The World's Biggest Bridge Jump

In the New River Gorge you might expect to see climbers ascending Endless Wall or paddlers pounding through the Keeney rapids, but you might not expect to see 450 people BASE jumping from the landmark 876-foot New River Gorge Bridge.

That’s what you’ll get-along with a party of almost 200,000 spectators-if you head to Fayetteville, W.Va., on October 15 for the 26th Annual Bridge Day. What started as a small event in 1980 to give people a chance to walk across the Western Hemisphere’s longest single steel-arch bridge has turned into the largest extreme sports event in the world.

One day a year, the New River Gorge Bridge is legally opened for what is known as the world’s most dangerous sport. BASE (an acronym that stands for the four categories of objects from which one can jump: Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth) jumpers can take the plunge from the railing of the famous bridge, usually free-falling for about three or four seconds before pulling a parachute and floating for another 20 seconds to a landing area on the rocky river banks. The bridge is also open for rappelling, attracting many gutsy stunt climbers to ascend and descend with fixed ropes. Spectators feeling frisky are able to slide down the highline, a rope dropping 700 feet from the bridge’s catwalk to the road at Fayette Station.

Ride with Lance

Now that Lance Armstrong has captured his seventh Tour de France title, he’s riding for a different reason than the yellow jersey. He is dedicating rides to fundraising for cancer research. On October 8 cyclists of all skill levels can ride with Lance at the Tour of Hope D.C. Fundraising Ride, which will culminate the Tour of Hope Team’s cross-country journey into Washington, D.C. At Tour of Hope, Lance will lead a 50-mile ride from Howard County, Md., which will merge with a 10-mile ride starting in Glen Echo just outside of Washington, D.C. Each rider must commit to raising a minimum of $500 for cancer research in order to participate in the ride. More info: www.tourofhope.org.

Assault Ascendancy

This summer, Virginia’s Jeremiah Bishop became the first cyclist to win both the Assault on Mount Mitchell road event and the Off-Road Assault on Mount Mitchell mountain bike race, accomplishing both victories in a single year.

In May, Bishop bested over 1,000 riders in the 117-mile Assault on Mount Mitchell Road Ride, summit the 6,684-foot peak with a total ride time of 6 hours, 11 minutes. Then last month, Bishop crossed the finish line first at the Off-Road Assault, riding 61 miles with 11,000 feet of elevation gain in just 5 hours, 15 minutes. This was Bishop’s first attempt in both cycling events.

“It was really fun to be the first rider to win (both events),” Bishop said. “The Off-Road Assault had the most climbing I have done over that distance since racing in the Alps.” Bishop’s victories signaled a positive return to form after recovering from a recent illness.

Cave Dog Returns

Record chaser Ted "Cave Dog" Keizer and his Dog Team of supporters are attempting to trek 50 kilometers (31 miles) in 50 States in less than 100 days. The challenge is a tribute to Bob Marshall, an early hero of environmental conservation and preservation who first dreamed up the idea in the mid-1900s. Cave Dog’s trek is scheduled to take place between September 15th and November 28th.

Cave Dog will be in the Southeast for a few days around mid-November as he nears the completion of this journey:

November 10: Sauratown Trail, N.C.

November 13: Massanutten Trail, Va.

November 14: Dolly Sods, W.Va.

Cave Dog's last day will follow Bob Marshall's "14 Peak Route” in New York's Adirondacks.

Learn more about Cave Dog, see his entire schedule and follow his progress at www.TheDogTeam.com.

Dude, Where’s My Car?

Ah, suburbia. Picket fences around 0.5 acre lots, sidewalks, playgrounds, and two SUV’s in every garage; all within a 37-minute commute from the city. It’s the dream Americans have invested in since the end of World War II. The question is, can we sustain this dream in the face of the impending oil crisis? The End of Suburbia, a new documentary that has been creating buzz at film festivals across the globe, explores the American way of life and its prospects as the global demand for fossil fuels outweigh the supply. As gas and energy prices skyrocket, will Americans be forced to abandon their suburban way of life? Will these sparkling subdivisions of today become the slums of tomorrow? Check out Endofsuburbia.com.