Salt Lake City, UT Man Cited for BASE Jumping in Zion National Park

A Salt Lake City, UT man was cited for BASE jumping in Zion National Park over the weekend, according to a press release from the park. The man and his two companions were also cited for violating a raptor nesting enclosure and camping out of bounds.

Zion National Park Spokesperson Alyssa Baltrus said the man was jumping from the Great White Throne, an iconic white Navajo sandstone monolith. BASE jumping is illegal within national park boundaries.

“Even though we are not charging entrance fees, law enforcement rangers are still patrolling,” said Zion National Park Chief Ranger Daniel Fagergren. “Park rules are still in effect and violators will be cited.”

Zion National Park is currently open with limited facilities, but staff are patrolling the canyon to help ensure visitor safety.

The identities of the men have not been released.

Gov. Gary Herbert last week asked Utahns to immediately begin staying home to slow the spread of the coronavirus and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a similar directive to residents in the capital city. Anyone currently living in Salt Lake City has been ordered to stay at home except for essential travel, starting at midnight last Friday.

Utah just saw 42 human-triggered avalanches in the backcountry in the past 5-days alone!

Why so many?

Because the ski resorts are closed due to Coronavirus which is putting more people than ever into the backcountry and people are making overly aggressive decisions on when and where to ski & ride.

On Sunday, March 29th, there were 7 human-triggered avalanches, listed below:

• Farmington Lakes – 8,500′ northeast facing 2.5′ x 300′ wide.
• Mt. Wolverine – 10,200′ southwest facing 8″ x 50′ wide. One rider caught and carried.
• Mill B South – 10,000′ southwest facing 2′ x 100′ wide. One rider caught and carried.
• Neffs – 9000′ northwest facing 6″ x 10′ wide.
• Benson & Hedges Ridge – 10,200′ west facing 12″x 50′ wide running 1,000′ vertical.
• Brighton Backcountry – 9,800′ west facing 12″ x 40′ wide.
• Evergreen Ridge – 9,600′ northwest facing 12″ x 40′ wide. One rider caught and carried.

See reports from all 42 human-triggered avalanches in Utah in the past 5-days here:

• Utah Avalanche Center’s List of 42 Avalanches

Many backcountry skiers & riders are not following guidelines set up to protect us from spreading Coronavirus via social distancing and only recreating within your very near local area.

Many backcountry skiers & riders are not following guidelines set up to avoiding injury to avoid creating an additional burden to our healthcare system.

• Guidelines For Backcountry Use During the Coronavirus Crisis

These 3 human involved avalanches in Utah on Friday were dramatic:

• Snowboarder in HUGE Avalanche at Snowbasin, UT on Friday Tells Full Story
• Avalanche on Mt. Superior, UT Takes Skier for 2,000′ Ride at Speeds up to 77MPH Yesterday
• 2 Partially Buried in Avalanche at Snowbasin, UT on No Name Peak on Friday | Full Account:

There was A HUGE NUMBER of human triggered avalanches in Utah Friday.

Avalanche Rating on Friday, 3/27/20 was:

• Moderate above treeline
• Low near treeline
• Low below treeline

On Friday, there were human-triggered avalanches in all of these locations and more in Utah:

• Mt. Odgen
• Mt. Superior
• Snowbasin ski resort, No Name
• Cardiac Ridge (near Alta)
• Main Days (near Alta)
• Providence Peak  (near Logan)

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