Archive for August, 2010

5 Tips to Make Your Bridge Day Better

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

No matter if you are a first-timer or a long-time veteran of Bridge Day, there are some things you just need to know (or reminded of) to make the day better. The more you know, the fewer surprises and the more time you can spend simply enjoying the day.

Bridge Day Reminder: No Backpacks, Thanks for Your Co-Operation

Take a Look at the Rules
Law enforcement officials work many hours to ensure you have a safe day on the Bridge. Their focus is your safety.

There are not many rules to follow, but it’s important to know them beforehand so there are no surprises.

Some rules are no-brainers: no weapons, no fireworks, no drugs or alcohol. Other rules, may not make as much sense, yet they are in place to ensure your safety.   No dogs. No backpacks. We can hear you groan, but all we ask is just come have fun, and leave your dog at home (perhaps wearing your backpack full of beer and fireworks).

Plan Your Parking and Shuttles
Unlike many other large events, Bridge Day parking is aplenty. There are parking lots on either side of the Bridge, and for just $2 per person you can ride the shuttle right to the entrance. Our Bridge Day parking map can help you plan your parking location. Yes, it is that easy.

Wear (the right) Shoes and Clothes
Hopefully, we don’t have to tell you they are required. They are. As interesting as we think nude Bridge Day might be, well, let’s just say the day is extreme enough already. It’s not so much about shoes and clothing being required as it is about choosing them wisely.

You will be walking. A lot. Wear something comfortable and sturdy as nothing puts a damper on a great day like sore feet (especially if it is your kid with sore feet).

Also, come prepared for a variety of weather. Check the forecast before heading out and dress in layers. Also be sure to bring along a jacket or sweater tied around your waist just in case the weather changes. Which it is apt to do.

Bring a Camera, You Never Know What You Might See

Bring a Camera
If we had a nickel for every time we heard someone say, “I wish I had brought my camera”, we’d have a gazillion nickels. Ok, maybe not a gazillion, we don’t even know what that is as a matter of fact, but we’d have a lot of nickels. A lot.

So, bring your camera. No matter if you are a pro or simply snapping photos with your camera phone Bridge Day is a photographers dream. With so many vivid colors, so much action taking place and folks walking around in giant, pink bunny-suits, there is a photo op everywhere you look.

Be sure to tag your photos with #bridgeday and share them on the Facebook Fan Page and our Flickr group.

What Goes Down Must Come Back Up
Fayette Station Road, runs from one side of the Gorge, to the river, and up the other side. It is closed to public motor vehicle traffic on Bridge Day, yet it is open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. You are free to walk down the road, beneath the Bridge, and enjoy a different perspective on the day’s activities.

Just remember, if you go down, you have to come back up. It is a 4 mile stretch on either side, and it’s not exactly flat, so be sure you are physically able to make the walk back.

If you aren’t sure, but would still like to venture below the Bridge, you may want to consider taking advantage of the Down Under Tours.

Stay tuned for more tips and information to make your Bridge Day great. We look forward to seeing you October 16th.

Do you have any tips to add?

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Posted in Bridge Day Events, Visitor Information | 3 Comments »

Learning to Fly in the New River Gorge

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

I always wanted to learn to fly an airplane. I had no idea where it might lead me.

In 1960 I showed up at Fayette Airport, just a hop and skip from my hometown of Oak Hill, and asked famed-pilot Frank Thomas (“Five-Dollar Frank”) if I could work for him. I was willing to cut grass, wash airplanes, just about anything I could do in-trade for flying time.

The Author and First Man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong

Thankfully, he was kind enough to hire me and I proudly learned to fly from what I feel is one the greatest pilots in history. A true pilot’s pilot.

In January of 1960 I took my first flying lesson in a Piper J-3 Cub. Not long after, at the age of 15, I took my first solo flight. During my years at Fayette Airport I was a member and Squadron Leader of Air Explorer Squadron 3, earning the coveted Air Explorer Silver Award. While working at the airport I made many flights over the New River Gorge before the New River Gorge Bridge was built.

