CALIFORNIA—SEVERAL YEARS IN THE PAST
Obviously, I survived, since I am telling this story. But it’s not that simple—let me explain.
My name is Derek Baily. I’m an extreme sports enthusiast, an adrenaline junkie. It all started several years ago when I made my first parachute jump. Before that, I was just your typical skateboarder, snowboarder, trick-bike rider…I think you get the idea. I had gone parasailing a couple of times, and it was really cool. I decided I wanted to do more of that and was talking it over with my buds. That’s when one of them suggested that I try a jump.
“Jump out of a perfectly safe airplane?” I asked, but only half in jest.
“How about next Saturday?” he said.
YOSEMITE PARK—TWO YEARS LATER
One thing led to another, and a couple of years later, on May 16, I fou
