allegheny passage

Friday, October 3, 2008
Mike Langley blogs from the Great Allegheny Passage- Friday Edition
Pittsburgh Business Times - by Mike Langley

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Between September 27 and October 4, Allegheny Conference on Community Development CEO Mike Langley will be among 87 cyclists pedaling from Washington, D.C. to downtown Pittsburgh along the C&O Canal Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage. The 335-mile hiking and biking trail connecting the Pittsburgh region to the nation’s capital is arguably the most accessible great trail experience in the world. For more than a decade, the Allegheny Trail Alliance has worked to turn old rail paths that follow George Washington’s original route to southwestern Pennsylvania into the Great Allegheny Passage. Completing the trail is a signature project of Pittsburgh 250, and the weeklong Venture Outdoors 250 Bike Tour is a celebration of that effort. As he makes his way to Pittsburgh along the trail, Mike will be blogging about the ride here on the Pittsburgh Business Times Web site.

Friday, October 03, 2008

65 miles (over 100 kilometers) on my bike odometer on Thursday – the most I have ever ridden in one day. Awesome!

The weather was clear on Thursday, but the temperature has fallen dramatically. It was around 40 degrees at the top of the mountain this morning. Oh, and the wind! Very strong wind against us. All things being equal, it was much better than rain and mud we experience on Wednesday.

We left Cumberland before 7:30 a.m. and did 22 miles uphill to the Big Savage Tunnel. Just prior to entering the tunnel there is a breathtaking view of the Cumberland Gap and Frostburg, Md. set in a beautiful valley below. Also in this spot is the Mason Dixon line, separating Maryland and Pennsylvania. There is so much history to contemplate on this route. Washington, Braddock, Mason and Dixon, Linda McKenna Boxx, they all have been instrumental in this route from D.C. to Pittsburgh.

The Big Savage Tunnel is almost a mile long and thankfully is lighted inside. It was originally built in 1911 and was recently renovated at a cost of $12 million with much help from the Commonwealth.

Once on the West side of the Tunnel is the Eastern Continental Divide. This is especially important because the route is DOWNHILL all the way to Pittsburgh from this point (1900 ft. down to 800 ft.).

The trail then winds through Meyersdale (with its beautifully remodeled train depot that serves as a museum and a great stopover for the biking crowd), Garrett, Rockwood and finally today to Confluence, Pa.

This stretch of the Great Allegheny Passage has to be some of the most breathtaking scenery on the entire route – and anywhere in the country, for that matter. With the recent cool temperatures, the Fall foliage was approaching peak in the mountains today.

Tonight was burger and dog night at the Confluence ball fields campsite. Yum yum! We also started talking about the logistics for the big celebration on Saturday. The group is so excited to be participating in the finale and leading the throngs of riders as the procession makes its way into the City. Word is that the group will be donning green bike jerseys to identify the Pittsburgh 250 Sojourn and follow right behind the PNC Legacy Ride Trailblazers. How cool is that?

This is perhaps a good place to recognize the outstanding work that Venture Outdoors has done to organize this sojourn and Saturday’s community ride. Venture Outdoors is an organization that works every day to promote the wonderful opportunities we have in the region for outdoor recreation – from these hiking and biking trails to kayaking and white water rafting on our plentiful rivers and streams to rock climbing in beautiful spaces envied by other regions across the country. This week – and every week – they’re working to help get Pittsburgh region residents and visitors outdoors and to raise awareness about the many reasons ours is such a vibrant, active and fun place to live, work and play.

Venture Outdoors Executive Director Erik Lingren. says that the 250 Bike Tour has attracted attention not only from regional biking enthusiasts, but from those as far away as Colorado and even Canada. That kind of attention is good for the image of the region and for the economy. Friday we have an easy day – only 38 miles to West Newton, where we understand the Moose Lodge is opening its doors to us for celebratory beverages and music (bluegrass – yes!).

The legs are taking on a lead-like feel after the 250 miles we've traveled so far, but it’s been an exciting adventure with still some road to travel. On Monday I’ll post my final blog about the ride and about the Saturday festivities – and what promises to be the most incredible fireworks display Pittsburgh has ever seen. I hope our region really turns out for this historic event.

Getting close … For more information about this weekend’s events, visit www.ImaginePittsburgh.com.