By Chris Rodell, msnbc.com
A landmark West Virginia bridge is allowing tourists an opportunity to enjoy a view usually admired solely by trolls.
Beneath the 851-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, W. Va., is a 24-inch-wide maintenance catwalk that has been opened to tourists as "Bridge Walk."
"It used to be a rite of passage for local kids to sneak way out onto the catwalk," said Bridge Walk managing partner Benjy Simpson, who along with five associates poured more than $1 million into adding unobtrusive safety features and on Sept. 26, 2010, opened Bridge Walk.
Since then more than 3,800 bridge walkers from 37 countries and 49 states (still awaiting South Dakota) have paid $73.44 to enjoy the one-way guided tour across the mighty gorge.
"We've had every age from 9- to 86-years-old cross and we've had people in wheelchairs," says Simpson. "Most are there for scenery or are engineering buffs marveling at the construction and many are people trying to overcome a fear of heights. Of them, only 15 have turned back."
Physically, Bridge Walk is unimposing to anyone capable of a walking a leisurely mile. Walkers are given harnesses and tethered to overhead steel cables.
Twenty feet above, cars and trucks, many oblivious of the view beneath, rumble along the 3,030 foot stretch of U.S. Route 19. The bridge was world's highest vehicular bridge from 1977 through 2002; when it opened in 1977, it turned a 45-minute gorge crossing into a 45-second one.
Think you haven't seen it before? Check your change.
The magnificent span is featured on the 2005 ceremonial quarter for the scenic state, whose slogan justifiably includes the words "Wild and Wonderful."
The bridge is familiar to international daredevils for Bridge Days every third Saturday in October, when the span is closed to vehicular traffic so parachutists, bungee jumpers and other thrill seekers can revel in the opportunity the rare perch provides.
Teddy bears, multiple alarm clocks... Do you have an unusual object you take along when you travel? E-mail us.
Among those willing to take a leap of faith are Ryan Shoplik and Kolby Alonso, who on Nov. 19 became the first couple to get engaged on Bridge Walk.
"He got down on one knee right in the middle of the bridge and proposed," Alonso says. "I was just blown away! Everyone in this group of friendly strangers was in on it, but I had no idea. I remember the first part of the trip was great but I don't remember anything about the rest of the tour after he yelled back, 'She said yes!'"
Shoplik said his fears that day had little to do with the height or even if the girl he's loved for four years since they met at West Virginia Wesleyan College would say no.
"I was just nervous I'd drop the ring!"
msnbc.com