nothing” in marginal wind conditions. But when it doubt, don’t jump…the cliffs of Moab are not going anywhere.
• Water and food. Everyone should bring at least one bottle of water and maybe a cliff bar or two for those “known” long hikes to an exit point and especially for those unknown hikes to an exit point where you may be wandering around for hours and get caught in some of those environmental conditions discussed. And you never know when the normal 10 minute roundtrip flick of Mary’s Gash will turn into a six hour rescue off a wall. If you don’t need that food and water, I can assure you the injured jumper (depending on the severity) will.
• Now that you have decided to go make that BASE jump, please follow basic Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hiking rules at all times they are pretty simple. Stay off the cryptobiotic crust. The what? The cryptobiotic crust is the black and brownish crust you see in many low lying areas throughout Moab and is a critical component to the very fragile life of this high desert habitat. So stay off it and try to walk in a single file line (if in a group) and use each others footsteps to minimize our impact on some of the very remote areas we hike and climb.
• Did you remember to bring your first aid kit, radios, lights, ropes, food and water? If not re-read the section on preparation. Having it in the car is not going to do you much good two miles deep in Day Canyon but the car is better than the hotel room or not having one at all.
• Don’t forget your body armor.
• Don’t get lost. GPSs are great if you can afford one but you don’t need it and much of the time when you are down in a canyon you may not be able to receive of enough satellites to triangulate an accurate position if any at all. So bring a map (and maybe compass), understand the terrain, and be able to translate what you see around you to contour lines on a map. This is basic Boy Scout orienteering skills that can be picked up pretty quickly with a little education and practice.
• Related to above, know where you are and how to direct EMS to your location if needed. GPS coordinates are the best, road names and local campsite/canyon names are the second best way. Exit point names are worthless to the rescuers, unless it is Tombstone, which they all know. A helicopter will need latitude/longitude coordinates for immediate reaction/rescue.
• Know your physical limits – SEE ABOVE - don’t climb up what you can’t climb down.
• Again be conscious of the time and the impact on the climate and day light. It gets dark very fast in those canyons and gets dangerously hot by mid day during the summer so plan your hike accordingly. Water, food, lights, etc.
I have had to participate in one rescue where it got so dark by the time the last jumper made it to the exit point that he could not see the LZ and refused to jump. A good call but guess what that meant? The temperature was dropping exponentially and we now had to get lights, climb back up a nasty crevasse then jug a 100’ line to help this jumper get back down because he did not know how to rappel. [Beginning to see how this all comes together]. Fortunately we had access to one incredible climber, ropes, lights, first aid kits, and we were able to get back up to the top and help the jumper back down. And it was a really good thing he did not jump because the next morning when he jumped that same pack job, he blew both toggles (improperly stowed) and had to use a secondary lading area. The site we were jumping the night before did not have a secondary landing area and had he decided jump our little night-light rope adventure probably would have turned into a life or death rescue.
Hopefully you had an uneventful hike or climb to the exit point and took the time to look around and appreciate how amazing the surrounding views are but more importantly were reminded how unforgiving every jump site in Moab is. But you did not come all the way just for the scenery, it is time to jump!
• Check the winds again. See above. When in doubt, don’t whip it out. Keep it in the stash bag and wait for the winds to come down and if they don’t, start your hike back before the environmental conditions catch up to you.
• This may sound ridiculous but please look over the edge before you jump. I have seen dozens of jumpers get up to the exit point, gear up then walk up to the edge and jump. Be sure to check for cars where applicable, hikers, or especially climbers on the wall. Even the smallest rock or loose piece of gear falling 400’ is very dangerous.
• Get a gear check, double check your PC, and if going hand held prepare it properly.
• Take deep breath and prepare to launch. Try to have a strong appropriate attitude launch to get as much separation from the wall as possible.
• Think about maintaining a symmetrical stable body position in freefall with a relaxed smooth movement to deploy your PC.
• For a stowed PC deployment, give the PC a good toss into clean air out and maybe even slightly forward. [Aerials are something completely different and if you have not done one (or like 50) this is not the time to be learning the subtle differences.] When going handheld “place” the PC into clean air with an up and forward motion.
• Be aware of what is happening during canopy deployment. Some people think that watching the canopy it is the best approach. Personally I believe that your body will tell you what you canopy is going to do long before your eyes figure it out. You will feel an asymmetrical deployment, light in the harness, unbalanced forces on your harness. I.e. more pressure on one shoulder than the other, awkward body positions, head high or low, etc and when you feel this you should already be preparing to take evasive action long before the canopy is fully inflated.
• Immediately be reaching for you risers or toggles during line stretch and be ready to deal with the canopy orientation you just gave yourself or Mother Nature dealt you.
• Know what you are going to do about a 180. Riser corrections are a pretty basic emergency procedure taught in most any BASE FJC but some FJC are starting to teach toggle corrections. There has been much debate about toggles or risers and is valid amongst experienced BASE jumpers but all beginners should be intimately familiar with riser corrections.
• Know what you are going to do about a line twist especially when faced with line twists and imminent object strike. You will want to try and reach above the twist and pull on a riser, control lines, or anything to get the canopy turning TO SAVE YOUR LIFE! After you turn the canopy away from the wall, then deal with the twist/s.
I have the video of a jumper in our crew with like 4 full twists climbing up his lines to reach above the twist to get the canopy turning away from the object. This was a slider up jump off a very tall antenna but an excellent example of what needs to be done in this situation.
• Jump within your limits. Moab is not the place to try your first gainer or just because you have done something 10 times at the potato bridge or Bridge Day does not mean it is appropriate here.
