Posts Tagged ‘New River Gorge Bridge’

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Ever Wonder Why the New River Gorge Bridge Looks Rusty?

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Most people who casually glance at the New River Gorge Bridge aren’t thinking about what it is made of.  But to a highways engineer, or maintenance supervisor, or architect, this would be the first thing they’d think of.

Why?  Because the New River Gorge Bridge is a beast when it comes to maintenance, upkeep and inspections. Imagine trying to paint or work on a bridge that is almost 900 feet off the ground.

There's a reason why it's rusty.

Fortunately, that challenge was foreseen by design engineers before the bridge was built.  The solution?  COR-TEN steel.

COR-TEN

COR-TEN steel is a trademark registered product of United States Steel Corporation. It was developed in the 1930′s, mostly to use in railroad coal cars. It is a special blend of steel alloys that, when exposed to weather, develop a thin, protective rust layer that coats and protects the metal. Some of its early use in civil engineering projects in the 1960′s gave way to architectural uses not long after.

It was an ideal choice for the New River Gorge Bridge because it solved a couple of problems. The expense of painting such a large structure would have been cost-prohibitive. Using COR-TEN not only saved $300,000 in construction costs, but also an estimated $1,000,000 every time the Bridge would have had to been painted.

Also, when COR-TEN weathers, it turns a dark rust color.  This means it blends in with its outdoor environment. This is even more evident in the late fall when the Bridge almost disappears into its surroundings.

Challenges

The use of COR-TEN on the NRG Bridge was not completely ideal. One of the issues that must alway be addressed with COR-TEN is to make sure the welds weather at the same rate as the rest of the steel.

Another issue, discovered after the Bridge was built, was the challenge of using road salt in the winter to keep ice off the Bridge. It was accelerating the rusting process and deteriorating the metal. An alternative had to be eventually be developed and used.

So the next time you look at the New River Gorge Bridge, you’ll know why it looks rusty.  There’s a reason!

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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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Holidays Happenings Around the Bridge

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Old Man Winter has only shown his face a couple of times so far this year (here, at least).  On the other hand, St. Nick is getting ready to make his appearance and this means festive times in the New River Gorge.  Whether you need to work on your Christmas list or just want to get into the holiday spirit, you’ll find everything you’re looking for right by the Bridge.

Shopping

There are plenty of shopping options in this area, especially if you’re looking for something a little different than a department store offering.  Canyon Rim Gift Shop and the National Park Service Canyon Rim Visitor Center are next to the Bridge and have a lot of interesting gifts that you won’t find anywhere else.

Wisteria’s Gifts, located just south of the Bridge in Fayetteville, has a great deal of handcrafted and unique gifts. Pottery, jewelry, glass, children’s items, and much more line the shelves of this cozy shop.

If you need a present for someone who loves being outside, then Water Stone Outdoorsin downtown Fayetteville can’t be missed. From climbing gear and shoes to all sorts of outdoor clothing, Water Stone has a great selection of items for all kinds of outdoor activities.

Page/Vawter House Christmas Lights

Downtown Fayetteville has many other little specialty shops offering antiques, clothing and crafts. Take some time to stroll around town and pop in on these local merchants.  You never know what you might find.

And here’s what we think is the perfect gift – a West Virginia adventure experience!  Purchase a gift certificate from one of our area outfitters and give a rafting trip, a jetboat ride, or a zip line tour.

Holiday Activities

Lacy’s Lights are an annual favorite at the Fayette County Park.  For just a small donation, you can drive through the display, which boasts over 300,000 lights.  In Ansted, visit the Page/Vawter House for it’s Christmas lights and tour. If these holiday lights don’t get you into the spirit, nothing will.

The Historic Fayette Theater has a couple of holiday shows in the works. The New River Youth Symphony Chorus will have their winter concert on December 10 at 7 pm. Then, The Wild Rumpus will host their third annual New Years Bash on New Years Eve. Both of these events are fun for the family.

How are you getting in the spirit around the Gorge this year?

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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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So, you want to BASE jump the New River Gorge Bridge?

