Incline from Connellsville to Frostburg
- + How hard is riding the incline from Connellsville to Frostburg in one day? Looking at a 5-day ride from Pitt to DC next year including these two GAP overnights. THANKS!
Discussion started 10/24/2016 02:54 PM by JK - 3 replies (last reply by Rick at 10/28/2016 03:12 PM)JK on 10/24/2016 02:54 PM
How hard is riding the incline from Connellsville to Frostburg in one day? Looking at a 5-day ride from Pitt to DC next year including these two GAP overnights. THANKS!
Anonymous on 10/24/2016 03:49 PM
The elevation change from Connellsville to Deal (the highest point on the gap at around mile 23)is just over 1500 feet over 65 miles. That is an average of about 25 feet elevation change every mile.
That isn't too bad, that is less than the 1.75 percent grade going from Cumberland to Deal.
If you can do 78 miles a day without worrying about the distance you will be fine.
You go down around 500 feet in the last 7 or 8 miles to Frostburg.
John Pescatore from Ashton, MD on 10/28/2016 01:13 PM
In August, I did Confluence to Cumberland in an easy 62 mile day. You would be adding 28 easy miles from Connelsville to Confluence and subtracting 16 really, really easy downhill miles from Frostburg to Cumberland - very doable.
Rick from Grafton va on 10/28/2016 03:12 PM
My wife and I have biked from Ohiopyle to Cumberland 75 miles in appx. 7 hours including lunch in Connelsville. Wasn't difficult at all. Had a bit of rain the last 8 miles or so. It was mid Oct. so we finished just about dark. I was 59 at the time she was 64 but we bike a lot.
- + Back in August, four of us did the GAP from West Newton to Cumberland in two days. A blog write up here: http://security.typepad.com/internet_security_be_care/2016/08/john-carole-chris-june-their-exce...
Discussion started 10/28/2016 01:19 PM by John Pescatore - 0 repliesJohn Pescatore from Ashton, MD on 10/28/2016 01:19 PM
Back in August, four of us did the GAP from West Newton to Cumberland in two days. A blog write up here: http://security.typepad.com/internet_security_be_care/2016/08/john-carole-chris-june-their-excellent-adventures.html
One of the riders, Chris, enjoyed it so much, a few weeks later he went back and parked his car in Cumberland, biked in 3 days to Pittsburgh, and took Amtrak back to his car. Blog post here: http://security.typepad.com/internet_security_be_care/2016/10/guest-blogger-chris-does-the-entire-great-allegheny-passage-trail.html
In another post in the blog, I've detailed my wife and I doing the 34 mile Virginia Creeper trail.
post to Facebook
or share this link to just this thread:
https://bikecando.com/talk.aspx?tid=994&tonly=1
Bears, Snakes, & Other Wildlife on C&O
- + Curious if anyone had any encounters with bears, venomous snakes, or other potentially dangerous wildlife along the C&O towpath ?
Discussion started 08/30/2016 08:51 PM by JK - 10 replies (last reply by Steve at 10/27/2016 09:55 PM)JK on 08/30/2016 08:51 PM
Curious if anyone had any encounters with bears, venomous snakes, or other potentially dangerous wildlife along the C&O towpath ?
steve on 08/31/2016 12:12 PM
No bears or snakes 2 weeks ago, plenty of deer and turkeys.
Anonymous on 08/31/2016 03:44 PM
Nothing dangerous the last week of July...unless you count deer who seemingly had no fear or me/my bike whatsoever and just stood there and watched a few feet away as I SLOWLY moved past (not confident in their potential movements). It was awesome!
John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 08/31/2016 06:18 PM
I've never encountered any bears or snakes. Probably more blue herons and raccoons!
rICK from GRAFTON, VA on 09/02/2016 02:50 PM
There are poisonous snakes along the route as well as bear. But you'd be lucky to see one. We saw a Copperhead just east of Cumberland a few years ago. Got a neat video of a black snake stretched across the tracks on the Western Md. Rail Trail outside Frostburg. And I saw the Granddaddy of all blacksnakes several years ago near White's Ferry at a campsite. The sucker had to be 10' long! He was eye level with me, his body went to the base of the tree, into a hollow in the tree, came out the other side, then curled around and was almost touching his body where it first entered the tree. No joke. The most remote section of the C&O is between Old Town and just east of Paw Paw before you get to Hancock. There are bear along that stretch but you'd be lucky to see one.
brokebike on 09/06/2016 11:37 PM
In Sept of 2014, I spotted a rather large copperhead crossing the path about 8 miles from Georgetown on the C&O. It was strange because as many of you know, that's right where the trail starts getting pretty congested with all sorts of DC metro area recreational users. I stayed to make sure he crossed safely, and told a few users up ahead to keep an eye out.