Regardless of how much experience, preparation, and skill you have, sh!t can still happen and you will need to execute your BASE emergency procedures immediately. A friend of mine once spoke this to me during my “suspect judgment” days. “You always have options until impact…so use them.” This has saved me from broken bones more than once.
• Let’s not talk about total malfunctions here because if you have one, you are dead! Prepare your gear properly.
• PC hesitations are surprisingly common in BASE but usually clear them selves. The same basic premise applies here as in skydiving do what you can to clear the air after PC deployment and noticeable PC hesitation like dropping a shoulder. Keeping in mind you only have around 4 seconds until impact from most any exit point in Moab. Again, prepare your gear and exit properly.
• Bridal entanglements are also fairly common and the only thing you can do is shake it loose. For the most part it will come clear and maybe take a little flesh with it.
Not really applicable in Moab but a legend in the sport had a reported bridal knot that prevented the PC from fully inflating and was last seen reaching around trying to pull the canopy out of the container. Unfortunately this did not save his life but he was using all options to impact. It is your life, do all you can to save it.
• The most immediate and likely threat in Moab is a cliff strike from an off heading opening. First determine if you have line twists or not and immediately begin executing your “off heading” opening procedures to avoid hitting the wall. (See above)
• If it is inevitable that you are going to hit the wall, brace for impact but try not to be too rigid. Think about absorbing the shock with your legs and pushing back off the wall. Fortunately I have had nothing more than a “brush” with an object but I have seen many jumpers strike the wall and it was their ability to absorb the impact and continue to try and get off the wall that saved them from certain injury or death.
• Always fight to get off the wall it is never too late to be cranking down on both rear risers to stop the forward drive of your canopy.
• Once you have turned the canopy (or not) you are going to hit the ground and most likely in Moab it is going to be on a nasty 45 degree boulder filled talus. Try to fly to a clear spot (if you are actually flying the canopy at all) and the old PLF mantra may come in quite handy. Relax and try to absorb the impact. Look for small outs right up to ground strike. I have and have seen people land in unbelievably small clearings in a sea of boulders that could have been a trip to the ER but walked away.
Even if you did everything possible to get off the wall and get your canopy turned around but find your self dangling precariously by a few lines or some reinforcement tape, or all busted up on a very steep talus, what should you do? First off remain calm and hope that you and your crew have prepared properly. Try to relax and assess your situation and injuries.
• Communicate. If you have your radio (I hope so) radio or shout out your situation. Be concise and clear.
• Minimize your movement and relax as much as possible because your situation is now most likely in the hands of the people you chose to jump with.
• If hanging from the wall self rescue skills will be helpful in Moab. If you are supremely confident and jumped with your section of rope, some webbing, or a sling and maybe smart enough to have a climbing cam or nut, you might be able to at secure yourself in a nearby crack or flake and may even be on a small ledge. Be careful if it is not there or very easy reach (don’t start swinging to reach a ledge) you do not want to work the canopy loose and start falling again. Secure yourself if possible and try to get comfortable in your harness if still hanging in it, and continue to communicate with your jumping party.
• Hopefully you are not alone but if for what ever ludicrous reason you were and if you have prepared properly try using your radio and/or cell phone to contact help. If all else fails, shouting can always get the attention of a nearby hiker or climber.
• Apply basic first aid if you can and are secure. If you have a serious fracture and bleeding profusely use whatever material you have to try and stop the bleeding. If you elect to use a makeshift tunicate be sure to loosen it periodically to avoid losing that limb. If the injury is serious enough you are probably in shock and may not be thinking clearly. When all else fails go back to the “relax and assessment” mode of your situation.
• All you can really do now is to wait for rescue, and “Mari” knows how long that can be.
• Perhaps the most important basic survival is skill is your “will to survive”. You want to live and will need to fight for that right if your injuries are serious enough.
A very experienced BASE jumper once a decided to make a solo jump in another wilderness park (never a good idea especially if you have not told anyone what you are planning and when to expect your return) got caught by some squirrelly winds that induced a 180 degree off heading opening and resulting cliff strike. This jumper ended up with several critical injuries and because he did not tell anyone he was going to jump, spent three days near death in the wilderness alone with a broken back, arms and legs. It was pure will to survive that kept him alive until rescue searchers found him.
Hopefully you are not alone any your jumping party is already working the radios, cell phones, or sent someone for help, and if your party has had planned properly, has the necessary climbing gear nearby and could begin to fix lines and try to rescue or at least secure the situation.
• Much of this work takes serious climbing or rescue skills but with basic climbing training and long enough length of rope/s a line can be lowered to the jumper to at least secure them from a further fall if still hanging from the wall.
There are several ascending / rescue configurations that could be applied in this situation but would require the work of an extremely skilled climber or certified rescue worker. The simplest thing that can be done is to affix one end of the rope to something on top maybe a climbing anchor, a large boulder, a tree, anything that is secure (preferably use two or three anchors and equalize the line that is being lowered using slings or webbing). Then lower the other end to the suspended jumper.
If the group is really prepared and has a carabineer all that needs to be done is clip it into one end of the rope with a basic figure eight knot and if the jumper is conscious enough have them clip that onto the harness or main-lift-web ring.
• If the jumper is not conscious and someone in your party is experienced in rappelling and ascending skills, this same rope (ideally you have two ropes) can be descended down and used secure the jumper, help with first aid if possible, then jug or jumar back up Two ropes are ideal in this situation but it can be done with one.
