YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA — The National Park Service today announced three recent convictions for illegal BASE jumping in Yosemite National Park, underscoring the park’s commitment to visitor safety, resource protection and the enforcement of federal law.
“We do not tolerate illegal activity in Yosemite National Park,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Raymond McPadden. “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 is prohibited in all national parks under 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3), which forbids delivering or retrieving a person by airborne means except as authorized by the NPS. Despite this long-standing prohibition, a small number of individuals continue to engage in illegal jumps each year, often placing themselves, rescuers and other visitors at serious risk.
The following cases were adjudicated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California:
United States v. Christopher I. Durell
On July 15, 2024, U.S. Park Rangers located Durell at Mirror Lake after receiving a report that two people had jumped from an area near North Dome. Durell admitted to BASE jumping from the Porcelain Wall.
Durell pleaded guilty.
On September 16, 2025, the judge sentenced Durell to 18 months of unsupervised probation, $600 in fines, and 40 hours of community service with an organization supporting the National Park Service. His BASE canopy and wingsuit were forfeited.
United States v. Joshua A. Iosue
On July 15, 2024, Rangers received a report of two jumpers near North Dome. Iosue fled on foot but was later identified and cited on July 17, 2025.
Iosue pleaded guilty.
On October 7, 2025, he was sentenced to 2 days in jail, 24 months of unsupervised probation, and $2,510 in fines. He is banned from entering Yosemite National Park during his probation.
United States v. David A. Nunn
Nunn jumped from El Capitan on July 21, 2020. He suffered a severe equipment malfunction, colliding with the wall of El Capitan before crash-landing at the base. He was rescued by NPS personnel.
Nunn, who had a previous conviction for the same offense in 1998, pleaded guilty to violating 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3).
On September 16, 2025, he was sentenced to 2 days in jail, 12 months of unsupervised probation, $760 in fines, and restitution of $458.77 to cover the cost of his rescue. He is banned from entering Yosemite during probation and was ordered to forfeit his parachute and harness.
BASE jumping in Yosemite has been illegal since the mid-1980s. The activity has led to numerous injuries, fatalities and high-risk rescues over the years, endangering both jumpers and rescuers. In addition to criminal penalties, participants face the forfeiture of equipment and potential bans from entering national park lands.
For more information about regulations in Yosemite National Park, visit www.nps.gov/yose.