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Maybe you’ve been a BASE jumper for awhile and the New River Gorge Bridge is on your jump list.  Maybe you’re an avid skydiver and looking for another way to get your rush. Or maybe you just showed up at Bridge Day this year and saw that an 82-year old man had jumped and thought you could do it too.

Whatever your reason, BASE jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge is an epic feat.  Depending on your experience level, there are some guidelines you’ll need to follow to get to the point where you can actually make the leap.

Experienced Jumpers

If you are already a BASE jumper or a skydiver, you may think this means you can just show up and jump. This is not quite the case. There are some requirements you must meet in order to jump at Bridge Day.

First of all, you need at least 100 parachute jumps (BASE  jumps and/or skydives), and at least one of those has to have been in the last two years prior to the event.

Tandem BASE Jumping at Bridge Day

First time BASE jumpers must attend a BASE jump training event prior to their jump. There are several opportunities to get this training.

You must have BASE jump-specific or approved skydiving equipment and need to make sure your stuff qualifies before registering and paying for your slot.

Unexperienced Jumpers

If you’ve never jumped before, you have a fairly long road ahead to get the required number of jumps before Bridge Day 2012. The bright side?  In 100 jumps you’ll probably realize whether or not jumping off an 876 foot tall bridge is for you. Plus you will have developed a pretty exciting hobby.

There is another way you can experience a BASE jump off the Bridge without going to all that effort. For the first time ever, the 2011 Bridge Day offered tandem BASE jumps.  Only 10 tandem jumps were available; stay posted on what might be offered in 2012.

The tandem jump isn’t cheap, but compared to the amount you’d spend to get your 100 parachute jumps in, its a steal. As long as you have an adventurous spirit and meet a couple of other small requirements, it’s safe to say that you’re going to have the ride of your life.

So, are you planning to jump in 2012?

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32nd Bridge Day Has 82-Year Old Jumper

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Its a pretty good bet that a few of the BASE jumpers at the 2011 Bridge Day were probably jumping from the Bridge for the first time. It’s also a good possibility that Bridge Day was the day some of the jumpers made their first BASE jumps, period.

But what are the odds of it being a jumper’s first BASE jump, that jump is off of the New River Gorge Bridge, and that same jumper is 82 years old?  Pretty good this year, since Donald Cripps of Pensacola, Florida was on the Bridge.  Here’s Donald’s story.

Donald Cripps, Bridge Day 2011. Thanks to Vertical Visions for use of their photo.

Bootleg Bootleg Out the Door

Donald acquired his passion for skydiving as a military paratrooper for the Army in the Korean War. He made his first jump in 1947, and not long after he was thrust into battle by making two combat jumps. After the war he switched branches of the military and spent 17 years as a Navy aircraft mechanic. His paratroop past was forgotten and he didn’t jump again until after retirement.

What To Do, What To Do

After fighting a war, parachuting into battles and a long military career, Donald found himself a retiree looking for a hobby. Unlike the traditional Florida shuffleboard resident, Donald went looking for many different activities to entertain himself.

During the search he realized, “I didn’t have the patience for fishing, and I wasn’t good enough at golf.” He remembered his days as a paratrooper and how much he enjoyed jumping out of planes. Even though he was in his early 60′s, he figured skydiving may be the retirement activity he was looking for.  He was right.

He started his post-military parachuting in 1991.  Today, his total for both military and non-military jumps is 3,227, including his first BASE jump on Bridge Day.  He is on pace to have somewhere near 150 jumps this year and has jumped 4 more times since Bridge Day.

When one hears the word peer pressure, an impressionable adolescent usually comes to mind, but that’s exactly how he ended up being what has not been officially verified, but is almost assuredly a given, the oldest BASE jumper in Bridge Day history. “A lot of the guys I skydive with come up and BASE jump off the Bridge every year and they kept telling me I needed to go try it, so I finally just said OK.” The rest is Bridge Day History.

I’ll Be Back

Donald hopes to be able to visit WV again next year for a repeat performance of this year’s jump. He really enjoyed Bridge Day and his BASE jump off the bridge. He said he hopes to keep sky diving for as long as he possibly can. We can’t wait to see him in 2012.