• Again there are dozens of ways to do the rescue and totally dependent on the situation. Much skill and training is required but even a beginner with some basic training and commonsense can easily “secure” the situation and may even be able to rescue the jumper.
• BUT do not try anything if you are not 100% confident in what you are about to do. Do not turn this situation into a two person rescue. Just GO GET or call for HELP.
Recently there was an incident at a very popular jump site in Moab, two BASE jumpers did an incredible job working a 350’ wall using two ropes, aiders, jumars and other climbing equipment to rescue two jumpers who exercised questionable judgment and were stranded on the wall at different times a mere 20 minutes apart. The first cliff strike was the not so surprising result of a "tard-over" and required an upward extraction using ascenders and ropes to bring the jumper back to the top. The second rescue was from a 90 degree off heading opening with what might have been a half line twist that very slowly turned the jumper into the wall. This jumper bounced off the wall 3 -4 times and came to rest on a ledge about fifty feet from the top of the talus. The jumper was far enough down the wall that he was lowered to a rescue party waiting at the top of the talus who assessed the injuries and then carried this injured jumper all the way down to await life flight.
Both rescues are examples of 100% BASE jumper operations and with first responders (BASE jumper) on sight immediately had it not been for the overzealous actions of a self proclaimed lead paramedic (non BASE jumper) who demanded air support against all other recommendations, no BLM or other rescue agency would have had to be involved.
Hopefully your BASE jumping trip in Moab will not require the use of any of the emergency techniques, survival equipment or emergency procedures and is filled with incredible adventures to memorable exit points with BASE jumps that you will be telling your friends and family about for years to come. BUT it is better to over prepare that not to have prepared at all.
Lastly, always remind yourself that we are visitors to Moab and to respect the area, minimize our impact on the environment, and be sociable and polite with retailers and people from the local community. For the most part all the locals have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for BASE jumpers but bad attitudes, arrogance, and disrespect could quickly change this.
• Since the BLM is kind enough to allow us to legally BASE jump in their parks, take the time to pick up a few flyers and abide by their rules.
• Always watch for and respect other outdoor enthusiast in Moab, especially the climbers. You never know when you are going to need a climber, hiker or that couple out on a mountain bikes to help you out of a bad situation.
• Respect the local officials and business.
• Keep BASE positive and try to minimize the “No sh!t, there I was about to die!” when talking to the local BLM official or some stranger in the local pub. Fortunately Moab is filled with other extreme sports enthusiasts who can appreciate these tails but you never know who you are talking to.
• Rescues cost a lot of money and can be a drain on local and state agencies as well as hurt the reputation and add to the perceived risk of the sport. Too many BASE jumping related injuries and/or rescues will surely end up on some BLM or local official’s desk with a request to assess the safety of our sport.
• And not to mention one of our industries BASE manufactures, APEX BASE, Skydive Moab, and several BASE jumpers call Moab home and everything we do reflects directly on them. They are there representing us year round so when we are there we should be doing everything possible to make them look great.
Proper preparation, training, and the right mentality will make your experience even more enjoyable and safe. Remember you are on your own and need to be extremely self sufficient and be able to rely on yourself and your friends to help out in a potentially life threatening situation. You won’t always have Jimmy, Marta or the “Dude” and “Lee” watching out for you. Most likely you will be in small group and will need to do whatever possible, within your ability, to self rescue, administer first aid, and diffuse a potentially dangerous situation that could jeopardize your health and our future relationship with the BLM.
Climbers are an excellent example of a group who is extremely self-sufficient and very rarely do you here stories of climbers laying around helpless waiting for somebody to come help them. We are all sharing the same playground and if we want to be treated as equals by them as well as the parks services we need to be as self sufficient and respectful of these parks as they are.
Most of all have fun and enjoy Moab because it is truly one of the most breathtaking places on earth but equally important is respecting this environment. Moab can be extremely dangerous but with proper training, exercising good judgment, and self reliance even the most dangerous and horrific accidents can be handled professionally with minimal impact on the environment and the local community. Remember that the National Parks Service use to be tolerant of BASE jumping and we need to use BLM as a shining of example of what the relationship between BASE jumpers and park services can be.
Respecting Moab (and back country parachuting) - it may not be for everyone
By
Anthony “Donk” DiCola
Contributions by
Jason Bell
Tom Aiello
Jimmy Pouchert
Marta Empinotti
Clint MacBeth
December 3, 2005
After attending the most recent “Turkey Day Boogie” in Moab and given the large number of injuries and reckless attitudes displayed by some of the jumpers, perhaps it is time to draft a short informative paper to better educate first time visitors and provide an outline on how to safely BASE jump in Moab. Much of this information is very basic BASE knowledge, but over the years there have been an increasing and alarming number of preventable incidents and the unfortunate injuries and deaths of some of our BASE jumping brethren. Our relationship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) could turn fragile and the generous gift they have given us, allowing us to use their beautiful parks to fulfill our recreational passion, could be lost if we don’t better respect and self police our activity in their parks. Maybe this guideline and a reminder of how much we should respect the Moab region will help individuals better prepare for their next BASE jumping adventure in Moab.
Moab - what you might not know or probably missed during your adrenaline induced surge to an exit point
Around 200 million years ago, before the Atlantic Ocean came to be, dinosaurs trekked from oasis to oasis across near-infinities of windblown dunes in the great western sand sea of the super-continent, Pangea… just kidding, but Moab is the remains of geological era long past and as many of us can attest, there is feeling of being on another planet when walking across some of the long sandstone rock fins high atop the desert floor surrounded by intricate sandstone patterns and arches, Indian petroglyphs, uniquely placed water holes filled with new life, oddly placed luminescent green pastures, and those very delicate miniature crypto-forests that are the base for all life in this high desert environment. In short Moab is absolutely spectacular and you really should look around and absorb all Mother Nature has created for us…then flick it!
