The Plan

The journey hasn’t started yet, but it has already taken a lot to get to this point. I’m on the home stretch leading into a trip that’s been nearly a year of planning.

I’ve always enjoyed ‘bike riding’, but I got more serious with ‘cycling’ during lockdowns early in the 2020 Pandemic. I really gravitated towards gravel trail riding; taking advantage of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail right near my home.

Getting used to the same sights and scenery along my ‘home trail’ I started to branch out to other trails around my home and the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Tredway Trail, Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Montour Trail, Armstrong Trail, Redbank Valley Trail, and Panhandle Trail have all provided amazing rides.

Looking for more of an adventure than just day rides, I started to look into planning a bikepacking trip. Immediately I was drawn towards the idea of traversing ‘GAPCO.’

The Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath meet in Cumberland, MD, and together they connect Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. To traverse the two trails end to end, the trip is 333 miles and is certain to provide adventure and lasting memories.

In the weeks leading into my trip I’ll be posting some information about my itinerary, bike and gear, and food/cooking setup.

T-minus 30 days.