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Posts Tagged ‘Bridge Day’

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Zipping Around the Bridge

Friday, April 6th, 2012

Bridge Day offers folks the possibility of riding on the High Line, a 600 foot harnessed trip on a rope from the Bridge to the side of the Gorge. This experience is very similar to a zip line. The only difference is that the High Line uses a belayed rope to help control participants’ speed.

Zip lines are becoming increasingly popular in West Virginia and beyond.  Luckily for us, there are four Gorge-area zip lines, and another line is being constructed on the Bechtel Summit Boy Scout property.

Let’s take a look at area zip lines so you can choose one to visit when you’re here for Bridge Day.

The Burning Rock Express Dual-Racing Zip Line

What is a Zip Line

A zip line is a set of ropes or cables strung between two objects. These ropes or cables contain enough vertical drop from start to finish to allow a pulley to move swiftly on the lines.

Zip line riders, (aka ‘zippers’), wear a harness that is connected to a pulley and lanyard system. The pulley is attached to the tensioned line, and the vertical difference from the starting point to the ending point supplies the momentum to move you along the line. You hang suspended from the line over the length of the zip. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

The length and speed of zip lines vary depending on how they were designed. There are two distinct differences in lines here in the Gorge.  Let’s take a look.

The Gorge Zip Lines

TreeTops Canopy Tour is located at Adventures On The Gorge. It has 10 zips, varying in distance from 100 feet to 730 feet. It also contains 5 cable bridges, 3 short hikes and a rappel. It takes about 4 hours to complete, so plan your day accordingly.

The Zip Line Canopy Tour is at ACE Adventure Resort. It is also a network of zips that keep participants in the air for over a mile. It also offers side-by-side zip racing, and has one long zip that is well over 800 feet. A 250 foot skybridge and dual 45 foot plunge lines round out this tour.

Gravity is also an Adventures On The Gorge activity, and is zip lining at its fastest (and most adventurous). These zips are designed with speed in mind and go from ridge top to ridge top. The longest zip is 3,100 feet, with speeds that can approach 60 mph. It also has zips of 1,600 feet and 1,300 feet, so you’ll get plenty of zip time. This one is definitely for the adrenaline junkies who like to go fast.

The Burning Rock Express Dual-Racing Zip Line is at Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park. It is a double racing zip line that just lets it rip. At over 2,500 feet and speeds that approach 60 mph, this zip line will definitely get your attention. Although it is just one zip, it’s a great, exciting addition to the 100+ miles of ATV trails at Burning Rock.

We’re lucky to have so many great opportunities to enjoy a zip line (or 10) around here. It’s a unique adventure that you should make part of your next Gorge vacation, during Bridge Day weekend or any other time of year.

And if you love zip lines, maybe you should consider signing up to do the High Line next Bridge Day. It may not be as fast, but hanging 600 feet over the Gorge is a whole different kind of exhilaration.

Are you ready to zip?

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Bridge Day Behind the Scenes: Rappel Coordinator Benjy Simpson

Friday, March 30th, 2012

We’ve looked at many different organizations and groups that work diligently throughout the year to make Bridge Day happen. Another one of these players is Benjy Simpson, who has been in charge of the rappelling and high line programs for 20 years. He’ll tell you he’s learned a lot, it has been trying at times, but he wouldn’t trade one minute of it for anything.

In The Beginning

Rappelling off the New River Gorge Bridge had taken place before 1992, organized by a group out of Charleston. Benjy had wanted the chance to rappel off the Bridge when he got a call.

Benjy talks with reporters on the Bridge catwalk

Cindy Whitlock, then director of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and organizer of Bridge Day, told Benjy he could rappel off the Bridge under one condition. He had to take over organizing Bridge Day rappelling, as the Charleston group wasn’t doing it anymore.

Benjy jumped at the chance.  However, he quickly realized that even with all his climbing and ropes experience, he was a bit in over his head. He immediately started studying and finding people who could help him learn what he needed to pull off a rappel of this magnitude. He also wanted to change the way the event was handled. He has accomplished both very successfully.