I remember taking the long and winding road into the New River Gorge. Myself and other members of The Air Explorers would head to the river for a swim and on our way back we would load the truck up with river rocks. We used those rocks to make a small building at the Fayette Airport. It is still standing.

Over the years I moved to Indiana Pennsylvania, and became a charter board member (and 3-time President) of the Jimmy Stewart Museum. In July 2009, representing the Stewart family, I attended the National Aviation Hall of Fame induction ceremony. At the event, I had the opportunity to meet 13 Apollo astronauts including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan, James Lovell, Charles Duke, Tom Stafford, Fred Haise, Vance Brand and others.

Learning to fly in Fayetteville, WV led me face-to-face with the first, second and last man on the moon: Armstrong, Aldrin and Cernan. It allowed me to meet the men behind “Houston we have a problem”, (Apollo 13 crew members Lovell and Haise) and the first woman commander of the space shuttle Eileen Collins. What an experience!

Each time I travel through Fayetteville and over the New River Gorge Bridge, I am reminded of my beginnings as a pilot. It brings a warmness to my heart and a tear to my eye.

Special Guest Post By:

Carson Greene, Jr.

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White Water Rafting, Or White Water Swimming?

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Well, in the New River Gorge, one doesn’t necessarily include the other.

Thousands and thousands of people every year go white water rafting down the New River.  It’s one of the most popular raft trips in the world, especially on Bridge Day, and for good reason.  The rapids of the New are a perfect mix of big waves and technical manuveurs, adn depending on the water level, perfect for just about everyone.

The Bridge Day Rescue Team hard at work.

You don’t even have to know how to swim.  It’s unbelievable but true.  Most people would not believe the number of rafters that go down the river that do not know how to swim.  Hey, that’s what the life jacket is for.  Actually, we can’t say “life jacket”; the correct term is “personal floatation device“.  Go figure.

Anyway, that’s why they call it white water rafting and not white water swimming, right?  People fall out of the rafts, but then they get scooped right back up and continue on downstream.

Now, an entirely different kind of white water swimming takes place on Bridge Day.  BASE jumpers leave the bridge, free fall, then throw their chutes and maneuver a descent to the landing zone below.

In theory.

There’s a whole lot that can go on between the time that chute opens and the time a jumper comes in to land.  And that, my friends, in addition to a whole load of other wonderful stuff, is what makes Bridge Day awesome.

Basically, jumpers have to choose between landing in the landing zone, or landing in the river.  Wait.  Actually, they have to choose between landing in the landing zone and landing in the river and landing in the rocks and landing in the trees and landing in the railroad tracks.  Life is full of choices.

But for simplicity’s sake, let’s just say some poor BASE jumper is about to land in the water.  They actually have a lot going for them.

Any BASE jumper will tell you that the sure fire, absolute, 100% softest landing you can make on Bridge Day is in the water.  It’s actually encouraged for some people who are making their first few jumps.  The bridge is positioned directly between two rapids, Fayette Station, which is Class IV, and Flea Flicker, which is Class III.  If a jumper lands in the water, it’s not going to be in a rapid, but rather, between them.  Pretty much.

That doesn’t mean there’s not current.  There’s enough power in the water to get thing moving fast.  So the Bridge Day rescue team is on hand in the pool below the bridge.  If you’ve never had a chance to see these guys and girls in action, do yourself a favor and check it out.  They’re amazing.

What happens is this:  A jumper lands in the water.  The boats have already predetermined where the jumper will touch down (or, touch in, as the case may be), and are there within moments of the first signs of dampness.  Through hand signals, radios, and, um, mating calls, the boats drop off the rescued jumpers at the bank and then reposition themselves for the next water landing.

Pretty cool, huh?

So, to sum up, there’s whitewater rafting swimming, and there’s whitewater BASE jumping swimming.  You’re almost guaranteed to witness both at Bridge Day 2010.  It’s going to be fun.

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