Charlie from Manassas va, on 09/11/2016 04:37 PM
I've the c&o / gap several times. The biggest problem with wildlife I've had is raccoons. They will raid your camp site. They are smart, sneaky, and persistent. They may be cute in the cartoons but they are nasty in the middle of the night. Coyotes can be creepy to hear at night but have never come close.
Tim from Cincinnati on 09/14/2016 03:52 PM
Most dangerous animal I have encountered is the kind you see in the mirror. Just because you are away from large metro areas most of the trip does not mean there are not predators out there. Generally, though, those types are too lazy to leave the city...Take the usual precautions.
JH on 10/17/2016 09:08 PM
I did the entire C&O by myself this past summer. I went in July. I never saw any bears or poison snakes. The worst part for me was near places that rent bicycles for trail use by familes. Most young kids do not know to ride single file when approaching another rider!? I was nearly run over several times. I am hoping parents will do a better job teaching their children how to use/ride the trail.
TopShelf from Ohio on 10/27/2016 05:47 PM
My son and I rode the C&O in June. We saw quite a bit of wildlife - no bears or rattlesnakes, but there was a goat that was very reluctant to let us get by.
Steve from Pittsburgh on 10/27/2016 09:55 PM
Porcupine that had no intention of moving on the hill up to Savage tunnel, turtles, snakes, too many deer to count, no bear though.
Rockwood Trail House
- + Any reviews/comments on the Rockwood Trail House? Thanks.
Discussion started 10/19/2016 12:20 PM by JK - 4 replies (last reply by TopShelf at 10/27/2016 05:51 PM)JK on 10/19/2016 12:20 PM
Any reviews/comments on the Rockwood Trail House? Thanks.
Steve from Brooklyn on 10/21/2016 09:38 PM
Stayed at Hostel on Main, clean, full kitchen, AC, Cable TV, washer/dryer, $30, Basically a four star bunkhouse, although I had the whole place to myself mid August, 2016.
Charlie from Manassas on 10/23/2016 08:40 PM
I second Steve's recommendation. I've stayed at The Hostel on Main many times and never been disappointed.
Anonymous on 10/24/2016 09:41 AM
The first time my entire family did the GAP, we stayed at the Hostel on Main. We had the back room and when we got there, it seemed great. But about 11:00pm, the tenant upstairs came home, apparently drunk and was screaming and yelling and seemingly trying to bust through the floor. This went on for hours and we eventually had to go to the front room and sleep on the floor.
TopShelf from Ohio on 10/27/2016 05:51 PM
My son and I rode the trail in June 2016 and stayed at the Hostel on Main. The accomodations were fine, the hosts were very friendly, and the price was right. And the food at the Rockwood Mill Shoppes was very good.
water and food along C&O
- + just finished 5 day Pitts to DC. Be sure to have extra water and energy bars/snacks with you on the C&O portion. Not all the water pumps seemed to be primed/working and many of the restaurants were ...
Discussion started 10/24/2016 02:12 PM - 3 replies (last reply by Dave at 10/24/2016 06:18 PM)Anonymous on 10/24/2016 02:12 PM
just finished 5 day Pitts to DC. Be sure to have extra water and energy bars/snacks with you on the C&O portion. Not all the water pumps seemed to be primed/working and many of the restaurants were closed (maybe because of the season) or were far off the canal. Found almost nothing convenient and open from Cumberland to Hancock.
JK on 10/24/2016 02:37 PM
Where did you stay each night?
Did you try Bill's Place in Little Orleans?
Willy from Arlington, VA on 10/24/2016 02:43 PM
Yes, its after labor day.
Both Bills Place in Orleans is closed Mondays and Tuesdays...and the Schoolhouse Kitchen in Oldtown are closed on Mondays. Those are the two places I try to stop between Hancock and Cumberland.
Just after the west entrance of the Paw Paw tunnel you could leave the towpath and travel on route 51 for around a mile to get to Paw Paw WV and eat at the Liberty minimart.
Dave from Hollidaysburg on 10/24/2016 06:18 PM
You will go up a major hill so be prepared to use different muscles.
Man pulling a cart from LA to DC
- + Hi there, has anyone seen a man pulling a cart carrying a decorated box along the towpath?
The decorations on the box indicate that he is making some sort of pilgrimage or protest march from Los A...
Discussion started 10/18/2016 10:07 PM by Thom - 8 replies (last reply by Mac at 10/24/2016 02:50 PM)Thom from Philadelphia on 10/18/2016 10:07 PM
Hi there, has anyone seen a man pulling a cart carrying a decorated box along the towpath?
The decorations on the box indicate that he is making some sort of pilgrimage or protest march from Los Angeles to D.C.
I believe that he is a Mennonite and is making this trip for political/religious reasons. He should be east of Cumberland. I'm an independent journalist and would REALLY like to contact him. Please Let me know if you've seen or heard about him.