 

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Bridge Day 2011 By the Numbers

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Bridge Day 2011 is history.  Beautiful blue skies and an awesome crowd of BASE jumpers, rappellers, and spectators equaled a pretty amazing day.

A member of the Red Bull Team jumps at Bridge Day 2011

Also amazing?  Some of the numbers from this year’s event:

  • There were 750 BASE jumps by 421 jumpers this year.
  • 11 tandem jumps were made, for the first time ever.
  • $660 was raised by presenting sponsor Subaru for the Fayette County Humane Society.
  • 180 – That’s the number of pick-ups that the Rescue Boat team made this year, more than average.
  • The Fayette County Green Team and the Appalachian State University Outdoors Program collected almost 600 pounds of cardboard for recycling.
  • 82  - The age of this year’s oldest BASE jumper, Donald Cripps.
  • There were 868 Bridge Day rappels.
  • $1,000.  That’s the donation that Subaru made to World Hoop Day on behalf of Stephanie Bercht, the winner of the Bridge Day Tandem Jump Video Contest.
  • BASE jumpers came from 12 countries and 39 states.  9 jumpers were from West Virginia.
  • 1,000 of you downloaded the Official Bridge Day app.
  • 24% of jumpers were making their first BASE jump on Bridge Day.
  • There were 105 trash cans on the Bridge.
Thanks for being part of Bridge Day.  We’ll see you in 2012!

 

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My Ride in the Rescue Boats

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

By Sarah Powell-Henning

I was born and raised just down the road from the New River Gorge Bridge, in Oak Hill, WV.  One of my earliest childhood memories is of being on the Bridge with family and friends.

My mother, father, grandparents and great-grandparents (and several generations before that!) all, were born and raised in the area. My Grandmother has told us stories of watching the Bridge being built. Her house was just a stones throw away.

Dad (in green life jacket) at Bridge Day in the mid-80's

It’s safe to say my family has been here awhile, and it’s safe to say that Bridge Day seems to be in our blood.

My Dad

The Dragan Brothers, founders of Wildwater Expeditions, along with Butch Christian, Tom Stafford, and some other Wildwater originals, were part of a group that formed the Bridge Day rescue boats. Many know them simply as, “The Pick Up Guys”.

My dad, Tom, was a part-time raft guide in the 70’s and 80’s for Wildwater Expeditions, and for a couple of years was part of this team.

I remember hanging out on the rocky shore of the New River, watching the jumpers aim for the target. More often than not (or so it seemed), Dad and the other guys would rush to pluck jumpers out of the water.

The jumpers would get out at the bank, cold and soaked, but smiling and ready to pack up and do it all over again.

Dad and Tom Stafford pull in a jumper

Jon Dragan and Tom Stafford are no longer with us, nor is my Dad. He passed away two years ago.

So this past Bridge Day, I was beyond touched to have the opportunity to get into the rescue boats with Tom Dragan and his crew and experience for myself what it’s like to be part of “The Pick Up Guys”.

Riding with the Rescue Team

I didn’t know which rescue boat I’d be in.  When I stepped into Missy and Shane Dragan’s boat, it was a good feeling.  After all, our fathers had worked together.

Here’s what I learned:

This team moves fast.  Missy and Shane kept their eyes on the sky most of the time, expertly judging where the jumpers would be landing.  Before they even hit the water, a boat was on it’s way.

And once they got to the jumper, they had to quickly pull them up into the boat, gear and all, because chances were good that someone else needed to be picked up.

Dropping a jumper off at shore (side note - some sweet 80's fashion going on in this pic!)

Jumpers (as many as four at a time, at one point that morning) ride in the boats until the rescue team gets a break in the action and can drop them off at shore.

Their job is critical.  There’s no doubt that what the rescue boat team does is one of the most important jobs on Bridge Day.

After the exhilaration of just jumping off The New River Gorge Bridge, some of those who make a water landing might not exactly have swimming at top of mind.  Jumpers are not wearing life jackets, making it imperative that a boat get to the jumpers quickly.

