FYI – I tried to register for the webinars but that page was not “hot” to accept registrations. Sigh.

Tioga Rd is now really, really closed. Really. The park got tired of opening & closing with good/bad weather. It’s closed until late May-ish.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Moon River, wider than a mile. I’m crossing you in style some day. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker, wherever you’re going I’m going your way.” – Andy Williams

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Moon River, wider than a mile,. I’m crossing you in style some day. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker, wherever you’re going I’m going your way.” – Andy Williams

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

A tip of the cap to Blog Reader, Alan. H. He reminded me that yesterday was Ansel Adams birthday. Ansel was unable to attend. Adams was born in San Francisco on Feb. 20, 1902. He made his first trip to Yosemite in 1916. He was a major photographer of the mid 20^th Century who focused a lot on Yosemite. Adams died in Carmel on April 22, 1984. 110 years old – well, if he was alive.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “You say it’s your birthday. It’s my birthday too—yeah. They say it’s your birthday, We’re gonna have a good time I’m glad it’s your birthday, Happy birthday to you.” – the Beatles. 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

Robert Hanna, the great, great-grandson of John Muir, is a member of the Advisory Committee along with a dedicated team of local community and Yosemite regional leaders.

JMGC future components will consist of the following:

• Range of Light Outdoors Classroom: A multi-purpose classroom.

• Youth Education Program: A jointly developed program to bring together urban and rural students in a natural setting.

• Bean Creek Preserve Nature Walks: To offer geotourists the opportunity to learn about the historic John Muir Route.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “So down and down and down and down we go. Hurry my darlin’ we mustn’t be late for the show. Neptune champion games to an aqua world is so my dear. Right this way smiles a mermaid; I can hear Atlantis full of cheer. Atlantis full of cheer. I can hear Atlantis full of cheer.” -1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) final verse – Jimi Hendrix 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

The Thomas’ wrote a book (I have assigned copy) “Muir Ramble Route: Walking from San Francisco to Yosemite in the footsteps of John Muir.” It’s full of detailed info. They did a ton of research to get it right. Muir wrote some about the trip but they had to dig deep. Some neat maps included. Yes, YOU can do this walk if so inclined. Learn how.

They will be at select REI stores in the greater Bay Area soon.  Talks are free and at begin at 7pm. Call to register to make sure you get a seat. I’ll be at the Saratoga one…tomorrow.

Feb 21: REI Saratoga; Feb 23: REI Berkeley; Feb28: REI Marina

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao-tzu, circa 500 BCE

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

Jeff Hentz, Executive Director of Destination Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, at the Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show in Santa Clara. He moderated and spoke on a panel of “Driveable Destinations” experts. Kings Canyon/Sequoia and Lodi were also represented.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: So my darling and I make love in the sand. To salute the last moment ever on dry land. Our machine it has done its work played its part well. Without a scratch on our body when we bid it farewell. Starfish and giant foams greet us with a smile. Before our heads go under we take our last look at the killing noise. Of the out of style. The out of style out of style.” – continuing 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) – Jimi Hendrix

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

In 1982 Jimmy Tyler, tried a jump off the face of Half Dome. He did it on a cloudy day with a slight wind. The breeze put him into the wall.

In 1988 Mitch Reno did the same and delayed opening his chute and impacted the talus just as his chute was rolling out.

In 1993, when Susan Oatly, jumped off El Cap. She held her head skyward for too long, lost altitude awareness, and backed into the wall in her 15th second of freefall. This jump began the process of insisting people who begin BASE jumping have at least 150 previous parachutes jumps.

The jump that ended it all was in 1999 when 5 jumpers planned a protest jump off El Cap in front of Park Rangers and the media. Jan Davis was the third to go off while her husband down below filmed it. By prior arrangement, Park Service officials agreed not to prevent the jumps but insisted jumpers would be arrested upon landing and their gear would be confiscated. It’s not against the law to talk about jumping – only the actual jump is a violation. This caused some jumpers to switch to their “B” gear. Jan jumped a system with an older style leg mounted pilot chute pouch when she was used to jumping a pilot chute stowed in a chest pouch. After a normal delay she instinctively reached for the bottom of the container and after failing to find the pilot chute handle ran out of time before figuring things out.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Well it’s too bad that our friends can’t be with us today. Well it’s too bad. The machine that we built would never save us! (That’s what they said.) That’s why they ain’t comin’ with us today. And they also said it’s impossible for a man to live and breathe underwater. Forever was a main complaint. Yeah and they also threw this in my face, they said: Anyway, you know good and well it would be beyond the will of god and the grace of the king. Grace of the king.” – continuing 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) – Jimi Hendrix

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

]]> http://hikehalfdome.com/base-jumping-at-yoseemite-one-more/feed/ 7 http://hikehalfdome.com/base-jumping-at-yosemite-a-slight-return/ http://hikehalfdome.com/base-jumping-at-yosemite-a-slight-return/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:14:35 +0000 Mr Half Dome - Rick Deutsch http://hikehalfdome.com/?p=4831 While surfing the big waves on the World Wide Web, I came across this snippet in the “Cornell Daily Sun.”  

“Can you imagine flying? This year, wingsuit B.A.S.E. (short for Building, Antenna, Span, Earth, the surfaces B.A.S.E. participants jump from) takes on a much larger role than in years past. Advancements in wingsuit technology have pushed glide ratios upwards three-to-one, which equates to longer and more exhilarating flights. Banff’s promotional video shows a base jumping duo launching themselves from the “diving board” on Yosemite’s Half Dome. While BASE jumping is illegal in many places (Yosemite included) due to its danger, B.A.S.E. films usually document what it’s like to skirt the law while jumping off of big things. Smaller HD cameras have allowed for new perspectives on this emergent sport, and hopefully the festival delivers some adrenaline-packed B.A.S.E. action.” 

My 2 cents: BASE jumping at Yosemite is illegal. In the 90′s a group tried to prove how safe it was only to have one woman drill a hole at the bottom of El Capitan. National Geographic’s inclusion of a photo then website video of 4 men doing so was irresponsible. By the way, the area is called the Visor…

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

The head ranger managing the cables is the Wilderness Manager, Ranger Ed Dunlavey.

Ed’s a great guy and has been a big help in interpreting the new procedure. He was on the webinar and will be contributing to the Q&A. Only 3 months until the first group can go up in 2012. Time to get serious about getting back in shape if you gorged on Oreos all winter.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Hooray I awake from yesterday; alive but the war is here to stay. So my love, Catherina and me decide to take our last walk, through the noise to the sea. Not to die but to be re-born. Away from a life so battered and torn.” – 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) – Jimi Hendrix 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

NOT the YARTS bus

Yosemite National Park announced they plan to spend $158K to support the Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) bus between Sonora and Yosemite. Wheels turn in May and will run thru the summer season.  A bus will head to the park in the early morning and leave the park to return in late afternoon. It takes about an hour and half to get to the Valley, so it should be perfect for a short day hike. You could leave your car in Sonora and read enroute. Plans are to have 2 runs on weekends during the summer. Pick up point is nto determined yet.

The Park Planning Group just got in their print run of the Half Dome Stewardship Plan. If you requested a hard copy it will arrive next week. Get ready to mark it up. Comments due March 15.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Every day I get in the queue to get on the bus that takes me to you. I’m so nervous, I just sit and smile. Your house is only another mile. Thank you, driver, for getting me here. You’ll be an inspector, have no fear. I don’t want to cause no fuss but can I buy your Magic Bus?” – The Who 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome