Thousands of adrenaline junkies including BASE jumpers are flocking to California's Yosemite National Park, as the US government shutdown leaves the few rangers on duty struggling to cope at the popular climbing destination.

The shutdown, which began on October 1 due to a budget impasse in Congress, has sent personnel levels plummeting at the park -- which is home to the imposing 3,000-foot (915-meter) granite wall known as El Capitan.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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