Yosemite National Park, long revered for its towering granite cliffs and breathtaking vistas, has also been a magnet for thrill-seekers drawn to the extreme sport of BASE jumping. But as park rangers announced this Friday, the consequences for those who defy federal law and leap from the park’s dizzying heights are growing ever more serious. Three men—Christopher I. Durell, Joshua A. Iosue, and David A. Nunn—have been convicted for illegally BASE jumping in Yosemite, with sentences that include fines, probation, community service, and even jail time, according to multiple reports from the National Park Service and local media outlets.
“We do not tolerate illegal activity in Yosemite National Park,” stated Superintendent Raymond McPadden in a release cited by KFSN, KSEE/KGPE, and the National Park Service itself. “Our law enforcement rangers remain efficient, effective and vigilant 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These convictions demonstrate the professionalism and dedication of Yosemite’s protection team in upholding federal regulations and ensuring the safety of both visitors and first responders.”
BASE jumping—an acronym for building, antenna, span, and earth—has been illegal in all U.S. national parks since the mid-1980s. The ban is rooted in concerns over safety and the risks posed not only to jumpers but also to rescuers and bystanders. Despite this, a small but persistent group of enthusiasts continues to test the limits, sometimes with tragic results.
The three recent convictions stem from incidents spanning several years, with two of the offenders caught after a dramatic episode in July 2024. According to the National Park Service and corroborated by ABC 30 and KSEE/KGPE, rangers received a report on July 15, 2024, that two people had jumped from an area near North Dome. They quickly located Christopher I. Durell at Mirror Lake. Durell admitted to BASE jumping from the Porcelain Wall and pleaded guilty to the charges. In September 2025, he was sentenced to 18 months of unsupervised probation, a $600 fine, 40 hours of community service with a National Park Service-supporting organization, and forfeiture of his BASE canopy and wingsuit.
Meanwhile, Joshua A. Iosue, the second jumper from the North Dome incident, initially fled on foot but was identified and cited two days later, on July 17, 2025. He pleaded guilty and, on October 7, 2025, received a stiffer sentence: two days in jail, 24 months of unsupervised probation, $2,510 in fines, and a ban from entering Yosemite during his probation. The National Park Service emphasized that these penalties reflect the seriousness with which the park treats such violations, especially given the potential dangers involved.
But the story doesn’t end with these two. David A. Nunn, whose case dates back to July 21, 2020, faced perhaps the most harrowing consequences. Nunn, a previous offender with a conviction for the same crime in 1998, attempted a jump from El Capitan—a legendary granite monolith that has claimed the lives of several BASE jumpers in the past. During his 2020 jump, Nunn’s equipment malfunctioned, causing him to collide with the wall before crash-landing at the base. He was rescued by National Park Service personnel, an operation that put both his life and the rescuers’ at risk. Nunn pleaded guilty and, on September 16, 2025, was sentenced to two days in jail, 12 months of unsupervised probation, $760 in fines, and restitution of $458.77 to cover the cost of his rescue. He was also ordered to forfeit his parachute and harness and is banned from entering Yosemite during his probation.
The dangers of BASE jumping in Yosemite are not hypothetical. The park has a grim history of accidents, including the deaths of renowned rock climbers Dean Potter and Graham Hunt, who perished during a wingsuit jump from Taft Point in 2015. More recently, in October 2025, tragedy struck again when 23-year-old Alaskan mountaineer Balin Miller fell to his death from El Capitan during what appeared to be a livestreamed event, as reported by KTLA’s sister station KSEE. A photographer who witnessed the incident said Miller was attempting to free a stuck bag just before his fatal fall.
Park officials warn that illegal BASE jumps have repeatedly led to injuries, fatalities, and high-risk rescue missions. These incidents not only endanger the jumpers themselves but also put rescuers and other visitors in harm’s way. As the National Park Service noted, “The activity has led to numerous injuries, fatalities and high-risk rescues over the years, endangering both jumpers and rescuers.”
Despite the ban and the risks, social media posts show that some continue to flout the law, sharing footage of jumps from Yosemite’s iconic peaks. Law enforcement rangers, even during periods such as the recent government shutdown, remain on duty to respond to emergencies and enforce the rules. The National Park Service’s contingency plan ensures that critical staff are available for law enforcement and rescue operations, no matter the circumstances.
The convictions announced this week serve as a warning to would-be jumpers. Not only are the legal consequences severe—ranging from probation and hefty fines to jail time and the loss of expensive equipment—but the risks to life and limb are all too real. According to the National Park Service, three additional illegal BASE jumping incidents from 2025 are currently under investigation, suggesting the problem is far from solved.
The persistence of BASE jumping in Yosemite is, in part, a testament to the allure of the park’s dramatic cliffs and the adrenaline rush that comes from leaping into the void. Yet, as Superintendent McPadden and other officials have made clear, the law is unequivocal. “We do not tolerate illegal activity in Yosemite National Park.” The park’s rangers are committed to upholding federal regulations, both to protect the park’s natural beauty and to ensure the safety of everyone who visits—including those who, in pursuit of a thrill, put themselves and others at grave risk.
As Yosemite continues to grapple with the challenge of illegal BASE jumping, the message from authorities is unambiguous: the risks are not worth the fleeting rush, and the consequences—both legal and personal—can be severe and lasting.
