Base Jumping

[JaapSuter]

Hi,

The big wall in Squamish has been base jumped on several occasions and I would like to your opinions about this. The base jumping scene in southern BC and Washington is growing and it is only a matter of time before people will come back to that wall to find new exit points.

In Washington there is a popular route (Green Drag On) that is being jumped regularly. There the jumpers yell down before they jump so climbers can be prepared. The two sports seem to co-exist in peace.

Do you have any thoughts on how the Squamish big wall can best accomodate base jumpers? Should there be a dialogue with the climbers? Does anybody have any beta on potential exit points? Would climbers prefer if they stayed away all together?

Thanks,

Jaap Suter - Climber and Base Jumper

[Clive kessler]

In Thailand I had base jumpers come down right over my head... didn't make a difference and it looked kinda cool. Go for it.

[MCpl]

Go for it. Just try not to slam into me when the winds blow you back into the wall.

[JaapSuter]

Wow, thanks guys. That's a much different reaction that what some base jumpers have to face in other parts of the world.

MCpl brings up a good point though:

Just try not to slam into me when the winds blow you back into the wall.

However unlikely that is, there is always a small chance it might happen. We don't like to jump cliffs when it's windy, but even on a zero wind day the canopy could still open 180 degrees off heading.

Being a climber myself, I can't image being too happy about having a canopy clip me when I'm halfway up a pitch, causing a fall or worse; an injury.

Not sure how to best deal with this, aside from avoiding jumps when there are climbers on the wall, making sure you open your canopy below where the climbers are, and finding exit points that don't overlap with climbing routes.

Thanks guys.

Cheers,

Jaap

[MCpl]

The only reason I said what I said is because I was told by some jumpers and some guys that hand-glide of the top that the winds are a real issue atop the chief.

Good luck anyways.