With a solemn promise that we would end up adventuring to Boise and Star, ID for our first ever sky jump, we set a date in which this adventure would be made. The original intent was to get at least 10 people on the trip so that everybody would get a discount on the cost of the jump. A few days before we were to leave, I started figuring out who was going to be in my car and times on when we were going to leave… you know, details. The DAY OF this trip, everybody backed out except for me. I almost went by myself just because I had so planned for this to happen. I had the money, I had the time off, I had built up my expectation for this trip. People backed out for not being prepared: no time off, no money, no way to get there.
Disappointed, I sweep it aside and just about let go of the idea that I was going to jump out of a plane this Summer. A few weeks pass and the subject is brought up again. Friends and I decide on a date and plan on it. Among the buzz, we have approximately 14 people in consideration for the trip. This is about the same amount of interest we had on the previously planned date. I decide to include as many people into the idea as possible in order to increase the chances of this trip developing into something real. I mention it to Darlin and as a result, this trip becomes a reality. By just hooking one person, I was able to gather a real interest of 5 which is half way to the goal! So with my 5 set in stone, judgement day arrives. Of the dormies interested in the trip, 5 show up and are able to make it. So my 5, 5 dormies and myself, we have 11 people for the trip, success!
We all drive up to Boise on August 31st, 2010 and get hotel rooms. Most of us party in Boise that night while a few of us (the underagers) end up somewhere else for the night. A good night in good company and some decent dancing I might add. The next morning, we are all hungover and a little zombified by our nighttime escapades. After much deliberation, miscommunication and fighting iPhone gps quirks, we all find each other and head out to the goal destination. We show up to this small building in the middle of nowhere that is far removed from the road. It’s not much to look at but nonetheless is boiling up that wonderful natural feeling of adrenaline. We watch a safety video featuring a strange old man with one craaaaazy beard. Paperwork is handed out to us and the homework process begins.
Boring paperwork and a bit of waiting, our running order is set. The plane, much to our surprise, is very very small and so only one of us can jump at a time. So one by one, we jump.
My Experience
For the most part, I was calm through the entire process. This is typical for me as I really just let things happen without much being able to surprise me. Yea yea yea, I sound all full of myself. I’m not saying I wasn’t completely excited though. So much stuff was running through my head. Thinking of the possibilities: the chute not opening, what if somehow i’m not attached to my pro when I jump, will landing hurt, what if something happens to that little toy plane, etc. I had 3 people ahead of me and I think that helped with the thoughts quite a bit. They went up, they came down and it all seemed pretty straightforward.
Walking out to the plane, I was completely unfocused on any particular thing. The take off lane, the plane, the pilot, my pro, I was trying to take it all in. On my jump I had in attendance two other divers, one in training and one supervising. We take off, which is unlike any other takeoff I’ve had in a plane. The big planes it seems you can feel just about everything. A sinking in your gut when the winged monstrosity leaves the safety of solid ground. But in this tiny little plane, we left land and entered the great vertical gain without any sensation of it whatsoever.
Upon reaching 5,000 feet (half the jumping altitude), the pro asks how I feel and informs me that we are about half way. I was taken by surprise! We were already among clouds, the ground seemed so far removed and I was sure that the fact he was talking to me with the camera on meant that we were close. After some time to reach the jump zone, we get setup for the jump. The jumpers before me all had nobody in the plane with them. So when all of us in the plane were ready, the other jumpers were next to the door when they opened it up. The jumpers before me were given that surprise to see the vast ground below immediately. I did get the exhilaration to see two people leave the plane without any worry of the consequences before I was to take the dive.
We scooted to the doorway and I was able to take in the amazing view. It was time. My right leg followed my pro’s as we stepped out. The wind was so strong, loud and was pushing my skin all over the place. It was cold, but I did not take notice of that at the time. I hesitated to put any weight on my right leg, keeping it out there was enough for me and for a brief second I had in my mind that I did not want to do this. Instinct, I think, to not do that which could kill you. But there was someone on my back who controlled both of us and so we became airborne. Adrenaline kicked in immediately following the initial sensation of the free fall. After just a few seconds, there was no sensation. Just incredible wind, tunnel vision and shock. Nothing but nothing is holding you in position, the air was easy to breath and I was so focused on the ground in order to ensure it was keeping a safe distance.
After what seemed just a few seconds, the chute was released and we on our final descent to the ground below. The free fall experience toppled everything else. Once gliding with the chute, peace was in abundance and I was so secure with the fact I was still about 5,000 feet in the air. The pro at one point during our chute descent unclipped me at the hips which was such a terrible feeling. It was then that I thought about how terrible it would be to become unhooked and back in a free fall to the ground without any possible way to slow down. But this thought faded and I enjoyed everything. We spun around and played in the air. I spotted our landing pad and in no time we arrived to ground level where it was just a matter of re engaging my legs to stand on solid ground again.
