Posts Tagged ‘outdoor activities’

West Virginia Wildlife – Wild and Wonderful

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

If you happen to be rafting, biking, hiking or just hanging out in the New River Gorge, one thing you can’t help but notice is that it is comprised mostly of forest. At any point in the Gorge there may be thousands of acres in any direction with no civilization present. This makes it a great place for wildlife to reside.

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Many people visit the Gorge and never see a single animal. After all, many adventure activities don’t really allow for a lot of scenery-watching. But there is plenty of wildlife here in the Gorge, and if you take the time to look for it, it can be found.

The Critters

Here’s a small list of some of the animals that make their home in the Gorge.

  • Squirrels
  • Raccoons
  • Skunks
  • Opossums
  • Hawks (many varieties)
  • Falcons
  • Bald Eagles
  • Turkey
  • Deer
  • Bear
  • Coyotes
  • Bobcats
  • Mink
  • Otters

 

There is also a large variety of bird species, small rodents, amphibians, reptiles and fish that call this area home. The Gorge is a very healthy ecosystem and its protected status is a major reason why.

Wildlife Viewing

If it’s wildlife viewing you’re after, then there are a few ways you can make it more likely that you’ll have a successful outing.

  • When hiking, cover ground slowly and fairly quietly. Remember, the farther away you get from roads or well-used areas, the more likely you are to encounter wildlife.
  • Stop, look and listen.  Take your time to look around and don’t get in a hurry to move. Scan the area very carefully before moving again.
  • Timing is key.  Very early mornings and late evenings are the optimal time to see animals, as they are either coming out of their hiding spots or getting ready to disappear into the foliage.
  • Come to the Gorge for one of our animal-related events.  The New River Birding and Nature Festival takes place every May and is a great way to learn from some expert birdwatchers.

 

Just remember that no matter how cute, cuddly or friendly an animal looks, keep a respectful distance. There’s a reason why they call it wildlife.

What wildlife have you seen in the Gorge?

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How To Have The Best Winter Vacation Ever

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Not long ago, a visit to the New River Gorge in the winter wasn’t high on many folk’s list. Although that has changed somewhat over the years, it’s still not common knowledge that this place is pretty amazing in the wintertime too. That’s why winter is a wonderful time to visit and take advantage of all the Gorge has to offer this time of year.

Skiing at Winterplace

Great lodging rates and amazing cool weather mean that the Gorge is a special place to visit during what most call the “off season.” Let’s look at some of the reasons to make a trip to the Gorge before summer rolls back around.

Cozy Cabins

Winter availability at many of the area chalets and cabins is easy to find, even on short notice. That means that at the last minute, you can check the weather (“Hey, it’s going to snow!  Let’s go skiing!) and easily find a cozy West Virginia cabin.

One of the best parts about visiting the New River Gorge is the peace and solitude in your surroundings. Many of the cabins or chalets are fairly secluded.  In fact, many times in the winter you may stay a day or two at a cabin in the woods and not see another soul. People from the city may find this concept foreign, but trust us, you’ll love it.

Winter Adventures

Winter in the Gorge doesn’t mean sitting in your cabin and playing board games all day to pass the time. You’re in the heart of an outdoor adventure hub, so get active! Try some of these winter outdoor activities:

 

And after a day on the slopes or trails, there are lots of interesting places to stop for dinner, shopping, and entertainment.

Finding a reason to plan a winter getaway shouldn’t be hard. Are you visiting the Gorge soon?

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A Family Guide to the New River Gorge

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

This time of year parking lots throughout the New River Gorge fill up with cars hailing from New York to Florida and all parts in-between.  They come for the fun, the adrenaline rush, and for getting back to nature with the ones they love.

Photo Courtesy of Hard Rock Climbing

Family Fun - Rock Climbing!

And if you’re traveling with children this year, here’s a quick guide to finding things everyone can (and will love) to do:

8 and under

  • Rock Climbing – There are plenty of climbing spots that kids can tackle, and guides who can show them how to do it.
  • Whitewater Rafting (special boats) – Talk with one of the area rafting companies about a trip that will work for your family.
  • Horseback Riding (certain trips) – Even if your kids have never been on a horse, there are some beginner trips that are lots of fun.
  • Tram and Jetboat Ride - At Hawks Nest State Park, you can take a tram to the bottom of the Gorge.  From there, catch a ride with New River Jetboats and get an up-close view of the New River Gorge Bridge.