Thanks!
Thomas Parry
Willy from Arlington,VA on 10/19/2016 10:09 AM
There was a mention on the unofficial GAP facebook page of a sighting on 3/12 on the GAP trail between mile markers 12 and 11.
Willy from Arlington, VA on 10/19/2016 12:55 PM
Must be a slow day. I went and checked the facebook post re: "man pulling a cart carrying a decorated box". He might not be Mennonite, I dunno. He goes by the name Ras Ible on facebook.
Just had a facebook post on his account claiming he just left Falling Waters campsite in WVA.
Mac on 10/19/2016 01:17 PM
That's quite the cart and cause .... interesting to say the least.
Dmoney on 10/22/2016 03:37 PM
I just happened to see your post...I was running earlier today and saw him just coming into Point of Rocks at about 11:30 AM. He had stopped for a break...
Dmoney on 10/22/2016 03:56 PM
By the way...he was pulling the cart on foot. I noticed "Rasible for mayor" and "End Prohibition in 2016" painted on the cart. It also had a huge red cross symbol on the side. It is a good size cart. Large enough to sleep in. I was just amazed he was pulling it on foot. I did get some good pictures.
Anonymous on 10/22/2016 05:35 PM
Interesting story. He goes by Ras Ible...he is a military veteran on his way to D.C. (from the west coast) to protest for the legalization of medicinal Marijuana. The cart is actually solar powered.
Mac on 10/24/2016 01:13 PM
He made it to DC
Mac on 10/24/2016 02:50 PM
He's parked downtown DC in front of the Chamber of Commerce
Prep for GAP (Pitt to Cumberland)
- + I'm planning ahead to do the GAP + C&O next year in 6 days. In reviewing the elevation changes, I'm considering the following and wanted to get others' opinion on best stopping points for the GAP po...
Discussion started 10/17/2016 10:00 AM by JK - 3 replies (last reply by Awf Hand at 10/21/2016 02:33 PM)JK on 10/17/2016 10:00 AM
I'm planning ahead to do the GAP + C&O next year in 6 days. In reviewing the elevation changes, I'm considering the following and wanted to get others' opinion on best stopping points for the GAP portion:
Day 1 - Pitt to Connellsville (62 miles) - no significant elevation change
Day 2 - Connellsville to Rockwood (44 miles) ~1,000 ft elevation up
Day 3 - Rockwood to Cumberland (44 miles) ~1,000 ft elevation down
Thanks!
Charlie from Manassasl on 10/17/2016 09:41 PM
I did Pitt to Manassas two weeks ago. Did the same sections you listed, had no problem.
pdean on 10/18/2016 08:21 AM
That is the most common ride of the GAP. I have never done all of that but have done the Connellsville to Cumberland in two days last October. I remember arriving in Cumberland so early that afternoon from coasting down the mountain. The next day I turned around to go back for my ride up the mountain with touring/camping gear and it certainly was much longer but once over the divide I remember coasting to Meyersdale. I am going to be doing a Connellsville to Pittsburgh in two days and then back because part of that I have never been and plan to spend some time in the area around the rivers and possibly some kayaking near the point.
Awf Hand from Chippewa Falls, WI on 10/21/2016 02:33 PM
The GAP may require a bit more planning simply because there isn't a hiker/biker campsite every few miles. My daughter (9yr old) and I did the same first two stops you did, but found we averaged over 21mph (yeah, I know... speed limit 15) from the divide to Cumberland. With this extra "boost" we pushed on and camped at Lock 75.
I think you'll find the second half of day 3 just flies by.
We met a fellow along the trail who told us to be sure we visited the museum in the basement of the WM Railway depot. WELL worth it, and it was a good break for us as the temps were in the mid-90's. -Highly recommend.
Train and Hotel
- + Had a couple questions.
I plan to ride from Conellsville to Pitt spend a night and take the train back in the morning.
1. I've never taken the train, don't really know how all that works with a ...
Discussion started 10/14/2016 04:30 PM by Mike - 4 replies (last reply by pdean at 10/18/2016 08:31 AM)Mike from St. Louis on 10/14/2016 04:30 PM
Had a couple questions.
I plan to ride from Conellsville to Pitt spend a night and take the train back in the morning.
1. I've never taken the train, don't really know how all that works with a bike, also can you take your bike in Penn station or do you have to leave it outside?
2. Are the hotels in the city bike friendly?
Thank you for your help.
Anonymous on 10/15/2016 07:37 AM
We rode the train from DC to Pitt. We bought tickets online and added the option of bringing the bike. There are only a limited number of bikes available on each train. In DC we took our bikes in a he station and checked in at the desk and they gave us luggage tags to put on the bikes. When boarding the train we took the bikes in line and then they boarded us separately. We took the bikes to a car that had hooks to secure the bikes. You need to take of the panniers and take then with you to your seat on the train.