Through The Years

When Benjy took over the rappelling component of Bridge Day in 1992, there were 10 teams and 95 rappellers. In 2011 there were 23 teams and 311 rappellers who did a total of 860 rappels. Opening the activity up to more people was the biggest change Benjy had hoped to make; this change has been a success.

Benjy also wanted to ensure the event was as safe as possible. He’s very quick to point out that he’s had a lot of superb help in accomplishing this goal. He’s welcoming only his third Safety Officer in 20 years next year, and this consistency is one reason his team has been able to do such an amazing job every year.

The rappelling and high line teams have organizers and safety team members who are crucial in helping Benjy ensure safety for the event. In the 12 years he has managed the high line, there has never been an injury.  In fact, there’s only been one injury in the 20 years of rappelling. That’s a safety statistic Benjy is very proud of.

Benjy has signed on to organize rappelling and high line on Bridge Day for three more years. When that’s over, Benji says he’ll really be considering passing the torch to someone else. He loves doing it, has had a great time, and met tons of wonderful and unique people over the years, but he thinks it’s about time to enjoy Bridge Day from the deck. We bet he still slips down underneath for a bit, just out of habit.

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Bridge Day Behind the Scenes: West Virginia Division Of Highways

Monday, March 12th, 2012

There are lots of folks and organizations that come together to pull off a successful Bridge Day event.  This is the story of one of them.

The West Virginia Division of Highways’ Bridge Day role expanded after the 2001 event was canceled.  Prior to 2001, traffic on State Route 19 was funneled onto the southbound side of the Bridge, meaning inconvenience to thru traffic was fairly minimal.

Managing the flow of traffic is an important Bridge Day task

The events of 9/11 led organizers and safety officials to reexamine how the event was handled. All Bridge Day festivals since then have had all normal traffic detoured around the Bridge for safety purposes, meaning that the WVDOH has an important role to play on event day.

Traffic Patterns

The DOH is responsible for marking the special traffic pattern that will be followed during Bridge Day. They place signs along the route itself and on all major roads that intersect the detour a few weeks before the event to alert local travelers of the change.

The central DOH office in Charleston oversees the installation of the fixed signage and the placement of electronic message boards. They also provide the gates used to close off areas around the Bridge that are off limits to all traffic except emergency and law enforcement vehicles.

Other Roles

The DOH has both a central office presence from Charleston and field office presence from its Fayette County office. The DOH has a seat on the Bridge Day Commission, which helps plan the event.

One of the most important roles of the entire festival is filled by the DOH Fayette County Office. They are responsible for picking up and removing all of the trash receptacles that are used during the day. This is a huge job, because thousands of people can generate a mountain of trash in just 8 hours.

Don Meadows, a representative from the central office, said that the DOH also fields requests from the BASE jump organizers for an alternative jump day.  In the case of inclement weather that would force the cancellation of the BASE jumping on Bridge Day itself, BASE jumpers still want to get their jumps in.

The DOH is another important cog in the Bridge Day gears. Stay tuned for more on Bridge Day behind-the-scenes.

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Bridge Day Behind The Scenes: The Rotary Club

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Two groups that have an important behind-the-scenes role with Bridge Day are the Oak Hill and Fayetteville Rotary Clubs. The Oak Hill Rotary Club originally worked with Bridge Day beginning in 2001, and in 2005 the Fayetteville Club came on board as well.

The Oak Hill and Fayetteville Clubs each have about 12 members, and they work tirelessly to help the club meet its goals.  Rotary International service projects include helping disaster victims, clean water efforts, education projects and their largest project, eradicating polio worldwide.

Rotary at Taste of Bridge Day

What Does Rotary Do At Bridge Day?

Rotary is responsible for the transportation shuttles from the parking areas to the Bridge. They “man” each of the parking pick-up points, managing the flow of visitors.  They inform riders of the shuttle system, collect shuttle fees, and review Bridge Day guidelines. Rotary has been performing this service since 2004.

Taste of Bridge Day

The Rotary Club is responsible for one of everyone’s favorite events during Bridge Day weekend – the Taste of Bridge Day.  Staged at Smokey’s on the Gorge on Friday, the Taste incorporates food offerings from many local and state eateries.

