Yosemite Rangers Bust BASE Jumper at El Capitan Amid Government Shutdown

Yosemite National Park officials cited a BASE jumper near El Capitan on October 29 after a swift response from rangers and park visitors. The individual received a mandatory court appearance citation for “illegal air delivery,” a violation under federal law prohibiting parachuting, paragliding, or BASE jumping within national parks.

The citation comes as Yosemite has seen an uptick in BASE jumping activity during the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has limited operations and enforcement capacity across national parks. Despite the shutdown, Yosemite’s law enforcement rangers remain on duty and have made several recent arrests related to illegal jumps.

In this latest case, rangers responded within minutes after visitors reported a jumper launching near El Capitan, the park’s world-famous 3,000-foot granite wall and one of the most recognizable climbing destinations on Earth. Thanks to quick coordination and sharp observations by visitors and rangers, the individual was located and cited shortly after landing.

The National Park Service emphasized that such activities are strictly prohibited within park boundaries due to the dangers they pose to participants, rescuers, and other visitors.

“Parachuting, paragliding, and BASE jumping are illegal in all national parks,” the agency said in a statement. “These activities can endanger both participants and others in the area and disrupt park operations.”