2011 BRIDGE DAY™ RAPPEL
Post Office Box 71
Elizabeth Way
Fayetteville, West Virginia 25840-0071
304 574-1037 Fax 304 574-1300
Email: bridgedayrap@passagestoadventure.com
This letter will finalize our preparations for the 2011 Bridge Day™ rappel and outline the Bridge Day™ weekend’s activities. Please share all Bridge Day™ Rappel information with the members on your team. You can refer your team members to the website hosted by Jeff Facer, www.bridgedayrappel.com. Thank you for your cooperation and participation.
|
Date |
Day |
Time |
Activities |
October 13 |
Thursday |
9 AM – 5 PM |
Rig the High Line |
October 14 |
Friday |
9 AM - 3 PM |
High line rigging, testing, and VIP riders. Rig Rappel anchors, hang banners. |
October 15 |
Saturday |
5-7:30 AM |
Breakfast at Eatery - same place as last year. |
Please review the following information and call or write if you have any questions or concerns. The information is presented in an ABC format.
Anchor - Your anchor will be two straps placed across the Bridge’s floor beams. Bruce Smith and On Rope 1 made these rigging straps w/padding (minimum breaking strength (MBS) approximately 16,000 pounds). The straps meet NFPA and ANSI certification requirements. 10 mm Delta screw links will be provided to connect the D-rings. The straps will be put in place on Friday, October 16.
Directions -
Our headquarters are off Fayette Station Road in Fayetteville. Fayette Station Road is one mile south of the New River Gorge Bridge off US Route 19. This is the same location as last year.
Ascent Request - You may choose to ascend your team’s rope or request an ascent using our ascending ropes. Everyone wishing to do an ascent must complete the ascent request form and return it by October 8. All decisions regarding ascents will be announced by the safety team at the Meet ‘n Greet. The form is online at www.bridgedayrappel.com.
Behavior Every participant is expected to respect the rights of all Bridge Day users (i.e., rappellers, jumpers, spectators, vendors). Negative behavior and unsafe actions will not be tolerated, and such behavior will result in your removal from the Bridge Day rappelling activities.
Breakfast will be at the Eatery from 5-7:30 AM on Saturday morning. This is the same location as last year.
Camping - is limited this year. The cost is $12 per person per night. Toilet and shower facilities are available twenty-four hours. There are NO cabins or RV sites available this year. You must make reservations and pay in advance.
High Line - The High Line will run from the catwalk on the north end of the bridge to the road below. There will be some congestion on the north end of the catwalk.
Meet ‘n Greet is new this year. Teams will meet their respective safety officers.
Decisions regarding ascents and tandem rappels will be made. Concerns, issues, gear, and/or questions will be addressed. Attendance is required.
NEW information will be presented at the Orientation this year – accessing the catwalk, catwalk spacing, shuttle drop offs, staging areas, anchor sites, reporting #’s… Orientation will begin at 7 PM on Friday, October 14 which all rappellers must attend.
Parking will be the same as last year off US Route 19, north end of the Bridge the southbound side. You can begin to park in this area at 6:30 am. The New River Gorge Bridge is scheduled to close at 7 am. We will begin walking to the Bridge as a group at 7:30 am. We will issue 3-4 parking passes per team at the orientation. Some of you staying on Fayette Station Road will not have to drive. The shuttle buses will be making stops throughout the day.
Each team is required to have its own Radio Communication. The safety team uses Motorola Talk About radios. They use channel 10 code 6. Please return your radio info by October 8. The form is online at www.bridgedayrappel.com.
Registration will be Friday, October 14, between noon and 6 PM. Photo ID will be required. This is the same location as last year.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility! Bruce Smith is our Safety Officer. He will have a safety team on the catwalk. Please follow the directions of the safety team.
Security will be stationed at each end of the bridge. No one will be admitted to the catwalk without a catwalk pass. You can expect to empty your pack and be searched each time you access the catwalk. Attitudes and uncooperative behavior will prevent you from accessing the catwalk.
The Shuttle is being provided by the Bridge Day Commission. There is a $40 charge per person for People Not Rappelling who wish to eat Saturday breakfast, and/or ride the shuttle up and down Fayette Station Road. Shuttle passes will be issued to these people. These people will not be allowed on the catwalk. Please send in the names and fees for these passes. The deadline for shuttle passes is Friday, October 8. We will try to do shuttle passes on Friday, October 15, if time permits.
The following Will Not Be Allowed on Bridge Day: knotted ropes, figure 8's, mini-rack, sandals, upside down rappel, costume accessories (i.e., antlers) that may interfere with other rappellers, and speed rappels. Anyone doing what is not allowed will have that team’s anchor closed. The individual and the members of that team will not be allowed to continue rappelling or ascending. The safety team will determine what is a speed rappel. Please ask questions about anything you are not sure of during the orientation meeting.
Everyone wishing to do a Tandem Rappel must submit the tandem rappel request form by October 8. All decisions regarding tandem rappels will be announced by the safety team at the Meet ‘n Greet. The form is online at www.bridgedayrappel.com.
The Bridge Day rappel is not a Training session.
Inclement Weather may force the delay or cancellation of all Bridge Day activities. Some of you may remember that one year Bridge Day was canceled the morning of the event. There are NO refunds if the event is changed or canceled for any reason.
Thank you!
Benjy
Benjy Simpson
Rappel Coordinator