brent@poseidon.UUCP (Brent P. Callaghan) (03/01/86)
Don't forget to watch "Skydive into the Rain Forest"
Tues March 4th on PBS "Nova".
It documents an expedition of 12 skydivers who parachuted
onto a remote plateau in the southern Venezuelan state of
Amazonas.
The plateau rises 4,000 feet from the floor of the rain
forest and features a system of caves at the 3,000 foot
level.
The expedition's members and 5 tons of equipment were
delivered via parachute to the plateau from a DC3.
Sounds like good watching!
(For further info: see Bill Booth's article in
the March Parachutist magazine)
--
Made in New Zealand --> Brent Callaghan
AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ
{ihnp4|mtuxo|pegasus}!poseidon!brent
(201) 576-3475dmeyer@ti-csl (03/05/86)
Humpf. I got all prepared to watch "Skydive into the Rain Forest" on NOVA
yesterday (Tuesday, March 4) -- but it turns out that they showed some other
tale. Was it shown anywhere else? Either it was rescheduled or our local
PBS decided to show something else. Humpf.
=========================================================================
Dane Meyer Texas Instruments (Dallas) D-6078
ARPA: ==> DMEYER%tilde%ti-csl
CSNET: ==> DMEYER@ti-csl
USENET: ==> {ihnp4,allegra,uiucdcs}!convex{ctvax,texsun,rice}!ti-csl!dmeyer
VOICE ==> (214) 995-5665kas@hp-pcd.UUCP (kas) (03/08/86)
I enjoyed the flick -- especially the freefall photography. The
photographers did a nice job, I thought.
One thing that puzzles me a little, though, was their plan to BASE
jump off that thing. Assuming they safely landed in a clearing below, and
not in some tree, how did they plan to get out? Walk? Call a taxi? What
about all their gear (other than the parachutes)? Leave it on top? Pick it
up later with a helicopter? What about the guy with the sprained ankles?
Obviously, he couldn't jump off. Leave him on top? Pick him up next year?
Oh, well. The Venezualan government took care of all their decisions for
them, when it forced them to evacuate via helicopter.
Anyway, this show kinda got my withdrawal pains flared up again. I
haven't been able to jump since last Summer, due to school and the negative
cash flow in my checkbook. Geeze, I gotta jump or I'll go crazy...
*
/ \
|---/---\---| Ken Scofield C-9355
| Gone | Hewlett-Packard PCD
| Jumpin' | Corvallis, OR
|-----------|
{ucbvax!hplabs, harpo, ogcvax}!hp-pcd!kasmarkp@valid.UUCP (Mark P.) (03/10/86)
> Don't forget to watch "Skydive into the Rain Forest" > Tues March 4th on PBS "Nova". > > It documents an expedition of 12 skydivers who parachuted > onto a remote plateau in the southern Venezuelan state of > Amazonas. > > The plateau rises 4,000 feet from the floor of the rain > forest and features a system of caves at the 3,000 foot > level. > > The expedition's members and 5 tons of equipment were > delivered via parachute to the plateau from a DC3. > > Sounds like good watching! > (For further info: see Bill Booth's article in > the March Parachutist magazine) > -- > > Made in New Zealand --> Brent Callaghan > AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ > {ihnp4|mtuxo|pegasus}!poseidon!brent > (201) 576-3475 This reminds me of a piece "Believe it or stuff it" (sic.) did a few months ago about a group of skydivers who parachuted off of Angel falls (sic.) in South America some place, supposedly the tallest waterfall in the world. So, as long as we are promulgating discussions, how about this and other BASE activities (legal or otherwise)? Is there not a canyon bridge where it is legal once a year? Just how risky (i.e. stupid) is it? Or is this something frowned on discussing here... Mark Papamarcos Valid Logic {hplabs,pyramid,..}!pesnta!valid!markp P.S. Yes, I'm just a beginner, and wouldn't even CONSIDER doing anything this crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested.
