No. 36 CFR 2.17a3 explicitly states that parachuting may be allowed pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit
Has a permit been issued for parachuting from a mountain in a National Park in the past 20 years?
No. All permit applications to date have been rejected, including permit applications for paragliding. See history here.
The one exception to this is a permit that is granted for a special event Bridge Day that takes place at the New River Gorge Bridge for one day each year. This event predates the New River Gorge bridge being within a National Park.
What are the safety stats for the one day of permitted BASE jumping that takes place in a United States National Park?
At the 2024 Bridge Day Event 325 BASE jumpers completed 755 BASE jumps with zero injuries. There were two non-jumper related medical transports for spectators on the bridge.
Why does the NPS claim that BASE needs to go through a park planning process in various responses?
It's unclear. Climbing has never gone through a comprehensive formal park planning process but is allowed. Most activities that take place in a national park have not gone through a comprehensive formal park planning process before being allowed: backcountry skiing, roller blading, bicycling, juggling, fly fishing, high-lining, skateboarding, hiking, horseback riding
Has a bystander ever been killed or injured as the result of a BASE jump?
No
Has a study ever been conducted showing BASE jumpers have a negative impact on wildlife or the environment?
No such study exists or has ever been cited by the government
How many BASE jumping fatalities were there in the United States in 2023?
0
How does BASE jumping compare to hang-gliding in terms of statistical risk?
USA Hang Gliding has a fatality rate of 1 fatality per thousands participants. USA BASE jumping has a fatality rate of 2 fatalities per thousand participants.
Do BASE jumpers have a culture of following rules and regulations?
Yes! The most successful model for regulated jumping in the world is in Switzerland. Jumpers in Switzerland call local heliports before each jump and pay for a landing card that subsidizes local farmers whose fields they use. This system has worked well for the past 20 years and you can learn more about it at the Swiss BASE Association. Most American jumpers travel to Switzerland each year for access to safe legal jumps.
BASE jumping has a large veteran community. One of the largest fundraising events of the year within the BASE community is by a veteran non-profit 22 Jumps.
What region/area has the most BASE jumps completed per year in the United States?
Moab, Utah
How many BASE fatalities does Moab have on average per year over the past 20 years?
How many climbing fatalities are there on average per year in Yosemite National Park?
Has Yosemite National Park ever completed a park planning process to designate climbing an appropriate activity?
No
Has Yosemite National Park ever completed a park planning process to designate backcountry skiing an appropriate activity?
No
How much money do the National Park Services spend to prevent BASE jumpers from accessing Yosemite National Park per year?
How many criminal BASE jumping cases are pending today in Yosemite court?
As of January 2024, there are four pending BASE jumping cases in Yosemite court: USA vs Nunn, USA vs Madl, USA vs Brokemond, USA vs Hennage
What would be the annual forecasted SAR expenditure on BASE jumpers in Yosemite (click here to see methodology for forecast)?
Is it possible to impact the number of fatalities with rules guiding how jumping must be conducted?
Yes. Chamonix banned the two jumps in town that are accessible by cable car in 2016 and has not seen a single BASE jumping fatality since. Our Yosemite proposal would call for no jumps to be allowed from Glacier Point, the one jump in Yosemite that does not require a hike.
It's worth noting that there has only ever been 1 fatality in the history of the activity in New Zealand. All popular New Zealand jumps require a minimum 4-hour approach. Jumping locations that require long hikes have very low -- close to zero -- volume of incidents.
How do the National Parks handle BASE jumpers caught jumping without a permit?
BASE jumpers are charged with a federal misdemeanor. There exists no possibility for expungement for federal misdemeanors. In addition to a permanent federal criminal record, jumpers are issued a $5000 fine and sometimes banned from the National Parks.
Multiple jumpers have been given prison time in addition to a fine; in 2024 in USA vs Kempf, an El Cap jumper was sentenced to 7 days in prison. In one egregious case, Yosemite motioned for the court to expand the length of a jumper's sentence after the jumper had already served 20 days in prison