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Posts Tagged ‘West Virginia’

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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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Whitewater Rafting in West Virginia: The Beginnings

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

When you’re standing high above the New River on Bridge Day, looking down from the Bridge, have you ever noticed those lucky folks who are rafting below?  Whitewater rafting has become a favorite adventure for West Virginia visitors, on Bridge Day and other days alike.

And with rafting season just around the corner for the most avid and hardy of paddlers, this seems like an opportune time to look back at the history of running the rapids of the New River.

This year marks 45 seasons that outfitters have been taking folks down the New River in rubber rafts. The first company to raft the New was Wildwater Unlimited.  When the Dragan brothers started taking friends down the New River in 1968, one has to wonder if they ever dreamed it would become the industry it is today.

First Year

With two pick-up trucks and two rubber rafts that were custom made by an Army surplus boat company, Jon, Tom, Chris and Melanie Dragan started rafting the New during summer breaks from college. In Wildwater’s first year, less than 80 people went down the river.  But it was from this simple beginning that an industry was born.

For these pioneers from Pennsylvania, the New River was uncharted territory. There were no laws governing rafting at the time and the New River Gorge was not a National Park. Little was known about the rapids on the New.  In fact, the names that these rapids possess now are due to these first trips. Most of the knowledge that paddlers of today have about the New River came from the early trips.

Wildwater Guests Today

In order to build a “seasoned” crew for the rapids of the Lower section, the protocol for all guests was a two day trip. Day one consisted of guests paddling the much flatter and safer upper stretch to acclimate themselves to the water and the rafts.

On day two, guests tackled the rougher water of the Lower New. The rafts were all double guided for safety, a practice that Wildwater Unlimited continued until the early 1990′s.

Influence

As there were no rules or regulations about whitewater rafting, the WV Division of Natural Resources was tasked to be the governing body of this new sport. The Dragans were influential in helping create many of the policies that are still in place today. Emphasis on safety was a huge concern.  A few years later policies for company licensing and quotas, designed to prevent overcrowding, soon followed.

By 1971 a few more companies had entered the scene and eventually the state capped the number of licenses at 25. Today there is rafting on the Gauley, Cheat and Shenandoah, Big Sandy, Tygart, Potomac and Bluestone rivers as well.

It’s hard to believe that an industry that had over 200,000 customers a year in the mid 1990′s was spawned from some college kids running the river with friends, but that’s exactly what happened.

Are you ready for a West Virginia whitewater adventure?

 

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Gearing Up for Rafting Season in West Virginia

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

March is a mere week away.  And even if Mother Nature has a few more days of snow and cold planned, something about March lifts folks spirits and lets them believe winter is over. It also means that rafting companies and guides will be preparing for another whitewater season.

All that gear? It will be checked thoroughly.

Before guests show up to be “whitewatered”, there is a great amount of work and planning that goes into getting ready for a rafting season. Both companies and guides have things that they do before the season starts to get ready for 8 months of fun.

Here’s a little bit of what goes on before the rafting season gets rolling.

Gear – Check and Recheck

Even though it was packed away nice and neatly in preparation for winter, rafting gear will all be inspectedagain before being put into use for a season. Rafts will all be inflated to make sure they hold air. Helmets and PFD’s will have their buckles all checked and inspected for any problems or defects. Wetsuits will be examined to make sure they still stink (a little raft guide humor there folks).  Guides will do this with their own personal equipment too.

Guide Gear, Ready to Go

There are also medical kits that will have to be checked and rechecked to make sure all contents are present, accounted for, and in-date. We’re not talking just about bandages and gauze here; splints, cervical collars and EPI pens are part of these kits. Whitewater trips try to anticipate what medical needs they might have while on the river.

Guide Training

Every spring, companies prepare for the upcoming season by providing training refreshers for their staff. This is the time when outfitters decide how many new guides they’ll need and start formal guide training programs. Every guide, no matter how many years they’ve worked, has to take classes on first aid, CPR and Swiftwater Rescue. Being able to use the things in those aforementioned kits is as important as carrying them.

Guide training can take a long time, so starting early in the season is crucial. Requiring trainees to go out when conditions are less than favorable is a way of weaning out people who may not have the dedication to be a professional guide. By the time they complete a training program, every guide will have boating skills, first aid skills, rescue skills and be ready to take guests on their whitewater adventure.

These are just some of the things that will be going on at river outfitters starting here in a few weeks. And soon we’ll have some tips to help you gear up for a rafting trip before you come to paddle.

 

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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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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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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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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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