wmartin@brl-smoke.ARPA (Will Martin ) (03/10/86)
I watched this program, and I must say that I would interpret it as being the most "anti-skydiving" thing I've ever seen -- not from bias or editorializing, because I think all involved were in favor of skydiving, but in the facts reported. Two critical members of the exhibition were severely injured in the skydive landing; one (the only woman) had such a smashed leg that she was permanently crippled. She was evacuated by helicopter. If they could get a helicopter there to lift her off, there was no reason to skydive to that site in the first place (at least that was never explained -- I started out by assuming that there were few heilicopters in the region, or the site was out of the flight range of what there were, but this cannot be so, since at the end, they were all evacuated by helicopter when the government cancelled their permits!). It was never clearly stated why they *had* to skydive to this place instead of being helicoptered to it. My general impression, after watching the program, was that the whole exercise was a waste of time, pain, and money, with little or no scientific benefits gained to recompense for this cost. Maybe this is not true, but that is what this viewer gathered from watching the program and not having any other info about the whole thing. Will
brent@poseidon.UUCP (Brent P. Callaghan) (03/10/86)
>Humpf. I got all prepared to watch "Skydive into the Rain Forest" on NOVA >yesterday (Tuesday, March 4) -- but it turns out that they showed some other >tale. Was it shown anywhere else? Either it was rescheduled or our local >PBS decided to show something else. Humpf. Humpf and double Humpf. Looks like they switched program schedules since the Parachutist article. They had a 5 sec clip at the beginning then I watched 2 hours of rehashed nature programs. I guess it'll be on at a later date - when I don't know. -- Made in New Zealand --> Brent Callaghan AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ {ihnp4|mtuxo|pegasus}!poseidon!brent (201) 576-3475
kdj@teddy.UUCP (03/12/86)
I thought the show was pretty good. I also was wondering how they were going to get out of the forest (after the BASE jump). The looksee into the cave was pretty interesting (I was hoping they'd find some archelogical discoveries). Unfortunately, the Venezualan (Sp?) gov't wasn't too hospitable and pulled their visitor badges (who knows why?). So, they never got to do the cliff jump. Would've been nice to see. (pretty dangerous too)
kas@hp-pcd.UUCP (kas) (03/13/86)
I'm surprised that some of you out there weren't able to watch "Skydive
Into The Rainforest". As my first response to this note indicates, it WAS
shown in my area. Maybe you guys should call your local PBS station and ask
if they plan to reschedule it. Let them know you're ticked off that it was
preempted, and threaten never to send in another contribution again (What? You
mean you never contributed to your PBS station anyway? Oh well, they don't
know that).
*
/ \
|---/---\---| Ken Scofield C-9355
| Gone | Hewlett-Packard PCD
| Jumpin' | Corvallis, OR
|-----------|
{ucbvax!hplabs, harpo, ogcvax}!hp-pcd!kashartsoug@oberon.UUCP (Mike Hartsough) (03/15/86)
> but in the facts reported. Two critical members of the exhibition were > severely injured in the skydive landing; one (the only woman) had such a > smashed leg that she was permanently crippled. She was evacuated by > helicopter. If they could get a helicopter there to lift her off, there > was no reason to skydive to that site in the first place (at least that > was never explained -- I started out by assuming that there were few > heilicopters in the region, or the site was out of the flight range of > what there were, but this cannot be so, since at the end, they were all > evacuated by helicopter when the government cancelled their permits!). > It was never clearly stated why they *had* to skydive to this place > instead of being helicoptered to it. > > My general impression, after watching the program, was that the whole > exercise was a waste of time, pain, and money, with little or no > scientific benefits gained to recompense for this cost. Maybe this is > not true, but that is what this viewer gathered from watching the > program and not having any other info about the whole thing. > > Will My thoughts exactly...additionally, they seemed pre-occupied with convincing the viewer that "there once was a river here, 3000' above the jungle floor", the only message they could provide...personally, I get the impression that a bunch of skydivers wanted to make a jump onto the mountain, decided that they could get PBS to fund it if they made it into something "scientifical", and once there they all chickened out of the jump to the forest below, so they called the cavalry (i.e. pistoleros in a helicopter) to come and rescue them. What a joke. -- Michael J. Hartsough hartsoug@oberon.UUCP It is to the interest of the commonwealth of mankind that there should be someone who is unconquered, someone against whom fortune has no power. ---- Seneca That's why I'm here.