One of the strangest things we saw was a jumper who landed in the water and lost her shoes in the drink. The jumper was fine. The shoes? Never to be seen again.  She didn’t seem too worried about it though, since she’d just made her first jump off the New River Gorge Bridge.

Teamwork is key.  And this team was tight.  There was constant communication about jumpers coming in, who would grab them, the status of jumpers.  There were times when two or three boats needed to work together to assist a jumper.  I’ve never seen a team more focused or in control.

One of the toughest things about being part of the rescue boat team?  Finding time for a bathroom break.  Who would have thought?

Me on the boat in 2011 with Missy and Shane

A Reflective Day

I want to thank Missy, Shane, and Tom Dragan and the entire rescue boat team for providing the opportunity to experience something that was a very special part of my Dad’s life.

For a moment, I was able to close my mind to the action and reflect on how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place, full of determined, generous people.

Most of all, I thought of my Dad.

I thought of his life, and how grateful I’ll always be for our time together.  He was my best friend, and riding with the rescue team gave me a chance to connect with him again in ways I didn’t expect.

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BASE Jumping on Bridge Day: An Expert Tells All, Part 2

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

This is the second part of an interview with expert BASE jumper, Jason Bell, who has so many BASE jumps he quit counting and has thrown himself off the New River Gorge Bridge over 100 times.   Jason and his company, Vertical Visions, now have the distinguished and difficult job of coordinating BASE jumping on Bridge Day.

One of the things people notice is different jumpers have different amounts of time they hold onto their chute before throwing it.  How long do you typically wait before throwing your pilot chute?

Vertical Visions Setting Up, Bridge Day 2009

I normally wait 3-4 seconds before deploying my pilot chute.  Pilot chutes are small 42″ diameter miniature round parachutes that are tossed into the airstream in order to create drag to extract the main parachute.

Many first time BASE jumpers will hold their pilot chutes in their hands while in free fall.  More experienced jumpers store the pilot chute in a spandex pouch on their back, which they cannot see.  This may sound crazy, but jumpers know the location of their pilot chutes better than the location of their nose.

What is going through your mind when you are standing on the platform waiting to jump?

I’m nervous.  We keep a portable toilet at the Bridge Day exit point for this very reason. Normally, I’m too busy checking my gear to worry about my family, bills, or my job.  It’s kind of relaxing to be able to not worry about life’s everyday problems.

After the parachute opens and I enjoy a 30 second parachute ride into the gorge to a soft landing, I realize that this is the most amazing sport in the world.

Where’s the worst place you’ve landed jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge?

I landed on the railroad tracks at Bridge Day a few years back.  My parachute opened with numerous line twists, which is similar to what a person would experience if someone twisted them on a swing set.  If not cleared quickly, line twists can can be fatal since the jumper can’t normally steer or flare the parachute.

Have you ever injured yourself jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge? What did you do?

Unfortunately, yes.  Back in the 1990′s, I thought it would be a great idea to propose to my wife while BASE jumping at Bridge Day.  I prepared a special flag that read “Jenn, will you marry me?” and even made some test BASE jumps with it.  On the last jump of Bridge Day, I opened my parachute and deployed the flag.  The flag didn’t fully open and I accidentally dropped a steering line while clearing the flag.  Not wanting to land in the river on my proposal jump, but lacking the steering lines that permit a soft flare, I broke my ankle on landing.  She said “yes”, and off we went to the hospital.  It was one of the best days of my life and I’ll never forget the experience.  I wouldn’t change a thing.

What makes Bridge Day worth attending?

Bridge Day is worth the effort to attend because admission is free, the view from the bridge is breathtaking, and there is no other place on the East coast where spectators can watch adrenaline-hungry parachutists leap from a perfectly good bridge.  With 450 BASE jumpers from 10 countries and 40+ US states, the six hours allotted to jumping are well utilized with continuous leaps from the 876′ New River Gorge Bridge.

In addition, Bridge Day offers spectators a view of what it’s like to fly like a bird, something that every person has probably dreamed at one point in their life.

So now you have a better idea of what it’s like to BASE jump.  Are you ready to give it a try?

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