AUGUST RIDE

IAM PLANNING AN AUGUST RIDE USING CREDIT CARD AND HOTELS COVERING BOTH THE GAP & C&O. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS RAINS AND AVAILIBILITY OF LODGING. ALL THOUGHTS ARE APPRECIATED.

August is one of our hot months in this area. In past years, we did not get a lot of rain during August but this season our normal weather pattern are anything but normal. If our "normal" weather pattern full in place, I believe you will be OK regarding rain. When I go on tour, I always try to build at least one day into the tour to wait for bad weather to pass.

My thinking is to pack a raincoat and cover your gear/pannier with a piece of tarp and pretty much try continuing as planned.

Rain is tough to totally avoid on any multi-day tour, so best to be prepared. Even on many 2 day tours I've ridden, its been almost impossible to avoid the dreaded rain. On this particular tour I'm referring to, it included 3 previous weekends of packing and cancelling last minute due to unfavourable conditions.
The week I finally decided on when clear conditions were called for, it still rained most of the time!

Some people on here will tell you your best strategy is to camp longer and wait it out. Not me though. Typically, you've already gotten wet since rain doesn't time out as your reach your campsite for the night or when cover is near. Taking a rest day to dry out seems wasteful to my sensibilites, your gear will actually dry faster in the wind riding!

If its a total lightning storm, obviously use your good sense, but light showers and stuff of that nature, I've personally always opted to push onward (sometimes due to time restirctions on when I've needed to be back).

I'm sure many others will say to pack down for a while and wait, but I just find in some cases, with time the conditions may actual worsen or stay in a wet pattern for a week or more. Then what! At some point you have to brave the conditions..

I have3 done the Ride a few times and it has rained at least 1 day out of the 5. I, nor any of my mates have stopped for a minute. But you must pack right, everything in plastic bags.I don't even use a rain fly, at 12 mph you get wet inside so way waste the space, and weight.

I am doing the same trip (only a smaller portion of the trail) .. when are you going?

there are B&Bs or campgrounds or hostels all along the GAP section of the trail... it all depends on how long you want to ride each day and if you are the type that wants to go as far as you can and then look for a place to stay for the night . . .

I'm the other type I'll plan (and reserve) my lodging in advance and take my ride at a more leisurely pace . . stopping to enjoy the trail and take photos . .

Planning on doing the ride--now looking at the last week of August. Planning on doing 45 miles a day--that looks like it is the spacing for hotels.

DB...

I'm doing 44 miles a day for the same reason (lodging spacing) . . .I'm going the first week in August and only doing a two day 88 mile ride form Connelsville PA to Cumberland MD . . .so I'll try to check in after the ride and give you an update. . .

Let me know where you guys will be, if it is a weekend day I'll do a trailhead or so with you.

Mr. Purple Paul, Connellsville to Cumberland is 91 miles.

lenny . . .

I'm just going from what the mileage chart on here states . . .I doubt the extra 3 miles will make a difference . . but it's good to know .. thanks