BASE jumping is not the only danger to you in Moab
Enough background on Moab and let’s talk about why we really go there…to BASE jump. The very first thing you will notice when you arrive in Moab is that the entire area looks like a playground to the BASE enthusiast A sandstone sea of 300 to 600 foot shear walls with long sloping taluses that will have your heart pounding with excitement the minute you pull into the valley off Highway 191 or if you came to town from the east and were blown away by the scenery off Highway 128 that rolls along the Colorado River passing by historic land marks like Fisher Towers and Castleton Tower.
But this playground is also deceivingly dangerous to the BASE enthusiast because most of these walls are only 300 to 400 feet high - making object separation very difficult. Huge slopping taluses are filled with dangerous bone breaking boulders ranging from that perfect softball sized ankle breaker to the size of a box car and between which lay jagged sharp flakes from years of tumbledown and natural erosion.
Many of the best jump sites are some distance from basic medical services provided in Moab due to the long hikes over undulating terrain, in long winding canyons, and in very remote areas like Canyonlands National Park. Typically trails or semi improved roads that are accessible by vehicle are nearby but you should still shiver at the thought of carrying one of your broken comrades across this most demanding terrain for even the healthiest biped in good hiking shoes.
Then there is the climate, which is one of the high desert where the temperature can fluctuate from a comfortable 65 degrees mid day to sub freezing in minutes during the fall and late winter or in the summer from an early morning 75 to a deadly mid afternoon 115 degrees. If the novice to Moab is not prepared or times their trip to an exit point poorly they could find themselves in an extremely hostile and unforgiving climate.
These climate fluctuations also create some very turbulent air. The result of desert winds sweeping across the sandstone valley thermals swell up the walls from the heat of the summer rocks, and canyon formations create dangerous rotors in even minimal winds.
And less we not forget about the critters that lie in the huecos or in between the rocks that we are lunging from or holding on to as we make our way to an exit point. Critters are fascinating, but these desert critters can be dangerous. Moab is home to rattlesnakes, a few scorpions, and even black widows. And you might be surprised when reaching for a hand hold or resting on a rock because there could be a midget rattlesnake there which are actually much more poisonous than the huge diamondbacks found in the Eastern United States.
But thousands of people visit Moab annually and “survive” all the natural fun created by the terrain, including climbers, bikers, hikers, motor sports, and nature enthusiast alike but there are certainly some basic safety precautions everyone can take to prepare for a trip to Moab and minimize the risks imposed by both the environment and the sport we love.
Experienced required for Moab - Apex BASE, located in Moab, recommends that jumpers have a minimum of 50 BASE jumps before jumping the cliffs here. But more important than simple numbers is the practice and experience acquired during those jumps. I.e. Not all jumpers with 50 jumps are adequately prepared for jumping in Moab and some with less might be.
To be properly prepared a jumper must have practiced slider down object avoidance, by making slider down bridge jumps and practicing canopy control immediately after opening. Launching in a full floater (facing the bridge) position, a jumper can easily simulate a 180 degree off heading opening, and practice turning the canopy. Whatever your chosen method of turn, you should be able to consistently turn the canopy away before flying under the bridge to be confident that you will be able avoid striking a wall.
• Medical Coverage and life insurance. This is as much for you as it is for your loved ones or the local agency that will eat the cost of a rescue if you do not have any insurance.
• Take basic first aid course – they are cheap, even free and I can’t tell how many times I have found my self in a situation where even the most basic first aid skills helped a potential serious injury.
• Having a first aid kit is a great idea even if it is as small as some sterile gauze an Ace bandage, pain killers, and some antiseptic. Enough to clean a serious wound, improvise a small splint for that compound fracture your friend just got when he slammed into the talus, and could even be used as a make shift tunicate to stop any arterial bleeding induced when that femur ripped through the quadriceps. You can always improvise with a shirt or jacket but if you are looking at hours or even days without help, some antiseptic and your favorite pain killer will go a long way.
• Get some body armor. At a minimum have a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. Recently a lot of the most experienced jumpers are actually wearing full motocross style body armor Dainese body armor for example. If jumpers with 500-1000 jumps are wearing this, it is probably for a good reason.
• Always bring radios. Having a decent set two-way radios, available at any Wal-Mart, will at least keep communication open between your jumping party. Also there is usually a common EMS or BLM frequency you may get lucky with in the event of an emergency but more often than not it is just a great tool to get the “I am OK but don’t land here!” or “the winds were really squirrelly, maybe wait it out some”, from the bozo who just jumped in a 10 mph wind over a landing area you did not walk first. (Yes I have been that bozo too)
• Check cell phone coverage and have a contingency plan if no phone coverage is available or you don’t own one. It may not work but when it does, you will be kissing that cell phone service provider you cuss on a daily basis. There are many sites in Moab where you will have cell phone coverage on top of an exit point but none in the canyon below. Having one person on top with a radio and cell phone relaying emergency information to the local EMS from a radio on the bottom can save life and resources.
• That phone or 10 mile range $300.00 Garmin radio/phone you brought is not going to be worth much if you don’t know who to call (911 is obvious) but knowing the local BLM and EMS numbers and frequencies can greatly improve the type of response. Also having emergency contact numbers for your friends or family will help others help you.
