C&O / GAP Forum

The trip that was planned for May, got COVID Canceled, is now happening in July. I know that late May would have been much more comfortable, but I'm taking this trip regardless of weather/temperature.

I'm not 100% sure I have enough miles in my legs to finish well. I'm probably 25-30# heavier than I'd like to be. But reality is this solo trip is more about mental/spiritual health than athletic achievement. For the past six years I've been walking alongside my son who has dealt with PTSD following a horrific period of bullying that went unchecked in the public school system. This, followed by two years of standing by my wife as she battled (and beat) cancer. All of this while building a business that has fortunately flourished during the economic shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be my first moment of prolonged solitude in over six years.

If you happen upon a middle age, overweight man, riding a Salsa Cutthroat, traveling east between July 11-17, who might be gasping for breath between tears of joy, feel free to say "hello"

Matt:

If you are interested in a fellow rider from Pittsburgh to guide and ride along side for a few miles out of Pittsburgh, drop me a note at:

Rivnuts at yahoo.com

That said, the desire for some “me” time and solitude is understandable as well. Regardless, enjoy your trip.

Rivnuts

Matt-
I just finished the trail yesterday.

I have gone through the Pittsburgh section guided and in-guided.

Take up the offer. It is not hard to find the trail in Pittsburgh, but it is much more relaxing to follow someone.

You go Matt. Have a great ride.

News reports state the foot bridge across the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry was reopened yesterday.

I suppose that's a good thing. ;) It can make riding or running past harpers ferry pretty annoying with the large number of people who don't know or care that they're on a multi-use path and ignore all "on your left" and bells and yells and...

I'll ride that way today and look.

Hello,

We live in Gaithersburg, MD, and have done the C&O Trail from DC to Cumberland and the Gap from Cumberland to the Continental Divide.

We are planning to do day trips on the GAP in 15mi sections (30mi RT). We are thinking of Meyersdale, PA, and Ohiopyle as possible starting points. What are the trails like in these areas? And we are open to other suggestions as well as places to stay.

Art

I am hoping to leave my car in Pittsburgh for a few days while riding the GAP to Cumberland. I am told you can park at the Amtrak station. This seems odd. Does anyone have advice?
Thanks
Brent

There is only limited "drop-off" parking at the Amtrak station in Pittsburgh. There are some nearby public parking garages in which to leave your car, albeit at a quite steep price for that duration.

In response to earlier inquiries about leaving their car for a week in downtown Pittsburgh some have stated that the nearby Hampton Inn will allow you to leave your car there for the week if you stayed there, say, the night before departing on your bike trip. You should confirm that with them if that approach is of interest to you. There are a couple of other hotels near the train station you could contact as to whether that have similar policies.

I have suggested to others that rather than trying to park downtown, you could consider staying/starting at the Waterfront Shopping area in Homestead PA which is about 8 miles from downtown and through which the GAP Trail passes. There are hotels, groceries, a Lowe's, etc. with copious amounts of parking and pretty safe. If you really wanted to see the origin of the GAP at Point State Park downtown, you could ride from Homestead back into town to do so.

Alternatively someone could drop you off downtown and then drive on out to the Waterfront, meet you there as you ride out of town and park the car. I would suggest parking at one of the hotels there or the Giant Eagle grocery or Lowes. I would think those would be the safest places to leave you car for the week.

Just my two cents worth. Others may have some good ideas as well.

You could try to stealth park in Fern Hollow which can connect to Duck Hollow, but you will need to cross over very wide and very active rail lines to reach the point and the beginning of the Gap. That route is not really safe. Alternatively, instead of passing through Duck Hollow, you could just GPS your way on Pittsburgh streets from Frick Park (Fern Hollow aka lower Frick) to the point. Braddock Avenue to Forbes, turn left on Forbes, (over the bridge, through Squirrel Hill, then Oakland, pick up Fifth Avenue around the Cathedral of learning, and continue through the hill district into downtown Pittsburgh to the point.

On Friday June 26th my husband and I completed our first time riding from Pittsburgh to DC on the trail. We had a great trip and took lots of fun videos. Yesterday we started our day in Brunswick and somewhere along a bumpy section my husband’s go pro mount snapped with the camera falling off unnoticed until we reached Great Falls. If anyone found it we only would like the SD card with all of our memories recorded. Thank you for your help.

Laurie, I'm so sorry that you lost your GoPro, but I think you are being too kind requesting the return of only the card. Let's hold people to a standard that will make this country a better place. If anyone finds this GoPro, do the right thing and return the entire unit to its owner. Simple.

From a purely statistical point of view, it is most likely to be found by someone who walked a short distance near where they live, not by someone on this forum. You've likely thought of this, but perhaps file reports with the Great Falls Visitor Center, the Montgomery County Police and Maryland State Police. Good luck.

Caution- the pedestrian bridge is closed down because of a train derailment. Make sure it has reopened before planning to stay here on your trip!

Stopped here two days ago on my trip. It was busy! Only two young women and a cook working in the whole place. It was a very impressive operation, but some impatient customers. If you go here tip a lot because these women are really hustling! Also, the chicken club wrap was awesome, get it with a side of ranch for dipping!

Last summer a washout south of Brunswick required a long detour on roads or (my option) a short hop and scramble across a stream. Does anyone know the situation this year?

(And apologies if this is asked and answered previously - I did look.)

There is an on-trail detour for the washout. So, you don't need to make any plans to get around it. There's a bridge at creek level so you just have to go down into the ravine on a gravel trail, cross the wooden bridge, and then back up the ravine on the other side. If we get a LOT of rain it could be underwater but I don't think anything like that is going to be happening soon.

Here's a picture of the little detour from last July: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9JZVfAKyaQnAbc3t8

Here's hoping I can post links. :)

I do several bike rides each year parking my car in a relatively safe spot (ie the Cumberland lot under the bridge) and riding out two or three days and back, camping each night. Anyone know if parking at the MARC train lot in Brunswick would be doable leaving my car there for 5-6 days?

Yes, there are residents near there who park their cars, trucks, trailers in there all the time. The lot isn't getting a lot of use right now with the MARC service running on a limited schedule.

I don’t know off hand but I’d imagine people regularly stay overnight in DC when they take the train. Maybe call the station? At worst, leave a note on your dash and indicate when you anticipate your return? The local police non-emergency line might be of help also.

John

thanks WKR, I'll give it a shot

Does anybody know if bicycle pumps on GAP trail are operational. We're planing to leave PIT on next Friday for a 3 day trip to Cumberland. Thanks

I haven’t heard they’ve been removed but with COVID measures being implemented, you never know.

You could contact the GAP at: admin@gaptrail.org They might know.

Most bicycle shops are open so you could count on them but I’d call and ask first. I always carry a small pump with me. It doesn’t get the tires super hard but filled enough to get you to the next town.

Yes. I saw people using a few of them. The one in Meyersdale for sure works as I was talking to a fellow as he was using it.

Just found this website and it’s so helpful, I wanted to give a shout out! Looking forward to patronizing sponsors along the way!

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper reports that Amtrak is going to reduce train service on its Capital Limited train between Chicago and Washington DC from daily to three days per week on October 1. This train stops in Pittsburgh and provides roll-on bike service to/from DC for those riding the GAP/C&O between those cities.

My heart skipped a beat when I read the headline as I have a ticket for next week. Three days a week stinks.....