Great Allegheny Passage

Did this 135 mile rail trail with a group of 4 this past week. It's a great trail. The surface is wide and smooth crushed stone. Average grade 1.5%, though you get the fun of a steeper downhill the last 20 miles from the Eastern Continental Divide into Cumberland if you go eastward. The trail parallels the Youghiogheny River the first 70 miles, and then the Castleman (River, Creek?). Some small old industrial towns and farms, but much of the scenery is just woods and rivers, including Ohiopyle State Park. The trail gets quite a bit of use, mostly from locals, but also some long-distance users. Most towns had a bike shop on the trail and various eateries on or near the trail. We bought one meal and some snacks every day, but also carried some food and cooked sometimes. One highlight of the trail was the Big Savage Tunnel (lighted, 3294 feet long), followed by the Borden (957 ft) and Brush (914) unlit tunnels. Kind of freaky riding through those. Also crossed the Eastern Continental Divide and the Mason-Dixon Line. Here's our itinerary, with a 1:30 start from McKeesport the first day.

May 25 McKeesport, PA to Round Bottom Campsite, 36 miles
May 26 Round Bottom Campsite to Huskey Haven Campground, 56 miles
May 27 Huskey Haven Campground to Cumberland, 44 mies

After Cumberland, we continued down the C&O to Hancock, MD, spending one night at Purslane Run Hiker/Biker campsite.

A few pictures.

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Originally Posted by DebW

Most towns had a bike shop on the trail and various eateries on or near the trail. We bought one meal and some snacks every day, but also carried some food and cooked sometimes.

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So your guys finally found some forks?

When you got to the Eastern Continental Divide was it obvious that you had climbed, were on the peak, and that it was downhill from there?

I want more pictures! And more pie!

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Originally Posted by zencentury

So your guys finally found some forks?

When you got to the Eastern Continental Divide was it obvious that you had climbed, were on the peak, and that it was downhill from there?

I want more pictures! And more pie!

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It was sandwiches from Sheetz or a meatball hoagie at the only open restaurant, a hot dog stand, in Rockwoods. We did get a real meal at the Crabby Pig in Cumberland, but did not steal the forks.

Approaching the Eastern Continental Divide from the east, it wasn't obvious that you were climbing - it was that gradual. But the downhill to Cumberland was obvious. I was doing 11 mph on the flats/gradual up, and hit a whopping 15 mph going down. Here's the view from the top, just after the Savage tunnel, looking toward Cumberland, which is just beyond the "gap".

One more picture. But you are supposed to supply the pie.

Deb, I enjoyed your ride report and pics. Love to see folks enjoying tour bikes and great scenery.
What kind of bike are you riding?

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Originally Posted by cosc

Deb, I enjoyed your ride report and pics. Love to see folks enjoying tour bikes and great scenery.
What kind of bike are you riding?

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It's a custom frame by Peter Mooney, designed for commuting and light touring and some faster rides (if I swap to 650c wheels). It's only shortcoming was caliper brakes on the muddy C&O that clogged up a couple times.

Great trip report, Deb. Thank you for taking the time to post photos and your itinerary!

Love the photo journal. Glad your new custom bike is getting some exercise. Sounds like a fun time. And very pretty.

More questions from me :D

I was thinking about when you showed me your bike and realized it was in two pieces - how does it fit together?

It was a bit chilly at night, wasn't it?


Your front bags look larger than the rear bags.
If so, why and does it affect steering?

Where's that photo of me? Is it that awful?

Great ride report, Deb! This looks great! I would love to one day do this as well but in the opposite direction. I have heard that it isn't outrageously hilly or anything and that it can be done in 3-4 days. Oh to tour!

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Originally Posted by F8th637

. Oh to tour!

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I have a good canal bike with a fancy rack I'll sell you ;)

What great pics - thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by zencentury

More questions from me :D

I was thinking about when you showed me your bike and realized it was in two pieces - how does it fit together?

It was a bit chilly at night, wasn't it?

Your front bags look larger than the rear bags.
If so, why and does it affect steering?

Where's that photo of me? Is it that awful?

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The two pieces of my bike are held together with S&S Couplers. See http://www.sandsmachine.com/.

It was chilly the first couple of nights, but pretty warm the last two. The first couple nights I ended up wearing my hat and fleece inside my bag by morning. The last night I slept in shorts and a T-shirt and didn't even use my quilt until almost morning.

Both sets of panniers are front panniers, because I try to go pretty light (~25 lb). The rears ones are Ortlieb front rollers, with a dry-bag type closure. Since they are not easy to get into during the day, they hold my camping gear and camp clothes. The front ones are Ortlieb SportPacker Plus and have drawstrings and a buckled lid. This set goes in front because I can open them while standing over the bike and grab my camera or a snack. I may have sometimes had more weight in the front panniers than the rear panniers, but if you add the drybag with my sleeping bag and hammock strapped on top of the rear rack, then the rear end had more weight. It took me about 30 minutes on the first day to get used to the handling with front panniers. I find that the left/right balance is pretty critical to good handling, but not so much the front/rear.

Here's the photo of you. Not at all awful, IMO.

Thanks for your ride report, Deb (and the pictures, too)! It sounds like a wonderful tour! I'm envious of the gorgeous scenery you were riding through- so very pretty. That long, lit tunnel looks really freaky (even lit up). Glad you enjoyed yourself. :)

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Originally Posted by zencentury

I have a good canal bike with a fancy rack I'll sell you ;)

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LOL Let me guess and it's too small for me right? ;)

I think I am going to have to try this but going from the other direction. but hmm I've never been camping. we'll have to see how this pans out.