Rocky Mountain News

HomeSportsMore Sports

Park Service land off limits for thrill seekers

Published January 19, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.

Jesse Hall looks at Colorado's mountains and sees opportunity.

The National Park Service sees potential trouble, which is why it has banned BASE jumping and wingsuit flying on government land.

After rangers caught Hall making an illegal jump in Utah, they seized his gear and entered his name in a computer database.

He doesn't want to get busted again, but that doesn't stop him from daydreaming.

"There are very nice wingsuit locations in Colorado . . . but they already have our names in the system, so we don't want anything more," said Hall, who grew up in Niwot. "They're definitely looking online at photos and stuff, going a little further in depth than you'd expect. They're not having it. They keep an eye on BASE jumpers, wingsuits, any parachutes in the park.

"It'd be nice to do a permit systems here — you buy a permit, wait for your time when you're supposed to go there, then do your jump. It'd be regulated, but that'd be fine with a lot of people."

Back to Top

Search »