 

10+

  • Canopy Tours and Ziplining – There are lots of options in the Gorge; just remember, many canopy tours and zip lines have weight and height guidelines.
  • Bridge Walk (new!) – Take your family under the Bridge and look 876 feet down into the Gorge!
  • Whitewater Rafting (special boats)
  • Horseback Riding (certain trips)
  • Paintball – Local outfitters will provide you with the gear and tips on how to have a safe, fun time.
  • Mountain Biking – There are plenty of Gorge trails that kids will enjoy.  You can bring your own gear or go out with one of the Gorge’s local guide companies.
  • Standup Paddleboarding (new!) - A cross between surfing and kayaking, standup paddleboarding is a fun water sport that everyone can learn together.

 

12+

  • UTVing – Some local outfitters allow children ages 12 and up to be passengers in UTVs.
  • Wild Caving - Take a cave tour to the next level by going off the usual path, with a guide of course.  Warning – you will get muddy!
  • Kayaking – Many area outfitters teach the basics of kayaking and then take groups on guided tours.

 

13+

*Please note some activities also have a weight requirement. Many activities also require an adult or parent to be present.

What other activities do you and your family enjoy doing together?

 


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Another Extreme Sport Comes to the Gorge

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Whitewater rafting, ziplining, rock climbing – and now the sky’s the limit.  Yep. You heard it here first; skydiving is officially coming to the New River Gorge.

Two new outfitters are now in operation.  Tristate Skydivers and WV Skydivers are both operating with new drop zones for skydiving.

Are you ready to skydive in the Gorge?

Tristate Skydiving and Larry Lemaster are names that are known in the Gorge for parachutes and BASE jumping.  Larry and his team have assisted with Bridge Day for the past two years and have worked to train others in the sport.  Tristate’s location at the New River Gorge Airport was always his Bridge Day home; it’s now the permanent home for his second parachuting business. Tristate Skydiving also has a location near Huntington.

WV Skydivers is operating its new business from the Fayetteville Airport; this is its second operation in WV.  Skydiving from this airport is now yet another aviation activity at the facility, which already offers biplane and helicopter rides.  Ralph Osborne and his staff also offer a full service campground for those who want to experience everything that’s happening on-site.

Both businesses look forward to introducing the sport to tourists and locals this season.  And we’re pretty stoked too.

Are you gonna give it a try?

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What’s a Cairn?  And more NRG Hiking Questions Answered.

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

Spring is a great time to jump on one of the trails in the New River Gorge.

If you’re not a hiking aficionado, don’t worry.  The NRG trails are well marked and range from an easy two-mile stroll to more strenuous eight-mile hikes.  Here are some tips to make you a hiking rock star among your friends:

•    What’s that pile of rocks over there?  It looks like someone just piled them up. A pile of rocks can be found at the transition of many trails indicating a turn or transition.  The pile is actually called a “cairn” and hails from our friends in Scotland and Ireland who typically carried a rock with them up to the top of a mountain to place on the cairn.

You might see a Cairn like this

 
•    Are the trails marked? The public trails in the New River Gorge all use signs or blaze to mark the way. Blaze is a practice of using paint or markings on trees to show you that you are moving in the right direction.

 
•    I heard some people say they were highpointing.  Um what is that? Some hikers want to get to the top of the trail; these are highpointers.  They long to find the highest point for the greatest views.

 
•    I have seen some hikers with a strap across their backpacks.  Should I be using a chest strap? A chest strap is an important part of hiking if you plan to carry a backpack.  A chest strap is connected across your chest in the front so that your backpack doesn’t pull your shoulders backward.

Hope to see you on the trails…

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What You’ll See On Bridge Day

Thursday, October 15th, 2009
The Bridge Catwalk

The Bridge Catwalk

Bridge Day is West Virginia’s biggest festival.  There’s a reason for that.

People can come to Bridge Day expecting to see things that, really, just aren’t assembled anywhere else.  And, some stuff that you will.  The old favorites.

