BASE jumping in Moab
BASE jumping has a history in Moab dating back to the late 1980s, and after multiple generations of jumpers, it is safe to say that our community is under the microscope now more than ever. The BASE community has grown larger than most ever imagined it would and now Moab sees more jumpers flooding the area than it’s prepared to handle. Like each generation before it, this generation of jumpers has an obstacle course to navigate; figure out how to minimize the impact that our increasingly popular activity has on a small town or we risk losing the BASE Mecca that is Moab.
This year we have had three fatalities in six months–that’s as many BASE fatalities as the previous 30 years in Moab and November (our busiest month) is just starting. And it’s not just fatalities: Moab has seen an increase in avoidable accidents linked to a clear decrease in jumpers’ preparedness. BASE jumping claims a long tradition of self-regulation, but it seems that jumping in Moab is leaning towards being completely unregulated. In the spirit of BASE, that sounds fantastic. How that actually plays out over a long enough time almost always leads to governing bodies regulating or prohibiting BASE jumping. We need to understand that our actions now dictate what we can and cannot do around Moab in the not-so-distant future.
The majority of the land around Moab is public land governed by the Bureau of Land Management. This federal land designation is the least regulated of all public lands, which is why we can legally BASE jump on BLM land but not in National Parks. BLM does their best to manage the land with as few rules as possible. They even support us and publicly claim that “BASE jumping is a completely valid use of public lands.” BLM has gone out of their way to work with BASE jumpers.
That sounds great, so what is the problem? The problem is that as more jumpers come to BASE jump on this BLM land, there are more accidents: Accidents that require this small town to use resources to rescue and recover jumpers. These rescues and recoveries not only tally up large bills, they take police officers, EMS workers, Search and Rescue teams, ambulances, helicopters, and other resources out of commission for periods of time. They leave residents of Moab without the support of their own resources, tax dollars, and public servants. And if there is enough pressure on BLM by the city to restrict BASE jumping, we might lose access to this land.
Love it or hate it, BASE jumping is very polarizing (I tend to believe BASE jumpers love it). For those of us who BASE jump it seems like we shouldn’t have to justify it. But for those who don’t, it is easier to judge, deny, and prohibit it rather than try to understand it. It is safe to assume that most people do not understand jumping, so the more that we pop up on their radar for the wrong reasons, the more likely we are to be met with the previously listed actions.
So how do we continue to jump in Moab and navigate these issues?
● USARA Cards: Moving forward, jumpers should be required to have a $25 Utah Search and Rescue Assistance Card. Having these cards covers the cost of rescues and prevents jumpers or the city of Moab from being left with massive tabs. After a recent costly recovery, a police officer asked me why we don’t all have them, I was left wondering the same. It seems like a simple, smart solution that also shows Moab and SAR we are trying to work with them. Sign up here!
● Experience: Moab has long been a bucket list destination for BASE jumpers, but it is NOT the next notch on your belt after your first BASE course. Have the appropriate amount of skydives and be confident that you have trained appropriately for BASE jumping in Moab. Having 50-100 BASE jumps focused on advancing your skill and knowledge of BASE is encouraged before your first jump here. It is true there isn't a magic number that will make you safe, but preparation is the only sustainable way forward.
● Leadership: BASE jumpers love to pretend to be a big F-’ing deal on social media, but most of us shy away from moments that define real leadership. We need more people that gather their own information accurately, encourage safety, share skills, and serve as examples for what responsible BASE jumping looks like. If you don’t feel ready or compelled to be a leader, choose the leader you follow wisely.
● Be prepared for jumping in Moab: Being prepared is more than just BASE training, it means being prepared for an adventure in the high desert and everything that comes with it. The attempt to be better prepared never ends. Far too many jumpers are showing up with absolutely no idea where they are or what they are doing–this is a giant roll of the dice for BASE jumping.
● Be self-reliant/self-rescue: For many years Moab BASE jumpers prided themselves on their ability to self-rescue. While it is true that jumpers may not be able to self-rescue in all scenarios, we must operate with the idea of self-rescue being the goal if things go wrong. Jumpers must accept that jumping in Moab comes with the likelihood of experiencing trauma. Recoveries and rescues are exhausting physically and emotionally. BASE jumpers love to feel like they’re total badasses: When it is time to really be badass, RISE TO THE OCCASION. If you are not truly ready for this, you are definitely not ready for Moab! Calling in a Search and Rescue effort is something that takes hours and costs lots of money. Hitting a ‘Spot’ or ‘InReach’ button is NOT a magic transmission. I am tired of watching jumpers expect local crews to work miracles while they sit back weeping and drinking beers.
● Minimize jumpers that visit the area: While I do not anticipate we will have much success with this, it needs to be listed because if there were no BASE jumpers in Moab, BASE jumping in Moab would not be at risk. If we have minimal success minimizing the amount of jumpers, then we should focus on minimizing our impact on Moab. Clean up Swanny Park on days that it is overrun by vans and parachutes! Don’t have an obnoxious presence at Mineral Bottom, Tombstone, or anywhere else. Don’t let packing areas take over parking lots.
● Follow the few rules that exist!: Do not land on the roads. Do not park or drive in areas that are not established. Pack out what you pack in, including human waste. In short: leave no trace.
● Know where you are at in your BASE career: It seems young and old jumpers' egos will forever play a game of cat and mouse. Young jumpers are always knocking the more weathered, less modern jumpers. Old jumpers can not unsee the ignorance and overconfidence young jumpers have and are completely blind to. The truth is, the generations are stronger together than they are apart. While I do not know how to perfectly mend generational awareness, I do caution each generation: Newer jumpers – If you have been jumping in the ballpark of five years, it is tough to imagine, but you simply do not see the big picture yet. That’s ok, none of us did! The good news, you're in the heart of some of the most fun years of jumping. Be humble. Do not let pride be a part of your jumping. Learn! There is no reason to pretend you know everything. You don’t and that’s ok. Seasoned jumpers – Be ok with having your younger years behind you. Just because you see some “kid” doing something does not mean you can follow. They are probably more motivated, more current, and in their prime. Moab has had a number of accidents involving seasoned jumpers showing up and thinking they are going to pull off a jump that ended up going poorly. Inexperienced jumpers have been getting hurt here for decades, but the number of avoidable incidents to experienced jumpers is on the rise.
● First trip = ground crew: An old tradition in BASE was going on a trip knowing you weren’t going to jump, you were going to learn. This approach seems way more beneficial to both the jumper and to the longevity of BASE.
● Radios: If you’re coming to Moab, have a radio. Even better, have multiple radios. Radios are the most powerful, yet most underutilized tool that we have. If you break every guideline stated above, a radio is the best way to bail yourself out. It is the quickest way to get help or information. Once you're in the habit of having a radio, it is also a lot of fun.
The truth is that BASE jumping is easy and anyone can do it. As Miles Dashier proved long ago, a bag of dog food can survive a BASE jump. That being said, not everyone should do it. It is even more true that not every BASE jumper belongs in Moab. Sure, you can find examples of people who broke all of the above guidelines and are fine. People have done the exact opposite and survived (right now someone is scoffing about this entire article because it was them). The purpose of this article is not to help jumpers survive, it is to ensure that BASE jumping in Moab survives. In the end, there is no one to enforce these rules, for now. Be a part of the tradition of self-regulation that jumpers have long been privileged before we lose that privilege.
I fear that the notion of self-regulation, like many BASE traditions, is dead. It's easy to think, “times have changed, bro. It’s just not like that anymore. You're being nostalgic about ‘the good old days.’” My sincerest wish is that BASE jumpers find the courage they love to claim and use it to self-regulate. Jumpers should take pride in this. Not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it protects BASE Meccas from the carnival that BASE has become. We need to get comfortable protecting Moab and stop shying away from things that are clearly wrong.
So what does self-regulation look like? Are we going to chase each other around telling one another how to jump? I fucking hope not, I am already married. Initially self-regulation was; (1) regulating who was let into BASE and (2) stopping jumpers from behaviors that were against the greater good or longevity of the activity. Jumpers are confident and creative, they should rely on those traits to declare what self-regulation is to this generation. It doesn’t have to be confrontational or abrasive. Leadership is unequivocally the most powerful tool that jumpers should employ. If that doesn’t work, this is BASE jumping, we make the rules. Popping pins, not letting any moron that can do a tandem skydive BASE jump, a bit of well-planned shit talk, taking gear, not sharing objects, and the good old fashioned tar-n-feathering (yes, it actually happened) sure worked well once upon a time. Perhaps, it is more simple though. Self-regulation is simply standing up or speaking up for what is right. At the end of the day, none of us have all the answers, but we can not sit back and do nothing and expect BASE meccas to be around forever.
I believe that it is possible to have the best of both worlds; all the chaos that BASE jumpers love while also putting effort into protecting BASE jumping. BASE jumping in Moab cannot maintain the track it is on. It’s true, there have never been rules in BASE, but it absolutely has been regulated.