We stayed at the Homewood Suites in Pittsburg after we came in on the train. It is just a few blocks from the train station and the area was well lit. You can take your bikes up to your hotel room.
Mike from St. Louis on 10/16/2016 08:53 AM
Thank you so much, helps a lot!
Anonymous on 10/17/2016 12:41 AM
I did the trip in reverse. Same good experience. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on the southside of the 10th Street bridge. Pretty handy the train station as well. No problem at all with the bike in the room. Came back to the same hotel when I finished my 5 day ride back from DC.
pdean on 10/18/2016 08:31 AM
How was the ride from the Pittsburgh train station to that hotel. Is that all vehicle roads or are there any bike lanes or trails that can be done. What route did you take. I am going to be riding into Pittsburgh and then out the next day but sometime want to to Pitt to DC.
In the spring I road the train with my bike from DC to Cumberland after cycling the towpath and loved the train ride and had never ridden from one town to another and it was quite interesting and and a lot of it was a different view of the towpath.
Free parking in Brunswick, MD
- + Is there free parking in Brunswick, MD for C&O Trail riders? I see large lot near the RR. Is it free?
Discussion started 09/03/2016 08:07 PM by Peggy - 1 reply (last reply by kj at 10/17/2016 09:09 PM)Peggy from Jeffersonton on 09/03/2016 08:07 PM
Is there free parking in Brunswick, MD for C&O Trail riders? I see large lot near the RR. Is it free?
kj on 10/17/2016 09:09 PM
Yes!
Tire Selection for C&O
- + Greeting. I was wonder what people tended to ride on the C&O. 28 mm or wider?
Discussion started 10/16/2016 07:20 PM by EIdman - 2 replies (last reply by anonymous at 10/17/2016 12:39 AM)EIdman from Ashburn, VA on 10/16/2016 07:20 PM
Greeting. I was wonder what people tended to ride on the C&O. 28 mm or wider?
JK on 10/16/2016 08:24 PM
I've used both 32 and 35 on the C&O. Both worked well. I preferred 35. I wouldn't recommend any smaller.
Anonymous on 10/17/2016 12:39 AM
I too like 35s. 32s would probably be fine UNLESS YOU RUN INTO RAIN. The C&O can get really muddy!!
The GAP on the other hand...I'd be fine with 28s or even 25s over there.
Keep in mind that the trail will generally get softer once we start hitting the freeze/thaw weather.
That's my 2 cents.
Yoder's Motel in Meyersdale
- + Favorite B&B on the GAP.
My wife and I stayed here in October 2016. We very much enjoyed the place. It was clean and spacious. The breakfast buffet was well stocked and made it easy to select the...
Discussion started 10/15/2016 07:13 PM by Joe - 0 repliesJoe on 10/15/2016 07:13 PM
Favorite B&B on the GAP.
My wife and I stayed here in October 2016. We very much enjoyed the place. It was clean and spacious. The breakfast buffet was well stocked and made it easy to select the items that appealed to us.
Last, the owners took the time to visit and get to know us, taking an interest in our travels.
We'd highly recommend staying here.
Excellent C&O Trail Conditions... BUT
- + Just finished day two of my ride from Cumberland to DC. The trail between Cumberland and Harpers Ferry is terrific. But… rain is forecast for tomorrow which could change this considerably. I'll...
Discussion started 10/07/2016 09:45 PM by JK - 1 reply (last reply by marie at 10/09/2016 08:15 AM)JK on 10/07/2016 09:45 PM
Just finished day two of my ride from Cumberland to DC. The trail between Cumberland and Harpers Ferry is terrific. But… rain is forecast for tomorrow which could change this considerably. I'll give another report tomorrow after I am finished with riding the entire trail
marie on 10/09/2016 08:15 AM
JK, thanks for your blog and videos! I will be out on the cannal at the end of the month and your videos showed me that even if the weather is not so great we can still do this ride! Glad you had a wonderful trip.
How's the trail?
- + I'm riding from Pittsburgh to DC this Wedneasday through Sunday. Can anybody share the trail conditions?
Discussion started 10/08/2016 08:24 AM by Billc - 1 reply (last reply by JK at 10/08/2016 10:19 PM)Billc from Fairview Park, Ohio on 10/08/2016 08:24 AM
I'm riding from Pittsburgh to DC this Wedneasday through Sunday. Can anybody share the trail conditions?
JK on 10/08/2016 10:19 PM
Thurs and Fri from Cumberland to Harper's Ferry was terrific. But with today's rain probably not so much. There were several sections of the trail between Harper's and DC that were barely passable. Lots of mud. Maybe someone on the trail tomorrow can give a better update.