Posts Tagged ‘West Virginia’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

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.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Bridge Day History, People of Bridge Day | 13 Comments »

WOAY Taste of Bridge Day 2011

Friday, October 14th, 2011

This year’s WOAY Taste of Bridge Day was the place to be.  A fun (and hungry) crowd filled Smokey’s on the Gorge and the surrounding decks and overlooks, enjoying samples from lots of area chefs.

So many delicious options to choose from...

A diverse group of culinary artists presented this year.  Some of the highlights:

  • Blue Grass BBQ – Dished up cheesy BBQ potatoes.
  • Buffler’s BBQ Grill – 3 words: Chocolate Lava Dessert.  Oh, and baby-back ribs.  They ought to make a scented candle that smells like that sauce.
  • Chetty’s Pub – Its spicy Pho-Vietnamese Soup was a sought-after favorite.
  • Cultured Catering – Homemade Peanut Butter Pie was going fast.
  • Diogi’s Mexican Grill – Oscar and crew served up ginormous BBQ Pork Tamales that were a huge hit.
  • Gumbo’s –  The She Crab Soup was perfectly spiced.
  • Hawks Nest Restaurant – It’s Hot Spiced Apple Cider was perfect for a crisp fall evening.
  • Historic Whitehorse B&B – Big ‘ol bowls of lasagna hit the spot.
  • Long Point Grille & Bar – BBQ sliders were going as fast as they were made.
  • Maloney’s – Chicken and white bean chili was a popular choice.
  • Mumsey’s Iron Skillet – 4 beautifully presented desserts went fast – Lemon Drop, Coconut Creme, Death by Chocolate, and Raspberry Truffle.
  • My Thai – The Thai Dumplings were spot-on.
  • Smokey’s on the Gorge – Served a Seared Jumbo Scallop with Herb Polenta and Bacon-Onion Jam.  What’s not to love?
  • Sunset Grill WV – Piping hot clam chowder was a crowd favorite.
  • Also on site was Sheetz, providing coffee, lattes, and smoothies made to order.  As if you needed another reason to love Sheetz, right?

Besides good food, there was plenty of good company.  Chances were good that you’d run into friends that you might not have seen since last Bridge Day.  Locals and Bridge Day visitors got to know each other while taking in some pretty amazing views of the Gorge.

What did you try at Taste of Bridge Day?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Visitor Information | No Comments »

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?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in BASE Jumping | No Comments »

B.A.S.E. Jumping on Bridge Day: An Expert Tells All

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

One of the biggest draws for the Bridge Day crowd are the BASE jumpers.  Anyone who has ever watched these thrill seekers launch themselves towards the rocks and water waiting a mere 880 feet below wonders, “What makes these people do this?”.

Well, we found the answer to that question, and a few others, when we chatted with Jason Bell of Vertical Visions.  Vertical Visions is a parachuting and BASE jumping company in Bridgeport, WV and this is its tenth year as the Bridge Day BASE coordinators.  Owner Jason and his partner Bill Bird are the co-organizers and both have extensive skydiving and BASE jumping experience.

Jason and his wife, Jennifer

Jason is originally from Morgantown and has a Mechanical Engineering background.  It was at WVU where his passion for jumping out of and off of things was spawned.

It didn’t take Jason long to become an experienced skydiver.  After only one year and 150 jumps, he trekked down I-79 and Rt 19 for his first Bridge Day BASE jump.  Jason was kind enough to take a moment out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge.

How many years have you been BASE jumping now?

18 years, which is nearly half my life.

How many BASE jumps do you have total?

I stopped counting around 7 years ago after I reached 500 BASE jumps.  It’s exciting to quantify jumps when you first start, but it became time consuming and unimportant.

How many of those jumps are off the New River Gorge Bridge?


I’ve got 100+ jumps off the New River Gorge Bridge over the years.  This bridge is an amazingly safe object and hopefully jumpers will get to legally leap from the catwalk outside of Bridge Day in the near future.

How was your first Bridge Day experience?

I waited in line for over 5 hours to jump, but enjoyed every minute of the adventure.

What makes jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge so exciting/scary?


We BASE jump entirely because it’s scary.  After 18 years of jumping, I still get butterflies at the exit point.  The New River Gorge Bridge is one of the tallest bridges in the USA, which makes it an ideal location for safe BASE jumps.  As a mechanical engineer, I can also appreciate the structural beauty of this bridge.

Tomorrow, our interview with Jason continues…

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in BASE Jumping, Bridge Day History | No Comments »

Bridge Day – Five Days and Counting…

Monday, October 10th, 2011

Five days and counting until Bridge Day 2011.  And what’s our office like?  CRAZY!

Although we work all year long to get ready for Bridge Day, these last two weeks are crunch time.   Not a problem for the Bridge Day Team.  That’s life and it makes things interesting.

The most interesting question so far?  “Are horses allowed under the Bridge?”  We love animals as much as you do.  Dogs, cats, and horses.  But not on Bridge Day.  With all the people in attendance, it’s just not the right time to introduce your pet to the beauty of the Gorge.

Posters are ready to go!

Vendors

At this point we have our vendors lined up and are happy to say that we have more vendors this year than at any time since 9/11.  It takes some planning to make sure everyone has the right booth and all the food vendors have their health permit.  Martha and Sharon have been working their tails off.  Make sure and come hungry, as we have some great food vendors!

Sponsors

And great sponsors!  Subaru is on board again as our presenting sponsor and will be previewing the NEW Subaru 2012 Impreza.  You will also enter the Bridge through Red Bull arches at each end of the Bridge this year.

So what else keeps us busy?  Answering questions from media that want to cover Bridge Day.  We love this part because it gives us chances to showcase the New River Gorge and that is our job.  This is the opportunity for the New River Gorge, and hopefully the sun, to shine.

What else would you see if you were a fly on our walls?

• Lights on the phone bank flashing.

• Stacks of the 2011 Bridge Day posters waiting for Ginger Danz to sign in the Bridge Day tent on the south side.

• A picture of the Bridge with cut-out witches placed strategically on it.  Don’t ask.

• Stacks of signs and corners filled with flags to mark the bus routes & parking areas.

• Orange and green vests for the volunteers that answer questions & give directions.

• The GEICO Gecko.  Okay, not really, but he will be at Bridge Day

• Pop-up tents and recycle bins ready to make their way to the Bridge.

• Boxes of Official Bridge Day shirts from Sustain U.

We have a big Bridge, and I think we need a bigger office.  See you at Bridge Day!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Bridge Day Vendors, Visitor Information | 6 Comments »

Tandem B.A.S.E. Jump Contest Winners Announced

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Today we are happy to announce the winners of our Tandem B.A.S.E. Jump Contests.  Drumroll please…..

Stephanie Bercht is our video contest winner!  Her “BASE Hooping” video received the most votes, and her charity, World Hoop Day, will receive $1,000, courtesy of Subaru.

Mollie Seidler is the winner of the Hometown Subaru Test Drive contest.  Mollie is currently a med student at Marshall University.

Congratulations!  And a big thank you to all who entered both contests and to those of you who voted.

Next up: Stephanie and Mollie will suit up and jump off of the New River Gorge Bridge on Bridge Day.  Will you be there to watch?

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in BASE Jumping | 1 Comment »

Secrets to Having the Best Bridge Day in the History of the Earth

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Bridge Day is one of the coolest events out there (and yes, we’re biased). But where else are you going to be able to hang out with thousands of people on one of the world’s largest structures and take in some of the most beautiful scenery and craziest people on the planet?

With more food than a fair and vendors selling everything from New River Pet Rocks to hand knit wool socks, Bridge Day is a unique event that showcases our wonderful fall scenery and our very own engineering marvel.

Here are some of the secrets to making your Bridge Day the best Bridge Day ever.

Family Fun on Bridge Day

Lodging 

Choosing where to stay can make a huge difference in how you’ll access the bridge. There are many options that are in close proximity to the Bridge and require either a short walk or shuttle ride to get to the event. Close options are:

Planning

The best way to make the most of the day is to plan, plan, plan. Take a look at the Schedule of Events to help you figure out how to take advantage of all of the activities taking place. Allowing yourself extra time to travel and planning for all the activities in advance is key to having the best Bridge Day in history.

After the Bridge

In order to get traffic moving again and clean up after the fun, the Bridge will start being cleared at 3:00 pm. But that doesn’t mean the fun is over.

There is a car show at the Quality Inn until 4:00 pm.  In downtown Fayetteville, you can check out the Mountain State Cornhole Tournament, Chili and Cornbread Cook-off and live music by local bands.  There’s free parking in Fayetteville for these events, so you should have no problem getting around.  If you opt to walk into Fayetteville from the Bridge, you’ll be able to catch a free shuttle from there to all of the designated Bridge Day shuttle parking lots until 7:00 pm.

And many of the local bars, restaurants and outfitters also have live music to take you late into the night.

Bridge Day Possibilities

Here’s an example of what an ideal Bridge Day Itinerary might look like:

  • Taste of Bridge Day- Adventures on the Gorge Friday, October 14, 5-9pm.
  • Pancake Breakfast – 7:30am at the American Legion Fayetteville.
  • Fayetteville Farmers Market – 8:30am
  • On the Bridge – 9:00am. Walk across bridge, see jumpers, visit vendors, and take in scenery.
  • Shuttle to the Bottom -12:30pm. Go check out the event from a entirely different perspective.
  • Car show – 3:00 pm Quality Inn
  • Downtown Fayetteville – 4-6:30pm Music, food, and fun.
  • Live Band, The Wild Rumpus – 8:00pm Rendezvous Lodge, Adventures on the Gorge

 

This is just one way to spend your Bridge Day. No matter what you want to do, remember to plan as early as you can for lodging and shuttles.

What is your idea of the best Bridge Day ever?

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Bridge Day Events, Visitor Information | No Comments »

Rafting on Bridge Day; Or, How to Get Up Close and Personal With B.A.S.E. Jumpers

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

As you know, Bridge Day is a very unique festival. It brings together extreme crowds and extreme thrill seekers in an electric atmosphere.

But there’s another way to experience Bridge Day: on the river.

Why Raft?

Rafting the Lower New River on Bridge Day is a great way to enjoy the event. Most whitewater rafting companies offer packages that allow you to raft and spend time underneath bridge watching the base jumpers, up close and personal. Watching the jumpers from water level is a whole different experience than watching from the bridge.

Why?  Well, would you be more excited about a herd of bulls running at you or away from you?  Exactly.

From bridge level, the jumpers hurl themselves off the platform and as they fall away they get smaller and smaller, and if their parachute doesn’t open instantly, you get little sense of the gravity (no pun intended) of the situation.

This could be your view

Jumpers Up Close and Personal

But from the water, you have a better perspective of just how little time jumpers have left for their chute to open as they accelerate towards you.

You get to see just how hard it is to have a good landing, especially on a rocky riverbank. You can watch their faces as they realize they are destined for a splash landing and a rescue by the safety boats that are positioned to quickly pluck not-so-lucky jumpers from the water. Maybe they get caught up in the trees above your head. Or maybe Elvis lands in your pot of chili (true story).

Lower New Fall Colors

But you also get some adventure in your day as you navigate the rapids of the Lower New River. The fall colors are usually in full swing, making this one of the most wonderful times to experience the Gorge. And there’s a good chance you’ll be offered a discounted rafting trip on the Gauley River as part of a Bridge Day weekend package.

So lets review why rafting on Bridge Day is a good idea:

  • Different, and in some opinions, better perspective to watch base jumpers.
  • Scenic time to whitewater raft .
  • Possibility of discounted Gauley trip the next day.

 

So if you love Bridge Day but want to mix it up this year, a quick run down the Lower New River with some added action at the end may be just what you’re looking for. It is a wonderful way to spend a fall Saturday in WV.

Have you rafted on Bridge Day?

 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Visitor Information | No Comments »

Where to Camp Around the New River Gorge Bridge

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Bridge Day is known for its base jumpers, plethora of vendors and spectacular view of fall colors. It’s also the largest one-day festival in West Virginia.  And you know what that means – lots of cars and traffic.

Parking and shuttles, walking, and dodging other visitors are all part of the day. But if you want to limit your time in traffic, plan to stay somewhere close to the Bridge. Camping is a good option to get you close to the event.

There are plenty of campsites in the area, but you should go ahead and make your lodging plans now.

Campgrounds

There are quite a few camping options for you if you want to be close to the Bridge.  Thinking about the kind of group and type of experience you hope to have will help you choose the right site:

Camping in the Gorge

  • Mill Creek Campground – This is a family-oriented campground also run by Adventures On the Gorge. It’s closer to their main campus, which is just ¾ of a mile from the Mountain State Outdoor Center campground, but still an easy walk to the Bridge.
  • ACE NRG Campground – Located a mile down Fayette Station Road, this campground puts you an easy hike from the Bridge or the New River if you want to enjoy the day away from the crowds.
  • Riftrafters Campground -  Located at the Laurel Creek intersection on Rt. 19, you’ll be less than two miles from the Bridge and less than ¼ mile from the Bridge Day Antique Car Show.
  • Gorge Gateway Center - This area offers camping but also has a lot of RV hookups if that’s your preference. From Laurel Creek Road, it’s an easy walk to the Bridge and Fayetteville.

There are many more camping options in the area. And if camping’s not your style, try one of our hotels, cabins, or B&Bs.

Have you camped around the Gorge before?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Visitor Information | No Comments »

Bring Your Appetite to Bridge Day

Friday, August 5th, 2011

When you think of Bridge Day, the images that might come to mind are of colorful parachutes, rappelers dangling precariously below the New River Gorge Bridge, and the iconic arch itself.

Bridge Day celebrates an engineering marvel and the spirit of adventure.  But it is also a celebration of food.  Yes, you heard that right.  Food plays a big role in the event.

Three Ways to Get in Touch with Your Inner Foodie at Bridge Day

Local Fare

Fayetteville, West Virginia can tickle your tastebuds like no other small town.  With a population of only 2.500, this place packs a serious culinary-punch.  It’s just down the road from the Bridge, so you can’t miss it.  Here are a few options:

  • Pies & Pints Pizzeria – Unique pizza that’s been recognized by the Food Network as the Best in West Virginia.  Great local brews on tap as well.
  • Diogi’s – Authentic Mexcian/Central American food in a really cool atmosphere.  Be sure to try the carnitas!
  • The Vandalian – Contemporary American fare with a twist.  Keep an eye out for the availability of Burger & Sushi night.  It’s become a local favorite.
  • Cathedral Cafe – Hearty, breakfast awesomeness served up in what was once a church.  Great array of craft items too.
  • Gumbo’s – Cajun Food. Real Cajun Food!

 

Taste of Bridge Day

Think the list above sounds good?  Imagine most of them (plus more) all in one place at a competition to serve up the best dish.  It’s like a foodie fantasy come true.

Oh yeah…and you get to taste them!  The evening before Bridge Day, you can join us for the annual Taste of Bridge Day presented by WOAY at Smokey’s on the Gorge.  There, restaurants will be showcasing signature dishes in tasting portions.

Simply show up, buy some tickets (from $1-$5 each) and enjoy.

Funnel Cake = Deliciousness

 

On the Bridge

If we could make Bridge Day scratch and sniff stickers they’d sell like funnel cakes.

You’ll find decadence in the carnival fare on the Bridge, like deep fried Oreos, Twinkies and yes, everyone’s favorite – funnel cake!

Event staples like hot dogs, pizza and burgers?  Check.  Unique vegetarian options?  Check.

You’ll also have no problem finding delicious slow-cooked barbecue; simply follow the scent of the sweet smoke.  Or perhaps fajitas or gyros are your thing.  They’ll be there too.

See, Bridge Day is a celebration of food (and oh yeah, people parachuting off a Bridge).  Better bring your appetite.

What’s your favorite Bridge Day food?  Tell us in the comments.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Bridge Day Events, Taste of Bridge Day, Visitor Information | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »