 | My experience of riding my bike on the GAP trail from Pittsburgh |
The Greater Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail is wonderful. I strung together a bunch of day rides from one point out and then back. It is a gradual elevation increase from the point past Ohiopyle, but it was not noticeable – since I would reverse and experience the same path the other direction. It’s still biking, and I’m no biker. Just a dude who wanted to ride from Pittsburgh to DC because I thought it would be fun to say I rode my bike from my front door to the Lincoln Memorial.
I had already done the stretch from the point to Sandcastle a decade ago. Then I did the little jaunt from Sandcastle to McKeesport to connect up with where I had left off on the Montour Trail from my new house in Bethel Park. That part is easy enough. Just east of McKeesport is some hot nonsense of windy trails up and down and a bit of road work across the 15th street bridge an onto River Ridge Road. I hate riding bikes on roads with cars. I think this general area is the worst of the GAP, but just know what you’re getting into. Google street view helps.
Boston is a pretty cool small town vibe. It’s the first dose of “I’d never know this place existed without getting on this trail.” There’s a lot of spots like that on the GAP as you work along the Youghiogheny River. There are “towns” that make you think “Who the heck lives here and what do they do for a living?!?”. There are spots that make you wonder what it would have been like when trains rolled through here regularly. I had Beuna Vista as my stop for day 1.
Most people will do Pittsburgh to Connellsville in 1 day. It’s about 6 hours of riding. I didn’t get to Connellsville until Matt carpooled with me from Smithton Beach. So many sights to see, like this relic of a round house! There are so many old abandoned buildings and things that make you wonder what they were. We enjoyed a stop at Youghiogheny brewing, of course.
Back on my own, I did the stretch from Connellsville to Confluence. I had ambition to get at least an hour past that, but I got my first flat tire just -seconds- after I hung up with my mom telling her where to meet me. She and Chris were coming back from a trip to Maryland, so it wouldn’t be too out of their way to snag me. I was in good humor about it though. I set out knowing that I’d likely having some trouble, since I’ve never done any maintenance on my +10 year old bike. I took off the tire and changed it out and met them at the lot right by the bridge on Ramcat.
Next ride out, I left my van at that same parking lot, so close to the dam, but I didn’t ride down to see it. I came back later with my family to check it out. I rode all the way out to Meyersdale, where Amanda graciously met up with me and took me back to my van. She had a rental car, after we got rear-ended in Canada, but that’s a separate story! I was capturing my days in facebook posts, and this ride was pretty entertaining since it ended up with me almost losing my bike on the way back. Normally, people get to Meyersdale on their 2nd full day of riding, but for those keeping track at home, this is about my 5th or 6th time out.
Up to this point, I had just been going out on Saturday or Sunday rides. If I wanted to finish this by my 40th birthday, I was going to have to get some longer runs. Amanda and I were also teaching a class at church on Sunday mornings, so I had to use my last opportunity for a back to back day. I used my $100 Airbnb SUPER HOST credit for essentially a free stay at a place in Paw-Paw. I didn’t write it fully in the facebook post because this was the turning point for me. This finished the GAP trail journey and started the C&O canal towpath. Meyersdale to Cumberland is perfect. It’s concentrated GAP awesomeness. It’s got an awesome view, The Big Savage Tunnel, The Eastern Continental Divide, the Mason-Dixon line (crossing from PA into MD), a 17 mile downhill cruise, and all the pomp and circumstance you would hope for into Cumberland with places to celebrate with food and drinks. I was so happy when I stopped on a bench to eat a late lunch. So proud. So innocent. So clueless. So unprepared. I had just done 150 miles of beautiful crushed limestone with a handful of benches every mile or so. The GAP is consistent, flat surfaced, and has dynamic views of the river and surrounding area. Doing it on the fall was beautiful with the leaves changing colors! I love the fall and I loved the GAP trail!
…but then, C&O needed to be done…
Click through for the rest of the journey:
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