Biking the GAP was added to my bucket list when I moved to Pittsburgh in April and first learned about the trail. So, when I heard a group of my fellow Student Conservation Association Fellows were planning a four-day trip along the GAP, I immediately joined them. With only one week to prepare for departure and no panniers, tent, sleeping pad or mess kit, I was faced with a bit of a challenge. Here is the part in the story where working at an environmental non-profit pays off, however, as PennFuture staff had me outfitted in borrowed gear in no time and they even threw bike shorts in for good measure.
I’ll pause here for a brief Public Service Announcement: Don’t ever bike 150 miles without bike shorts.Since the GAP trail is largely built upon abandoned rail beds, it is relatively flat and easygoing on a surface of crushed limestone (with a couple miles of pavement) leaving Pittsburgh and leading into Cumberland. Although the path seems pretty flat, there is a slight .8 percent grade going eastbound that you start to feel after 100 miles or so but once you pass the Eastern Continental Divide, it’s a refreshing 24-mile coast (elevation change = 1,754 ft.) into Cumberland with a stunning view of the Allegheny Mountains shortly after the Big Savage tunnel.
Small towns appear along the trail every ten miles or so and they are a major highlight of the GAP. Each one has its own character and they all come with important things like grocery stores for snacks, bike shops for repairs, and B&Bs, hostels, and hotels for a dry night if it happens to rain on your journey or if you simply prefer modern amenities. Our group made pit stops in a couple towns along the way for lunch and water breaks, and I even bought some locally produced maple syrup in Meyersdale –- it's quite delicious! For sleeping accommodations, we camped at Cedar Creek Park the first night, Ohiopyle State Park the second night, and the third night we spent at the Hostel on Main in Rockwood. If you’re thinking of biking the GAP, be sure to plan out your trip and expected miles per day beforehand so you know what and where to find the accommodations you may need.
Despite physical fatigue, a sore butt, and getting caught in a thunderstorm right before we reached the campground at Ohiopyle, the trip was memorable. The autumn air was fresh and crisp, the changing leaves on the trees made every mile exciting and beautiful, and the company of my comrades lent itself to a great experience. If you ever have the opportunity to bike the Great Allegheny Passage, I definitely recommend taking the time to do so — it is one decision you won’t regret and the memories will last a lifetime.
Want to know more? Watch 150 Miles in 150 Seconds.
Nicole Catino is PennFuture's 2014 Student Conservation Association Green Cities Sustainability Fellow and is based in Pittsburgh.
