As the U.S. government shutdown left Yosemite National Park short-staffed, a climber captured videos of BASE jumpers leaping illegally from El Capitan — a risky thrill made easier by the lack of enforcement.

Charles Winstead, @bigwalltrailrunner, captured videos of BASE jumpers on October 6 and 12. He said he witnessed more than eight people engaging in the activity over several days.

What they're saying:

"Definitely feeling some freedom to flout the rules due to the shut down," Winstead wrote on Instagram.

Dig deeper:

The term BASE refers to the four categories of fixed objects from which jumpers launch: Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs).

BASE jumping is banned in all national parks under federal regulations prohibiting "aircraft and air delivery." The Nationa

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