• Bring and/or have access to basic climbing tools. Having a small section of rope, some webbing, or a few slings will really help out on some of those sketchy exposed climbs to an exit point and more importantly help you safely climb back down if you can’t jump.
Personally I carry fairly elaborate climbing bag in my Jeep with 2 60 meter ropes, slings, aiders, jumars, carabineers, cams, ATCs, etc...Basically anything a climber might use to go up a sheer face but is really handy when you have to go down (or up for that matter) to rescue your girlfriend who just had a 180 degree off heading opening, smacked the wall and is dangling by a 6” piece of reinforcement tape 250 feet above the talus.
• And it wouldn’t hurt to spend a few days at a local climbing gym or find a local climbing club tell them what you do and I am sure they will eagerly teach you how to tie proper knots, basic rappelling, climbing and ascending skills.
• Create a utility kit with a few tools, Leatherman, lighter, spare shoelaces, spare batteries, but most importantly have a headlamp or some type of light on your person, especially for those afternoon hikes into some of the deeper canyons. The sun sets quickly and you don’t want to be hiking out in the dark or even worse trying to rescue somebody without any lights.
• This is a BIGGIE- know your own physical limits if you have never hiked, climbed or done much more than sit on your couch waiting for your buddy to get the local elevator working or only do the annual trip to the potato bridge and spend $200.00 with Don the boat guy maybe you shouldn’t be making that 3 mile hike to some remote exit point, and certainly shouldn’t be “thinking” you will be able to climb some “class 5” section or jug a 100’ line if you have never done it before. A great rule of thumb used by hikers and climbers alike is if you are not 100% sure you can climb down, don’t climb up.
To test of your physical fitness when you first arrive in Moab, if you are really itchy for a jump, try that large rock formation reminiscent of something you might find in a graveyard . This is basically a hike to the exit point but if you are sucking wind here you may want to limit your “expeditions” to new exit points this trip.
• Ask a lot of questions before you go, while you are there, and listen to experienced jumpers and if you are not 100% ask again. The more experienced BASE jumpers will actually be more impressed with your concerns, attention to detail, and willingness to learn then they will by watching you flip some catawampus aerial, slam off the wall, then have to be airlifted out ruining everyone’s jumping day and giving the BLM another “bad taste” about BASE jumping.
• Again, if your not current or only have 20 jumps off the potato bridge, Moab is not for you.
Gear Preparation (Most of this is BASE 101 stuff)
• Before you even be make a BASE jump be sure you completely understand the flight characteristic of you canopy particularly your canopies stall point if you have not yet, jump your base canopy from that “safe object” or better yet from an airplane and find out where that stall point is. Know it, be comfortable with it, and even practice riding this point. Some very experienced jumpers have even gone as far as adjusting the “break setting” or “Cats eye loop” placement so that it is at the appropriate point when deploying. To deep and you are in a stall to shallow and you are flying to fast.
• Accuracy approaches and flat turns will get you into the smallest of landing areas Moab has to offer so practice them every time you get under your BASE canopy. I learned a “hard” lesson my first trip to the Cave of the Swallows and Moab is no less forgiving in many of its landing areas.
• Know how to fly and land your canopy using risers only for both heading correction and in the event that you have blown a toggle/s on opening. Riser control is very different and takes practice to get use to.
• Yes, it is a pain in the ass but if you know you are spending a week in Moab take the extra 5 minutes to remove your slider to get better span-wise pressurization and make sure you do a complete line continuity check after removing the slider…actually, do it twice.
• Adjust your toggles for no slider flight meaning once you remove your slider (or reef it down) and the control lines are outside the slider grommet and keeper ring your control plane just changed dramatically and if you do not move your toggles “up” the control line, to compensate for the line “slack” now added, your input and canopy response is going to be considerably slower than before and may impact your ability to react accordingly.
• Stow your toggles properly LRT or whatever nice little acronym you use or your manufacturer advises on how to securely stow your toggles for no slider jumps so that you don’t blow your toggles on opening. Again this is BASE 101 but without the slider if a toggle comes off during deployment you just lost that toggle/s and are probably turning towards the wall.
• Pack with the nose fully exposed and wrapped around the pack tray. I actually pull my nose almost half way over the first fold and completely clear the center cell “inside” so that I can clearly see the lines and risers. This would require a pretty detailed explanation so of you don’t get it please email or ask your BASE manufacture.
• Roll your stabilizers related to above because the only “fabric” you really want catching air initially is that center cell and you especially do not want ether side of the canopy to start inflating or grabbing air causing a rotation.
• Proper PC selection for the delay. If everything in Moab is 300 – 500 feet there really is not much choice here but consult your manufacturer for the proper PC selection for a 1 – 3 second delay. Personally use a 42” PC for everything in Moab and find it to be spot on in that 2-3 second range but all manufactures provide excellent delay/PC/slider recommendation chart.
• When packing, double-check your bridle attachments and be sure the bridal is routed properly once the PC is stowed. Sounds simple but we learn difficult lessons from the experience of others.
On a recent trip to “Eco” oddly enough, I left my 20’ section of rope in the car and we decided to remove and tie our bridles together to get up a sketchy 5.8ish section of the climb (we went the wrong way). Everyone checked, double, and tripled checked the bridal attachments once we got to the exit point.
• Calculating the appropriate delay will really help keep you alive. Try to plan on opening in the “sweet spot” of each object that you jump. The sweet spot is the most ideal, most overhung and/or furthest way from the wall your delay will allow with a good launch BUT still deploying high enough to correct a 180 degree off heading with risers and not landing on the talus.
