Woman Killed In Illegal BASE Jump In Zion National Park

On the evening of February 8th, the park was notified that a fatal BASE jump had occurred at Mount Kinesava. A couple from Salt Lake City, both experienced BASE jumpers, had come to Zion to jump from the mountain, although jumping is not permitted in the park. Mount Kinesava is also an area of the park that contains important natural resource habitat protecting threatened and endangered species.

Investigation revealed that the man had previously jumped from this location on several occasions. His wife was wearing a custom-made wing suit, which she was using for the first time from this location. According to her husband, her main chute did not open in time to stop her from hitting the mountain’s talus slope. The husband completed his base jump and hiked out to report the incident after dark. Rangers were short-hauled by Grand Canyon’s helicopter to the victim’s location on a cliff band 1500 feet below the summit and recovered her body.

It's terrible when people have to endanger themselves to recover the body of someone who does something illegal. Just leave the body there.