Here’s a bit of an overview of both…

The big attraction is, of course, the world’s largest BASE jumping festival.  BASE, if you don’t know, stands for Building Antenna Span and Earth.  Those are the 4 catagories of fixed objects that people parachute from in the sport.

The basic setup goes like this: The bridge is open only to pedestrian traffic during the event.  Right in the middle of the span is a large platform- the launch ramp.

Jumpers are lined up around the launch ramp with thousands of spectators around to watch.  The atmosphere is pretty exciting.  After all, these people are about to leap from an 876 foot high bridge.

And then they jump.  One after the other.

Bright parachutes, rescue boats in the river below, and a hot landing zone are all par for the course while the festival is going on.  The jumpers go pretty much non-stop through out the day.

On the southern side of the bridge, 800 foot long ropes are visible, hanging down below the arch.  This is where the rappellers are rigged up and ready.

Rapellers actually kick off Bridge Day by raising the U.S., West Virginia, and this year, National Park Service flags up the ropes closest to the center of the bridge.

Vendors always help to make for a great festival.  But the ones at Bridge Day are… a little different.  Not only will you find eats of all stripes, but there are crafts vendors, musicians, and lots of artisans, as well.

The vendor area is just off the bridge on both the north and the south sides.

You’ll also see a lot going on in downtown Fayetteville.  The shops run specials all weekend, and you can shop for outdoor gear, art, clothes, and music.  After the festival, expect to find plenty of people um in town at the 1st annual Bridge Day Chili Festival.

The bridge is a one-of-a-kind place, and Bridge Day is a celebration to match.  If you’ve never been, you’re going to see a lot more than you’re used to.

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What You Need To Know About The Weather On Bridge Day

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Bridge Day happens rain or shine.  Or clouds.  Or cold.  Or whatever.

West Virginia’s largest festival wouldn’t let a little thing like weather get in the way, and this Saturday (October 17th 2009) there will be a 100% chance of some kind of weather.  So come prepared.

The BASE  jumpers?  They’re already prepared.  Short of very strong winds, which are pretty rare in the New River Gorge, jumpers can jump.  On Bridge Day, BASE jumpers use their experience and the combined experience of their community to determine when it’s safe to leap.

Weather is a concern, and delays can happen.  But Bridge Day BASE jumping has never -NEVER- been canceled due to weather.

For the 90-whatever % of us who aren’t jumping, the weather’s also a concern.  Here are some tips for proper Bridge Day weather-ization :-)

  • Dress Warm and Waterproof-  As the old saying goes, “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”   Bring jackets and raingear so you can be comfortable during the event.
  • Layer Up-  The best method of heat retention is to wear multiple layers of clothing.  On the  plus side:  if you get too warm, you can shed layers to adjust.
  • Wear A Hat-  Mom was right.  Always bring a warm hat that covers your ears to help keep that warmth inside.  A warm scaf, balaclava, or neck gaiter to go along with the hat is even more helpful.
  • Cotton Bad, Synthetic Good-  I love cotton.  Unless it’s wet and cold.  That’s because cotton is a terrible insulator once it gets wet.  That big ‘ol hoody sweatshirt?  Once it gets wet, it’s going to make you cold.
  • Plan Ahead-  There are no backpacks allowed out on the bridge during bridge day.  Make sure that you’re wearing what you need to stay warm if it’s cold out, and leave the backpacks behind.
  • Use your head-  If you’re out on the bridge and the weather is starting to get to you, find some shelter.  Grab a hot drink.  Go warm up.  It’s much easier to prevent hypothermia from happening (dangerous loss of body heat) than to fix it once it happens.

Bridge Day is always the 3rd Saturday in October.  So we always have to factor in weather for the event.  It’s just a part of it.  Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s not, but it’s always there.

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The Secret To Parking On Bridge Day

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Bridge Day is filled with cool stuff.  It’s like a New River Gorge Showcase in a day.  Plus parachutes.

But for everything that goes on that day (this year, Saturday October 17th), there’s one thing that people want to know more than anything else:  “Where do I park?”

Hey, it’s a fair question.  If you’re going to be attending West Virginia’s biggest festival, it’s an important piece of the puzzle.

So, here’s the secret to everything you need to know about parking on Bridge Day:  Planning.