Taste of Bridge Day showcases amazing area restaurants and kicks off Bridge Day weekend with a bang. The Rotary passes out awards at the end of the event, including Best Appetizer, Best Entree, and People’s Choice. This gives the winners bragging rights for a year and fosters some friendly competition for the next Taste.

Restaurants must register and pay a participation fee, and they share a portion of their event earnings with the Rotary. Taste of Bridge Day was first held in 2001 as a collaboration between Oak Hill Rotary and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. The Rotary Club became the sole host of Taste in 2006 and has been joined every year since then by WOAY, the lead sponsor.

The work that Rotary does with Bridge Day allows them to fund other community programs.   Just another reason why Bridge Day is such an important event!

 

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Bridge Day Behind-The-Scenes: Law Enforcement

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Putting on a successful Bridge Day has the potential to be a logistical nightmare.  There’s a reason that it takes months of planning and preparation. One “behind the scenes” presence that plays a big role in these logistics are local, state, and national law enforcement agencies.

Here are the Bridge Day law enforcement agencies and a little bit about their contributions.

National Guardsmen on Bridge Day

Fayetteville City Police

This group deals with traffic issues associated with Bridge Day within the city limits of Fayetteville. They reroute traffic in town for the bands and chili cook-off and help the vendors  make their way from their parking lots to Route 19.

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office is primarily responsible for rerouting traffic from Rt. 19 onto Rt. 16 and 60, away from the Bridge. They are also responsible for running background checks on all rappel participants, BASE participants, and vendors.

Law Enforcement at the Entrance

West Virginia State Police

This group also helps with rerouting around the Bridge during the festival. They help the National Park Service control traffic that is allowed on Fayette Station Road. They team up with the County Police to help with crowd control on and around the Bridge throughout the day. They also help the Fayetteville City Police in moving the vendors into their positions and help close down the event at 3pm.

The State, County and City police dogs all help with vendor inspections prior to their lineup on Bridge Day morning.

Other Groups

The magnitude of this festival dictates that many other agencies help ensure it is a safe and organized event. Besides local law enforcement agencies, Bridge Day also gets assistance from the FBI, ATF, the WV National Guard, Federal Marshalls, Fayette County Emergency Services and the Fayetteville and Oak Hill Fire Departments.

The WV Legislature designated the creation of a Bridge Day Commission, which gives local law enforcement agencies a seat on the commission. This commission also consists of a representative from the Fayette County Commission, the Department of Highways, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and an advisory position for the National Park Service.

Without all of these law enforcement agencies working together, it would be impossible for Bridge Day to exist. Safety is a priority, and law enforcement plays a big role.

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The Bridge Day High Line: Zipping Into the Gorge

Monday, February 6th, 2012

If you know about Bridge Day, you’re probably familiar with the fact that over 400 brave souls don parachutes and leap off of said Bridge during that fall festival. There’s even a pretty good chance you will know that another 300 or so harness up and rappel off its structure.

The Bridge Day High Line

But there is also another activity that the general public can participate in during Bridge Day.   Most people know very little about it. It’s called a High Line and it really is practically a Bridge Day secret.

What is High Lining?

High Lining is basically a controlled zip line. It differs a bit in that a zip line typically uses steel cable and speed is strictly based on the angle of the line. The High Line off the Bridge uses 3 ropes and the speed is controlled with a belay set up.

The High Line starts on the Bridge catwalk and descends at a 45 degree angle to an anchor point on the ground on the side of the Gorge. The typical Bridge Day High Line is close to 700 feet, but in 2001 when Bridge Day was canceled, they strung a 2200 foot High Line across the Gorge as a tribute to the festival.

High Line History

The first Bridge Day High Line appeared in 1994 but wasn’t repeated again until the 2001 Gorge crossing. It has been in place every year since then, 12 years and going strong. In total, 1,272 people have participated in the High Line over the years and there’s never been one injury.

The High Line is configured so that riders can go do either a solo or tandem ride.  A total of 177 people participated in the High Line during Bridge Day 2011. The slots available for riders become available in the spring and fill up fast.

