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trail questions
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Vickie from Nashville on 4/23/2017 6:21:14 PM:
Looking into flying to Pittsburg then taking the trails to D.C. then a flight back home to Nashville after visiting D.C. a few days. We have a zillion questions so wondering if there's a book about the trail or a website where someone has written about their journey. Thinking of early October this year. Thanks y'all
 
John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 4/23/2017 7:16:36 PM:
Check out "Crazy Guy on a Bike". Once in the site, click the Journals, then do a search for the "Great Allegheny Passage", "GAP", "C&O Canal" or "Pittsburgh to DC". Tons of journals there with photos to boot. Journals from all over the world are posted here but the GAP/C&O gets lots of entries, especially in spring and summer.

The best book to buy is "TrailBook 11th Edition: Official Guide to the C&O Canal and the Great Allegheny Passage". I highly recommend this book. Chock full of information on trail towns, where to camp/lodge, itineraries, sights along the way, etc. It also contains a water proof map which is worth it's weight in gold.
 
lenny on 4/24/2017 4:43:03 AM:
Also go to gaptrail.org and "Shop"there you will find the GAP trail book.
 
Tom M from Raleigh NC on 4/26/2017 9:40:33 AM:
The Crazy Guy website, as already mentioned, has lots of journals that were very helpful when I was planning my first trip on the GAP-C&O. I posted my own journal after the first trip under the name Tarwheel.

The TrailBook mentioned by John W is the best resource and worth bringing along your trip. The GAP trail in particular is well-marked with excellent signs and maps available at towns along the route. The GAP also has brochures with maps for all of the larger towns along the way, which you can pick up at the entry points at each town. The C&O in general is more remote, rugged and less well marked. However, the park service has an excellent map that you can pick up along the way, and you could probably order one from the NPS.

Of course, this website is one of the best resources for planning a trip. There also is at least one app available for smart phones, but it isn't much help in the many sections of the trail where cell service is not available.
 
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