Overview

• Multiple outlets report increases in BASE jumping off El Capitan, unpermitted Half Dome ascents, and illegal camping since the Oct. 1 federal shutdown.
• The National Park Service reiterated that BASE jumping is illegal in all national parks due to risks to participants, the public, and first responders.
• Recent videos show heavy crowding on Half Dome’s cables, which reporters attribute to hikers attempting the route without permits.
• Staffing remains limited and unclear, with most personnel furloughed, reduced monitoring in remote areas, and one anonymous employee describing only a volunteer patrolling.
• Eyewitness accounts and social media document repeated jumps, and conservation advocates are urging temporary park closures during the shutdown.