Footbridge #7 299W
Directions from Asheville, NC:
26W/19/23N>Exit 9>19E to Burnsville>to New Dale, past 80N>R > BlueRock> L > Halls Chapel
*You may find your own way once you start the series, but they can be done in any sequence.
Directions are good, but please look at maps to plan your hunt.
Yancey and Mitchell counties are home to 13 of the 23 footbridges in North Carolina.
These were used to connect people with other parts of their families, access to a main road or railroad and for children to catch busses, thus cutting off many miles of travel.
These bridges were built from the 1940’s up into the 1960’s by George Canipe and his crew. Some of them have local names, all are designated with NCDOT numbers.
This series focuses on those that are still open and traversable. Those that are not open are closed because of safety and disrepair or destroyed.
Please be careful while walking on these bridges. Most are in good repair, but have weight limits of no more than 4 persons at a time when crossing.
You assume all risks involved with such a span crossing a river.
These can be informative and fun for families, but it is highly suggested that use of extreme caution when crossing with children, as some of the cable rigging is open and not like a fence. Please hold on where you can when crossing!
Also please be respectful and mindful of all areas near and around these structures as they be close to private property.*
*Since they are near residences, please keep the hooping and hollering down to a minimum, as the experience of crossing such a structure may evoke such comedic outbursts.
As always observe, “Cache in and Trash Out” as these structures are of historical value and useful even to this day, to people living near them.
During a major flood in 1977, some bridges were damaged and repaired, or destroyed. Someone witnessing this flood noted among all the objects uprooted, and carried away on the flood, a multitude of “millions” of balls of all types were seen.
So you are looking for a “ball” with a micro-container hidden within it, at each bridge.
Good luck and safe crossings!
FTF HONORS GO TO RobinMohawk!!!