The highest verified altitude you can skydive from in the United States is 30,000 feet. For context, this is in the range of standard cruising altitude for a commercial airline and about 7 miles up. In other words, much higher than your average skydive at 10,000 feet or nearly 2 miles up!

Yes, you can parachute from 30,000 feet, but it is a highly specialized activity known as a HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jump. At this altitude, the air is extremely thin and the temperature can drop well below -40°C. Because humans cannot survive without supplemental oxygen above 15,000 feet for long, jumpers must use specialized oxygen systems, including "pre-breathing" pure oxygen for up to an hour before the jump to prevent nitrogen bubbles in the blood (the bends). Military paratroopers and extreme skydivers use ruggedized masks and portable tanks to sustain themselves during the freefall, which can last over two minutes before the parachute is deployed. These jumps require specific FAA waivers and rigorous physiological training to ensure the jumper does not succumb to hypoxia or extreme cold before reaching a safe, breathable altitude.