With just a bit of advance planning, you can easily be at the event and out on the bridge with no trouble at all.

Let’s start with some logistics.  During Bridge Day itself, the bridge is closed to traffic.  From 7 A.M. to 5 P.M., only pedestrians, emergency vehichles, and the occasional rafting bus can cross the bridge.

That means you’ll have to drive around the bridge if you want to go by car to the opposite side.  And here’s the route: From Fayetteville, it’s Rt 16 west to Chimney Corner, then Rt 60 east through Ansted to Rt 19.  If you’re coming from the north, just reverse that:  60 west through Ansted to Chimney Corner, then 16 east to Fayetteville.

For the VAST majority of people, it’s easier just to park on one side of the bridge and stay there.  Then if you want to cross, you just walk across.  That’s part of what bridge day is all about anyway, right.

There is no parking right at the bridge.  Never has been, never will be- (except for handicap parking, which is plentiful on both sides).  Lucky for us, there are shuttle buses running on both sides of the bridge.  Here’s a rundown of where the shuttle stops are (all parking places are just off U.S. 19):

ON THE NORTH SIDE:

1.  Millroy Gross Rd, at the New River Campground

2.  Smales Branch Rd, in front of the Lighthouse Worship Center

3.  There’s some parking, but no shuttle stop, along Ames Heights Rd and Lansing Rd.  These leave you with about a 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk to the bridge.  Get there early for a space- otherwise, hit one of the shuttle stop parking areas.

ON THE SOUTH SIDE:

1.  Kroger/K-mart in Oak Hill

2.  Wal-Mart in Fayetteville

3.  Fayetteville High School

4.  Fayetteville Court House

The buses will all take you right up to the bridge.  When you’re finished, you can take a bus right back to where you started from.  Easy, peasy, mac-n-cheesy.

There’s an in depth chart and description right here, and you can download and print a map of all the shuttle stops.

And, if there’s anything we can do to help you plan a little more, just give us a call:  800-927-0263

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10 Alternate Names For Bridge Day

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

What’s Bridge Day?  The short answer is it’s the largest festival in West Virginia.

But it’s more than that, really.  Just saying “the largest festival…” leaves out the whole community feel of it.  The tradition.  The adrenaline.

Maybe if there were some more names for it, it would help describe everything that goes down…

  • “Y’all Are Crazy” Day- The big draw, of course, is BASE jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge.  If you don’t know, BASE is parachuting from a fixed object- in this case, a bridge.  A spectacle.
  • “I Can’t Eat Any More… Well, Okay” Day If there’s one thing you’ll find everywhere at Bridge Day, it’s food.  From the Pancake Breakfast in the morning to the Chili Cookoff that night, (and all day long, too) there’s plenty of grub.
  • “This Place Is Awesome” Day When you see the big crowd, and the jumpers, and the rafters and kayakers below, and the fall colors, all from this engineering marvel of a bridge, this is exactly what you’ll think.  Promise.
  • “I Do Need Some Art” Day We’re lucky to have some of the most talented artisans in the state come and set up shop.  Almost anywhere you go on Bridge day, there’s great art for browsing and for sale.
  • “We Need To Stay Another Day” Day There is no way to do everything you’d like to do in the New River Gorge in a day.  Rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, ATVs, paintball, rafting, kayaking, and on and on.  Sorry about that.
  • “I Should Get A Motorcycle” Day It probably helps that Weest Virginia has more CRPC  (Curvy Roads Per Capita) than any other state.  Whatever it is, Bridge Day draws tons of bikes.
  • “I’ve Got To Show My Friends This” Day This year -the 30th anniversary- Bridge Day is full connected, online, and mobile. Text bd30 to 77007 to find out everything, and tag the stuff you share with #bridgeday or #bd30.
  • “I Could Get Used To This” Day The New River Gorge is the world’s greatest backyard, basically.  People move to this part of the Mountain State to turn life into serious play.
  • “Fat Guy With A Funnel Cake” Day Self-explanitory.
  • “We’re Definitely Doing This Again Next Year” Day If we renamed the festival after the phrase most often overhead at Bridge Day, this would be it.

It’s a lot of things.  More than anything, it’s fun.  And who are we to try to define fun, anyway?  We’ll just stick with Bridge Day.

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