Are you up for a High Line adventure?

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Bridge Day Behind the Scenes: Our Sponsors

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

One unique group that comes together behind the scenes to help make Bridge Day a success is its sponsors. In recent years, Subaru, Red Bull, Geico, Stanley, BB&T and many others have made a commitment to help host the event.

Subaru Folks Having Fun on Bridge Day 2011

Many folks put in months of hard work planning every detail of the day, Bridge Day workers and sponsors alike.

Bridge Day sponsors are responsible for many of the extra activities that take place around the event.  Into the Gorge shuttles are courtesy of Hometown Subaru, and the Down Under Tours were sponsored by Glade Springs in 2011. The Oak Hill and Fayetteville Rotary Clubs host Taste of Bridge Day, which is quickly becoming a weekend favorite.

Bridge Day sponsors are in the middle of all the action, helping plan the event and being part of a successful day on the Bridge.

If you’re interested in being a Bridge Day sponsor, now is the time to get involved.  The Bridge Day team works with potential sponsors to help them figure out how they can get the most out of their sponsorship.

Ready to jump in?

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Bring Bridge Day to the Holidays With Funnel Cake

Friday, December 30th, 2011

One of the staples of Bridge Day is the funnel cake. Some locals hit the Bridge just for a taste of this wonderful goodness.  No matter how many funnel cakes you eat throughout the year, you always want just one more.

Funnel Cake = Deliciousness

So why not bring a bit of Bridge Day into your life and make funnel cakes part of the holiday celebration?  Kids (and lots of adults) are on vacation, New Year’s parties are taking place, and there’s plenty of football to watch.  It’s the perfect time to give funnel cake-making a try!

Try this basic recipe, and then make one (or all) of these fun toppings.

The Batter

There are a few different recipes for funnel cakes, but they all share one crucial ingredient: FUN!  Seriously, you and your loved ones will have a blast making these cakes. You will need a deep fryer to properly make these treats.

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups of milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 Cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ½ stick of butter, melted

 

Directions

Combine milk, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar and gradually add to wet ingredients. Beat with a mixer until a smooth batter forms. Fold in melted butter. Pour batter into a funnel or squeeze bottle while using your index finger to stop the flow of the batter. Bring the funnel over the hot oil and release your finger to start a stream of batter while moving the funnel in a circular motion to create spiral-like shapes. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown and fluffy.

The Toppings

The traditional topping for funnel cake is plain ‘ol powdered sugar.  But if you’re going to make these treats from scratch, you may as well up the ante and top them with some holiday cheer. Here are a few ideas for some toppings:

Caramel Topping

  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar and syrup. Cook until soft ball stage. Remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.  Pour over funnel cake.

Cranberry Topping

  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 16-oz can organic whole-berry cranberry sauce

In a small saucepan whisk together the cornstarch and orange juice to combine, making sure there are no large clumps. Pour in cranberry sauce, stir, and bring mixture to a boil over medium to medium-high heat for one minute. Cool for 10 minutes.  Pour over funnel cake.

Cinnamon Apple Topping

  • 2 tbsp. bottle lemon juice
  • 1/3 c. water
  • 7 c. thinly sliced, peeled, Granny Smith apples
  • 3 c. sugar
  • 3/4 tsp. Cinnamon

In a 6-8 quart saucepan, heat lemon juice for 1 minute over medium – high heat. Add water, apples, sugar and cinnamon. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Spoon out over funnel cake.

What’s your favorite funnel cake topping?

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The Taste of Bridge Day – An Insider’s View

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Everyone knows the magnitude of the festival that is Bridge Day. With over 400 BASE jumpers, over 300 rappellers and close to 100,000 spectators, it’s the largest one-day festival in West Virginia.

As Bridge Day has evolved over the years, one of the additions that has steadily grown in popularity and participation has been the feasting that takes place on Friday evening. The Taste of Bridge Day showcases some of the area’s finest cuisine and exposes people to the talents of local restaurants and caterers.