• Hand held or stowed. PC size and object height are the basic factors but jumper comfort should also help you decide what is best for you remembering that with a stowed deployment there is always the potential for a missed PC, PC hesitation, and even the dreaded bridal knot.
• There are several recommend methods for stowed PCs but the basic premise is to get the PC catching air as quickly as possible and minimize bridal entanglement. Johnny Utah’s “Super Mushroom” is an excellent example but there are other simpler variations.
Now that you have prepared your gear, 100% confident in how it will perform, and fully assessed the jumps before you, it is time to get to the exit point.
• Before you even start off to and exit point, be sure to walk the lading area and look for any and all outs in the event of an off heading opening, wall strike, or brain lock.
• Check the winds. I have seen some people using those handheld Brunton wind meters Not a bad idea but if you are using this to check the winds, it is probably to windy to jump in Moab.
• Make your decisions to jump before you even go to the exit point. If the winds are too high on the ground or even suspect, don’t start up. More often than not, and I am as guilty of it as any, once you are up at the exit point you are more likely than not to jump. It’s much easier to say NO on the ground or in your hotel room than standing on the exit point with a 5-10 mph wind blowing in your face. The old “wait for the lull” mentality will get you hurt or killed. It takes strong character to walk off an exit point especially when faced with the peer pressure of other jumpers “risking it all for nothing” in marginal wind conditions. But when it doubt, don’t jump…the cliffs of Moab are not going anywhere.
• Water and food. Everyone should bring at least one bottle of water and maybe a cliff bar or two for those “known” long hikes to an exit point and especially for those unknown hikes to an exit point where you may be wandering around for hours and get caught in some of those environmental conditions discussed. And you never know when the normal 10 minute roundtrip flick of Mary’s Gash will turn into a six hour rescue off a wall. If you don’t need that food and water, I can assure you the injured jumper (depending on the severity) will.
• Now that you have decided to go make that BASE jump, please follow basic Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hiking rules at all times they are pretty simple. Stay off the cryptobiotic crust. The what? The cryptobiotic crust is the black and brownish crust you see in many low lying areas throughout Moab and is a critical component to the very fragile life of this high desert habitat. So stay off it and try to walk in a single file line (if in a group) and use each others footsteps to minimize our impact on some of the very remote areas we hike and climb.
• Did you remember to bring your first aid kit, radios, lights, ropes, food and water? If not re-read the section on preparation. Having it in the car is not going to do you much good two miles deep in Day Canyon but the car is better than the hotel room or not having one at all.
• Don’t forget your body armor.
• Don’t get lost. GPSs are great if you can afford one but you don’t need it and much of the time when you are down in a canyon you may not be able to receive of enough satellites to triangulate an accurate position if any at all. So bring a map (and maybe compass), understand the terrain, and be able to translate what you see around you to contour lines on a map. This is basic Boy Scout orienteering skills that can be picked up pretty quickly with a little education and practice.
• Related to above, know where you are and how to direct EMS to your location if needed. GPS coordinates are the best, road names and local campsite/canyon names are the second best way. Exit point names are worthless to the rescuers, unless it is Tombstone, which they all know. A helicopter will need latitude/longitude coordinates for immediate reaction/rescue.
• Know your physical limits – SEE ABOVE - don’t climb up what you can’t climb down.
• Again be conscious of the time and the impact on the climate and day light. It gets dark very fast in those canyons and gets dangerously hot by mid day during the summer so plan your hike accordingly. Water, food, lights, etc.
I have had to participate in one rescue where it got so dark by the time the last jumper made it to the exit point that he could not see the LZ and refused to jump. A good call but guess what that meant? The temperature was dropping exponentially and we now had to get lights, climb back up a nasty crevasse then jug a 100’ line to help this jumper get back down because he did not know how to rappel. [Beginning to see how this all comes together]. Fortunately we had access to one incredible climber, ropes, lights, first aid kits, and we were able to get back up to the top and help the jumper back down. And it was a really good thing he did not jump because the next morning when he jumped that same pack job, he blew both toggles (improperly stowed) and had to use a secondary lading area. The site we were jumping the night before did not have a secondary landing area and had he decided jump our little night-light rope adventure probably would have turned into a life or death rescue.
Hopefully you had an uneventful hike or climb to the exit point and took the time to look around and appreciate how amazing the surrounding views are but more importantly were reminded how unforgiving every jump site in Moab is. But you did not come all the way just for the scenery, it is time to jump!
• Check the winds again. See above. When in doubt, don’t whip it out. Keep it in the stash bag and wait for the winds to come down and if they don’t, start your hike back before the environmental conditions catch up to you.
• This may sound ridiculous but please look over the edge before you jump. I have seen dozens of jumpers get up to the exit point, gear up then walk up to the edge and jump. Be sure to check for cars where applicable, hikers, or especially climbers on the wall. Even the smallest rock or loose piece of gear falling 400’ is very dangerous.
• Get a gear check, double check your PC, and if going hand held prepare it properly.
• Take deep breath and prepare to launch. Try to have a strong appropriate attitude launch to get as much separation from the wall as possible.
• Think about maintaining a symmetrical stable body position in freefall with a relaxed smooth movement to deploy your PC.
• For a stowed PC deployment, give the PC a good toss into clean air out and maybe even slightly forward. [Aerials are something completely different and if you have not done one (or like 50) this is not the time to be learning the subtle differences.] When going handheld “place” the PC into clean air with an up and forward motion.