kas@hp-pcd.UUCP (kas) (03/18/86)
>My thoughts exactly...additionally, they seemed pre-occupied with convincing >the viewer that "there once was a river here, 3000' above the jungle floor", >the only message they could provide...personally, I get the impression that >a bunch of skydivers wanted to make a jump onto the mountain, decided that >they could get PBS to fund it if they made it into something "scientifical", >and once there they all chickened out of the jump to the forest below, so they >called the cavalry (i.e. pistoleros in a helicopter) to come and rescue them. > >What a joke. > >-- > Michael J. Hartsough > hartsoug@oberon.UUCP Whoa there, pardner...lighten up a little. In the first place, you're right about one thing -- the skydivers WANTED to jump onto the mountain, "because it was there." There was no particular reason why they HAD to jump. In fact, an earlier expedition DID arrive by helicopter about 10 years ago. But the earlier group did not get down to the caves, which was one of the primary goals of this group. These people jumped onto the mountain for the same reason people keep climbing Mt. Everest at PBS expense -- because they want to. Besides, I'm not sure PBS funded this little venture anyway. My second point is that they did not "chicken out" of the jump to the jungle below. The government "forcefully" removed them, and even confiscated some of their audio and video tapes in the process. What you saw on the program was not by any means all that was taken. Something like nine hours of video tape was shot (or maybe it was film, I don't know). The group was removed with the helicopter literally at gunpoint (not shown or mentioned in the show). See the article written by one of the expedition members in the March '86 issue of "PARACHUTIST" for more details. Lastly, feel free to read and respond to this net group as you see fit, but keep your obvious prejudice against skydivers to yourself, OK? We don't consider our chosen form of recreation and relaxation a joke, any more than you do yours. * / \ |---/---\---| Ken Scofield C-9355 | Gone | | Jumpin' | |-----------| {ucbvax!hplabs, harpo, ogcvax}!hp-pcd!kas
brent@poseidon.UUCP (Brent P. Callaghan) (03/19/86)
>My thoughts exactly...additionally, they seemed pre-occupied with convincing >the viewer that "there once was a river here, 3000' above the jungle floor", >the only message they could provide...personally, I get the impression that >a bunch of skydivers wanted to make a jump onto the mountain, decided that >they could get PBS to fund it if they made it into something "scientifical", >and once there they all chickened out of the jump to the forest below, so they >called the cavalry (i.e. pistoleros in a helicopter) to come and rescue them. An article written by Bill Booth (one of the participants) in the March edition of Parachutist attributes the conception and organization of the project to the British Broadcasting Corp. It would be incorrect to surmise that the expedition was the whim of a bunch of skydivers. I think they did a pretty good job getting 5 tons of equipment and 12 people onto the plateau. The unexpected turbulence encountered by the last two to land and the landing injuries were just bad luck. Up to that point I can't fault the preparations nor the qualifications of those involved. Whether or not they BASE jumped off the plateau, they had enough climbing equipment and supplies to climb down and make their way out to a river rendezvous. They didn't request the helicopter which finally evacuated them. I certainly wouldn't refuse a helicopter when it arrived. The expedition was no more scientific than a climb in the Himalayas. I'm sure the intention was to film an exciting adventure and capture people's imagination. Adventure isn't always without risk - and persuading a foreign government that such expeditions aren't irresponsible is a task on it's own. Would we be better off without an occasional "Skydive into the Rainforest" ? -- Made in New Zealand --> Brent Callaghan AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ {ihnp4|mtuxo|pegasus}!poseidon!brent (201) 576-3475
mark@nyit.UUCP (Mark Smith) (03/24/86)
The jump into the rain forest, as I know it, was made for several
reasons. One, it would much less disturb the natural environment
then a loud and foul helicoptor. And two, flying a helicoptor onto
it has already been done. The skydiving part of the show also an
added selling point to the public. (How many conversations, would
have been floating around on the net without the jumping part?)
What I don't understand is how did the experienced skydivers make
the worst landings. I saw it, and as I was looking, the skydiver who
broke her leg, didn't even flare for her landing. She came in fast
and heavy into the side of a hill, with all its consequences. I could
understand, if she was taking pictures and she miscalculated something
horrible, but the show didn't say or point out anything like that.
--
Mark Smith
NYIT Computer Graphics Laboratory
Old Westbury, New York
...{philabs,sbcs}!nyit!mark