One of those local talents is Rezan Nese.  Rezan was raised in Fayette County, but she has Turkish roots.  She is the head chef and kitchen manager of Chetty’s Pub, one of the eateries at Adventures on the Gorge.  Rezan takes her cooking very seriously.

Background

Rezan has well over 23 years working with food. She has cooked in many different places including Costa Rica, Turkey and at her own place in Fayetteville, which she recently sold after four years. She credits her unusual recipes to the diversity of cuisine she has been exposed to around the world.

Rezan Nese

The Taste

This year’s Taste of Bridge Day featured 14 restaurants from a multi-county area. Rezan relates a few of her feelings about the annual event.  “It’s a great advertising and exposure tool for local mom and pop restaurants. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience new food and flavors that many people would not normally try or have exposure to.”

Initially we planned to share a couple of Rezan’s Taste of Bridge Day recipes here for people to recreate. But as Rezan related, “mine are all in my head, which I know seems a little crazy, but that’s just the way I do it.”

Maybe you’ll get inspiration to try making something new and unique yourself.

Her Dishes

Rezan shared some descriptions of very unique dishes created according to her varied tastes. Her Thai lettuce wrap with red curry features red curry paste, coconut milk, garlic and ginger, your choice of  meat or seafood, shredded carrots, cabbage, shittake mushrooms, leaf lettuce and green onions.

Another favorite dish of Rezan’s is a Peanut Noodle Bowl.  It features rice noodles, peanut butter, chicken broth, crushed red pepper, garlic, ginger and cashew pieces for a garnish.

Rezan has served these dishes at the Taste of Bridge Day in previous years.  They are certainly not your typical WV cuisine.  Rezan says, “Each year I try to do something unique.”

What’s your favorite Taste of Bridge Day dish?

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Rappelling the New River Gorge Bridge

Monday, November 28th, 2011

As far as high adventure goes, leaping off the New River Gorge with a parachute attached to one’s back (aka BASE jumping) is about as extreme as it gets. Over 400 individuals take the plunge each Bridge Day.

But there’s another whole group of thrill seekers that use Bridge Day as a platform (no pun intended) to have their fun too. Rappelling on Bridge Day attracts almost as many participants as BASE jumping.  You may have seen these rappellers raising and lowering flags on Bridge Day.

Here’s the skinny on the rappelling on Bridge Day.

History of Rappelling on Bridge Day

Teams of Rappellers on Bridge Day

Bridge Day rappelling has been organized the same way for 20 years. Benjy Simpson has been the rappel coordinator since 1992 and has seen this part of the festival grow in popularity over the years.

In Benjy’s initial year of coordinating the event, there were 10 teams with 95 total rappellers. The event was opened to anyone who had rappelling experience and was a part of a team with the appropriate gear to participate.

Due to limited space the number of teams has remained capped at 25, but the number of people on each team has steadily risen. Most teams now have between 12 and 16 members.  A blind draw of the eligible teams determines rope positions, as the first position gets the longest rappel and ends up closest to the river.

2011 By The Numbers

Bridge Day 2011 had a total of 23 teams with 311 rappellers. They completed 860 rappels. Only 2009, when there were 25 teams that performed a total of 895 rappels, was larger.

Other Facts

According to registration records, almost a third of the rappel participants each year are first-time Bridge Day rappellers.  The youngest ever participant was 14 and the oldest was 81. These folks have come from approximately 35 different states and 6 different countries.

Benjy relies on a team of volunteers to assist him in putting this event together. Close to 60 people assist in everything, from being part of a safety team to taking registrations and making sure all participants are informed and taken care of while they rappel. Safety is a main priority,  and there has only been one injury in 20 years (in 2002).

The rappel team keeps 2 ropes available just for people who desire to ascend back up from the bottom. These participants must also have their own approved gear; the average ascent takes around 45 minutes. Teams are welcome to ascend their own ropes, but due to time constraints most people use the designated ropes instead.

This feat isn’t for everyone, and the numbers prove it. There were 74 ascents in 2008, 48 in 2010 and 30 on Bridge Day 2011.

Do you want to go ‘on rope’ next Bridge Day?

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