• Be aware of what is happening during canopy deployment. Some people think that watching the canopy it is the best approach. Personally I believe that your body will tell you what you canopy is going to do long before your eyes figure it out. You will feel an asymmetrical deployment, light in the harness, unbalanced forces on your harness. I.e. more pressure on one shoulder than the other, awkward body positions, head high or low, etc and when you feel this you should already be preparing to take evasive action long before the canopy is fully inflated.
• Immediately be reaching for you risers or toggles during line stretch and be ready to deal with the canopy orientation you just gave yourself or Mother Nature dealt you.
• Know what you are going to do about a 180. Riser corrections are a pretty basic emergency procedure taught in most any BASE FJC but some FJC are starting to teach toggle corrections. There has been much debate about toggles or risers and is valid amongst experienced BASE jumpers but all beginners should be intimately familiar with riser corrections.
• Know what you are going to do about a line twist especially when faced with line twists and imminent object strike. You will want to try and reach above the twist and pull on a riser, control lines, or anything to get the canopy turning TO SAVE YOUR LIFE! After you turn the canopy away from the wall, then deal with the twist/s.
I have the video of a jumper in our crew with like 4 full twists climbing up his lines to reach above the twist to get the canopy turning away from the object. This was a slider up jump off a very tall antenna but an excellent example of what needs to be done in this situation.
• Jump within your limits. Moab is not the place to try your first gainer or just because you have done something 10 times at the potato bridge or Bridge Day does not mean it is appropriate here.
Regardless of how much experience, preparation, and skill you have, sh!t can still happen and you will need to execute your BASE emergency procedures immediately. A friend of mine once spoke this to me during my “suspect judgment” days. “You always have options until impact…so use them.” This has saved me from broken bones more than once.
• Let’s not talk about total malfunctions here because if you have one, you are dead! Prepare your gear properly.
• PC hesitations are surprisingly common in BASE but usually clear them selves. The same basic premise applies here as in skydiving do what you can to clear the air after PC deployment and noticeable PC hesitation like dropping a shoulder. Keeping in mind you only have around 4 seconds until impact from most any exit point in Moab. Again, prepare your gear and exit properly.
• Bridal entanglements are also fairly common and the only thing you can do is shake it loose. For the most part it will come clear and maybe take a little flesh with it.
Not really applicable in Moab but a legend in the sport had a reported bridal knot that prevented the PC from fully inflating and was last seen reaching around trying to pull the canopy out of the container. Unfortunately this did not save his life but he was using all options to impact. It is your life, do all you can to save it.
• The most immediate and likely threat in Moab is a cliff strike from an off heading opening. First determine if you have line twists or not and immediately begin executing your “off heading” opening procedures to avoid hitting the wall. (See above)
• If it is inevitable that you are going to hit the wall, brace for impact but try not to be too rigid. Think about absorbing the shock with your legs and pushing back off the wall. Fortunately I have had nothing more than a “brush” with an object but I have seen many jumpers strike the wall and it was their ability to absorb the impact and continue to try and get off the wall that saved them from certain injury or death.
• Always fight to get off the wall it is never too late to be cranking down on both rear risers to stop the forward drive of your canopy.
• Once you have turned the canopy (or not) you are going to hit the ground and most likely in Moab it is going to be on a nasty 45 degree boulder filled talus. Try to fly to a clear spot (if you are actually flying the canopy at all) and the old PLF mantra may come in quite handy. Relax and try to absorb the impact. Look for small outs right up to ground strike. I have and have seen people land in unbelievably small clearings in a sea of boulders that could have been a trip to the ER but walked away.
Even if you did everything possible to get off the wall and get your canopy turned around but find your self dangling precariously by a few lines or some reinforcement tape, or all busted up on a very steep talus, what should you do? First off remain calm and hope that you and your crew have prepared properly. Try to relax and assess your situation and injuries.
• Communicate. If you have your radio (I hope so) radio or shout out your situation. Be concise and clear.
• Minimize your movement and relax as much as possible because your situation is now most likely in the hands of the people you chose to jump with.
• If hanging from the wall self rescue skills will be helpful in Moab. If you are supremely confident and jumped with your section of rope, some webbing, or a sling and maybe smart enough to have a climbing cam or nut, you might be able to at secure yourself in a nearby crack or flake and may even be on a small ledge. Be careful if it is not there or very easy reach (don’t start swinging to reach a ledge) you do not want to work the canopy loose and start falling again. Secure yourself if possible and try to get comfortable in your harness if still hanging in it, and continue to communicate with your jumping party.
• Hopefully you are not alone but if for what ever ludicrous reason you were and if you have prepared properly try using your radio and/or cell phone to contact help. If all else fails, shouting can always get the attention of a nearby hiker or climber.
• Apply basic first aid if you can and are secure. If you have a serious fracture and bleeding profusely use whatever material you have to try and stop the bleeding. If you elect to use a makeshift tunicate be sure to loosen it periodically to avoid losing that limb. If the injury is serious enough you are probably in shock and may not be thinking clearly. When all else fails go back to the “relax and assessment” mode of your situation.
• All you can really do now is to wait for rescue, and “Mari” knows how long that can be.
• Perhaps the most important basic survival is skill is your “will to survive”. You want to live and will need to fight for that right if your injuries are serious enough.
A very experienced BASE jumper once a decided to make a solo jump in another wilderness park (never a good idea especially if you have not told anyone what you are planning and when to expect your return) got caught by some squirrelly winds that induced a 180 degree off heading opening and resulting cliff strike. This jumper ended up with several critical injuries and because he did not tell anyone he was going to jump, spent three days near death in the wilderness alone with a broken back, arms and legs. It was pure will to survive that kept him alive until rescue searchers found him.
