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As the government shutdown led by Schumer continues, numerous federal employees are facing unpaid furloughs, and those relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) worry about their benefits. At the same time, airports are plagued by significant delays. These are just a few of the consequences stemming from the Democrats’ ongoing standoff, now stretching into its third week.
In the midst of this turmoil, a daring group of thrill-seekers has found a unique opportunity. BASE jumpers, who leap from fixed objects like buildings, antennas, spans, and natural formations, are seizing the moment to execute their breathtaking low-altitude parachute jumps. Although I’ve tried skydiving a handful of times, I doubt BASE jumping will ever make it to my bucket list due to its extreme nature.
These adventurers have turned their attention to California’s legendary Yosemite National Park:
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The National Park Service on Friday announced the conviction of three individuals for illegal BASE jumping inside Yosemite National Park, part of a noticeable increase in lawbreaking during the shutdown as federal enforcement bandwidth is stretched thin.
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If you’ve never seen BASE jumping, it’s pretty incredible to watch. Here’s a video from 2023:
🎥 | A BASE jumper leaping off Half Dome, at the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California.
This isn’t for the faint of heart; not only does the summit stand at nearly 8,800 feet above sea level, it is also illegal to BASE jump in US national parks. pic.twitter.com/re0FsE5VO1
— captivating 𝕏 posts (@xisinteresting) December 3, 2023
Although the sheer 3,000-foot cliff of El Capitan has always been a draw, and some have even died while attempting jumps, they keep coming for more:
Yosemite Superintendent Raymond McPadden said park rangers remain active but made clear the federal government is being tested.
“We do not tolerate illegal activity in Yosemite National Park,” he said.
BASE jumping — leaping with a parachute from cliffs, bridges, or other fixed sites — is banned in all national parks, yet Yosemite remains a magnet for thrill-seekers. The park’s allure has turned deadly before, including the 2015 deaths of renowned climbers Dean Potter and Graham Hunt after a fatal jump from Taft Point.
People are willing to do some pretty crazy things in other places besides Yosemite:
Bro used a carpet instead of a wingsuit to BASE jump pic.twitter.com/7yF0lEbWie
— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) September 30, 2024
Or how about this one:
This base jump with momentum from an infinity pool
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) August 16, 2025
While BASE jumping is extremely cool, you can see why the Park Service doesn’t want it. If something goes wrong, it’s not only the jumper who could be injured or worse—it’s the unwitting campers and hikers below.
The rash of illegal BASE jumping — greeted by cheers and whoops from the climbers suspended at various stages of the 3,000-foot monolith — has become a symbol of the overstretched defenses of the National Park Service during the first weeks of the shutdown.
“The most BASE jumpers I have ever seen in 30 years and 60 seasons on El Cap jumped off on a single morning and it was eight guys,” Zabrok said. “Never seen anything like it.”
Schumer has brought a lot of pain to America with his shutdown, but I admit that this is a trend I did not have on my bingo card.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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