Leap of joy in 'the place I belong'

CHARLESTON, West Virginia: Once a year excitement begins to pulse in the US state of West Virginia. Though it may not be famed for its party life, nor is it the home of any great museum, West Virginia is a place of unspoilt beauty, forests, rivers, golf courses and mountains. But the third Saturday of every October is eagerly awaited as the people of the state celebrate "Bridge Day".

This year, on Oct 18, hundreds of base jumpers will gather on the bridge across the New River Gorge and drop 300 m by parachute to the ground below.

After a few seconds of free fall, their parachutes will open and the base jumpers glide down to earth where most decide to make their way back up the gorge to jump again. Their goal is to make as many jumps as possible between 9 am and 3 pm.