Another year, another Bridge Day!
This year was special, since Chris and I got to lower the flags in a tandem rappel! I was on the bottom, with the Park Service and West Virginia flags. Chris was on top with the American flag. It was a beautiful day, no rain, and I got in 2 rappels, 1 climb and the 1 tandem rappel with flags. For more images, go here.
Thanks to Ellen Hofler for this image of us.
A day full of rappelling the New River Gorge Bridge (876 feet) during Bridge Day with eXtreme Rappels. It was a rainy one, but for the most part, everyone was in good spirits!
Here is a photo of Chris climbing below me during a tandem ascent of the bridge.
Carl Amundson is all smiles.
People waiting to get onto the catwalk.
Some friends climb tandem in the distance. The cool steel frame is always a magnificent view when hanging in the middle of the air.
Rappelling the flags at the end of the event.
My second Bridge Day . . . rappelling the New River Gorge Bridge (876 feet). Some interesting facts about the Bridge —
• Longest steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere with a 1,700’ span
• Second highest bridge in the United States at 876’
• The bridge length is 3,030’
• The deck width is 69 feet 4 inches
• Total bridge weight is 88,000,000 lbs.
My first Bridge Day in West Virginia! Bridge Day is the largest one-day festival in West Virginia. On the third Saturday in October, they close down the bridge to traffic and open it up to rappellers and BASE jumpers to have fun on the 876-foot tall structure!
The New River Gorge Bridge is the world’s third longest steel arch bridge with a main span of 1,700 feet. At 876 feet above the New River, the New River Gorge Bridge is the third highest bridge in the United States and the thirteenth highest bridge in the world.
Below is members from my team walking to the Bridge early in the morning to rig our rope.
The view from the catwalk.
Bob Handley, a living caving legend.
Ellen begins her rappel.
The view looking up while on rappel.
And another view looking down while rappelling.