Hopefully you are not alone any your jumping party is already working the radios, cell phones, or sent someone for help, and if your party has had planned properly, has the necessary climbing gear nearby and could begin to fix lines and try to rescue or at least secure the situation.
• Much of this work takes serious climbing or rescue skills but with basic climbing training and long enough length of rope/s a line can be lowered to the jumper to at least secure them from a further fall if still hanging from the wall.
There are several ascending / rescue configurations that could be applied in this situation but would require the work of an extremely skilled climber or certified rescue worker. The simplest thing that can be done is to affix one end of the rope to something on top maybe a climbing anchor, a large boulder, a tree, anything that is secure (preferably use two or three anchors and equalize the line that is being lowered using slings or webbing). Then lower the other end to the suspended jumper.
If the group is really prepared and has a carabineer all that needs to be done is clip it into one end of the rope with a basic figure eight knot and if the jumper is conscious enough have them clip that onto the harness or main-lift-web ring.
• If the jumper is not conscious and someone in your party is experienced in rappelling and ascending skills, this same rope (ideally you have two ropes) can be descended down and used secure the jumper, help with first aid if possible, then jug or jumar back up Two ropes are ideal in this situation but it can be done with one.
• Again there are dozens of ways to do the rescue and totally dependent on the situation. Much skill and training is required but even a beginner with some basic training and commonsense can easily “secure” the situation and may even be able to rescue the jumper.
• BUT do not try anything if you are not 100% confident in what you are about to do. Do not turn this situation into a two person rescue. Just GO GET or call for HELP.
Recently there was an incident at a very popular jump site in Moab, two BASE jumpers did an incredible job working a 350’ wall using two ropes, aiders, jumars and other climbing equipment to rescue two jumpers who exercised questionable judgment and were stranded on the wall at different times a mere 20 minutes apart. The first cliff strike was the not so surprising result of a "tard-over" and required an upward extraction using ascenders and ropes to bring the jumper back to the top. The second rescue was from a 90 degree off heading opening with what might have been a half line twist that very slowly turned the jumper into the wall. This jumper bounced off the wall 3 -4 times and came to rest on a ledge about fifty feet from the top of the talus. The jumper was far enough down the wall that he was lowered to a rescue party waiting at the top of the talus who assessed the injuries and then carried this injured jumper all the way down to await life flight.
Both rescues are examples of 100% BASE jumper operations and with first responders (BASE jumper) on sight immediately had it not been for the overzealous actions of a self proclaimed lead paramedic (non BASE jumper) who demanded air support against all other recommendations, no BLM or other rescue agency would have had to be involved.
Hopefully your BASE jumping trip in Moab will not require the use of any of the emergency techniques, survival equipment or emergency procedures and is filled with incredible adventures to memorable exit points with BASE jumps that you will be telling your friends and family about for years to come. BUT it is better to over prepare that not to have prepared at all.
Lastly, always remind yourself that we are visitors to Moab and to respect the area, minimize our impact on the environment, and be sociable and polite with retailers and people from the local community. For the most part all the locals have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for BASE jumpers but bad attitudes, arrogance, and disrespect could quickly change this.
• Since the BLM is kind enough to allow us to legally BASE jump in their parks, take the time to pick up a few flyers and abide by their rules.
• Always watch for and respect other outdoor enthusiast in Moab, especially the climbers. You never know when you are going to need a climber, hiker or that couple out on a mountain bikes to help you out of a bad situation.
• Respect the local officials and business.
• Keep BASE positive and try to minimize the “No sh!t, there I was about to die!” when talking to the local BLM official or some stranger in the local pub. Fortunately Moab is filled with other extreme sports enthusiasts who can appreciate these tails but you never know who you are talking to.
• Rescues cost a lot of money and can be a drain on local and state agencies as well as hurt the reputation and add to the perceived risk of the sport. Too many BASE jumping related injuries and/or rescues will surely end up on some BLM or local official’s desk with a request to assess the safety of our sport.
• And not to mention one of our industries BASE manufactures, APEX BASE, Skydive Moab, and several BASE jumpers call Moab home and everything we do reflects directly on them. They are there representing us year round so when we are there we should be doing everything possible to make them look great.
Proper preparation, training, and the right mentality will make your experience even more enjoyable and safe. Remember you are on your own and need to be extremely self sufficient and be able to rely on yourself and your friends to help out in a potentially life threatening situation. You won’t always have Jimmy, Marta or the “Dude” and “Lee” watching out for you. Most likely you will be in small group and will need to do whatever possible, within your ability, to self rescue, administer first aid, and diffuse a potentially dangerous situation that could jeopardize your health and our future relationship with the BLM.
Climbers are an excellent example of a group who is extremely self-sufficient and very rarely do you here stories of climbers laying around helpless waiting for somebody to come help them. We are all sharing the same playground and if we want to be treated as equals by them as well as the parks services we need to be as self sufficient and respectful of these parks as they are.
Most of all have fun and enjoy Moab because it is truly one of the most breathtaking places on earth but equally important is respecting this environment. Moab can be extremely dangerous but with proper training, exercising good judgment, and self reliance even the most dangerous and horrific accidents can be handled professionally with minimal impact on the environment and the local community. Remember that the National Parks Service use to be tolerant of BASE jumping and we need to use BLM as a shining of example of what the relationship between BASE jumpers and park services can be.
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