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Ed from Oakland MD on 4/15/2022 2:39:00 PM:
What are the trail conditions between Cumberland and Old Town. It has been several years since I rode that section of the trail and it was in VERY POOR condition . Muddy, overgrown, don't adequately describe the conditions --
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 4/15/2022 4:24:51 PM:
As of last fall there had been no improvements to that section. Thus, in my opinion, you’ll be at the mercy of the weather. The section between Paw Paw and 15-Mile Creek isn’t much better when wet.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 4/17/2022 3:54:27 PM:
 
Suzanne from Chicago IL on 5/6/2022 9:14:28 AM:
Hello - we are heading out to ride the GAP and C&O starting May 11th, self supported. We have reservations at B&B's along the way, arriving in Georgetown on the 17th. If anyone has any alerts, tips, etc. we would be most appreciative. We have a guidebook. We are looking forward to all there is to see!.
Suzanne
Chicago IL
 
TomD from Vienna, VA on 5/6/2022 10:17:19 AM:
See my writeup below, from April 23.
PawPaw is closed...bring some hiking shoes.
MM 89-88 is closed. Be prepared for an extra detour. It's well marked, just an annoyance.
All H-B pumps were on, except Little Pond.
Random trees down that you may have to climb over or around.
Except for the rain making a mushy mess, you should have fun.
 
Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 5/6/2022 10:26:13 AM:
Suzanne:

It looks like your choice of departure dates is fortuitous. Had you left the middle of this week you'd be riding thru nearly two days of continuous rain with sloppy, slick and cold (i.e. miserable) trail conditions. However, the 10-day forecast during your trip looks warm and dry although there may still may be some residual soft sections of the C&O that have not been restored.

I'm sure you are aware of the two notable detours at the Paw Paw Tunnel and McMahon's Mill on the C&O. If not, you should familiarize yourself with them and plan accordingly. You can find information about those detours on the National Park Service's C&O website.

If you need any assistance in or getting out of Pittsburgh to start your way down the trail, just drop me a note at rivnuts@yahoo.com.
 
Mary Gordon from Waupaca,WI on 5/9/2022 9:55:10 PM:
Suzanne,
we are taking the same route starting the same day as your party...Maybe we'll cross paths!
 
Marlin from Metamora Illinois on 5/10/2022 5:24:51 PM:
I am planning on running from Cumberland to Georgetown starting June 3. Re the detour at Paw Paw: can that part of the trail be used on foot? I ran the Katy Trail in Missouri a year and half ago and there was two “closures”. Well impossible for those packing on bikes but no problem on foot.
Thanks
 
TomD from Vienna, VA on 5/11/2022 3:22:12 PM:
My recent experience from a few weeks ago was that the PawPaw tunnel is closed to access.
I was diverted from the west, up a steep, rocky, rooty single track path.
From the East, while not rocky or rutted, was long, steep, circuitous and slippery from mud.
There was NO ENTERING the tunnel.
It appeared that they had most of the timbers removed and floating in the canal.
 
Kim from MI on 5/11/2022 9:36:30 PM:
I was there end of April going from Cumberland to DC and you are able to ride walk your bike thru, but the path is totally blocked at the eastern end by a steel fence.
So there's no option but to go over.
I found the bypass trail pretty easy not as expected. Admittedly I was packing light with only 25lbs of gear. I walked up the west side and had an easy ride down the twisty fire road the other side. Took a total of 25mins. It would be difficult if you have a trailer for sure.
 
Kim from MI on 5/11/2022 9:47:45 PM:
The McMohans detour may seem like a bother. But it was a lovely distraction for about 5 or 6 miles along smooth winding country roads with beautiful scenery. It is very well marked. A few hills. But nothing extreme. Enjoy.
 
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