Great Allegheny Passage-2025

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Trip start
August 3, 2025
Great Allegheny Passage-2025 Traveler
Challenge Ride Introduction
August 3, 2025 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 57 °F
Lifecycles, a mentoring program for young people, will offer three summer “Challenge” rides. The most advanced ride will take participants through the Adirondack Mountains and is designed for the most experienced cyclists. The second ride is a six-day journey to Niagara Falls. The entry-level challenge ride runs from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., scheduled for August 4–9. This six-day, 320-mile adventure follows the scenic Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal trails. In fact, many of this year’s Adirondack riders began their first challenge ride with Lifecycles a few years ago on the very same GAP/C&O ride.Read more
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Day 1 - McKeesport to Connellsville
August 4, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
43 miles down
277 miles to DC

The Lifecycles team started off bright and early with a quick photo before hitting the road right on schedule at 6:30 a.m. By 10:15, we reached McKeesport—just outside Pittsburgh—ready to begin our ride. After days of hot weather, we lucked out with perfect conditions. It was 72 degrees and sunny when we got rolling at 10:45, a great way to kick off the adventure.

We covered 43 miles on day one, and the whole team did well. Our pace seems to suit everyone—at times, the younger riders led the way, and those of us with a few more years under our belts kept right up. The youngsters kept a strong pace and finished the day really well.

Our hotel is right by the Youghiogheny River, which we rode along for most of the day. It’s a peaceful spot to wind down and get ready for what comes next.

Quote of the Day - “This is like going on vacation with my dad and four grandparents” - DanielRead more
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Great Allegheny Passage-2025 Traveler
Day 2 - Connellsville to Myersdale
August 5, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
105 miles down
215 miles to DC

We began the day with a bit of apprehension—it was set to be our most challenging leg yet, a 57-mile stretch with a gentle but persistent uphill climb toward the Eastern Continental Divide.

Thankfully, the weather was on our side again. Under clear skies, we steadily gained around 1,200 feet in elevation. My bike computer showed a consistent 1% incline—enough to shave about a mile per hour off our usual pace, but not enough to dampen our spirits. Along the way, we crossed numerous bridges spanning the Youghiogheny River, each offering stunning views and perfect spots to pause and soak in the scenery.

Not everything went according to plan, though. Heavy rains a few weeks back had triggered a landslide, cutting through a portion of the trail. We had to detour using a shuttle service, but silver lining—it reduced our ride by 6 miles.

I brought my drone along for the ride today and managed to capture some aerial shots. It takes a bit more forethought to set up, but it was worth the effort. Once the trip wraps up, I'm excited to compile both the drone footage and all the videos into a polished highlight reel.

One year, the Lifecycles team had such large numbers that we had to split the ride into two separate groups, just a day apart. When I joined the ride two years ago, there were eight boys on the trip. This year, the number is significantly smaller—we had just two boys. Despite that, we chose to move forward with the journey. In fairness, the boys had also worked hard to reach all the criteria to be eligible for a challenge ride.

The shift in group dynamics has been noticeable. Normally, the boys tend to stick together and socialize mostly among themselves. But with such a small group, something different has happened: the boys and the adult leaders have blended into a single, more connected group.
As one of the leaders, it’s been a meaningful change. It’s given us a chance to get to know the boys on a more personal level—something that’s harder to do in a larger group. It’s made this trip feel more thoughtful and rewarding in a way we hadn’t expected.Read more
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Great Allegheny Passage-2025 Traveler
Day 3 - Myersdale to Cumberland
August 6, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
137 miles down
183 miles to DC

After the demanding ride the day before, today offered a welcome change of pace—just 32 miles on the bike, giving everyone a chance to recover and soak in the scenery. It was a laid-back adventure, marked by scenic tunnels, sweeping overlooks, a crossing of the historic Mason-Dixon Line, and a blissful 22-mile descent after reaching the Eastern Continental Divide.

Kevin, our ever-energetic SAG support guru, keeps spirits high and hydration flowing. Not only does he haul all our luggage and set up snack stations at each stop, but he adds his own twist: once he arrives at the next rest point, he unloads his bike and pedals back up the trail to meet us, then rides with the group to the stop he just left. It’s a clever system that lets him log some serious miles—on our 50+ mile day, Kevin clocked in 25 miles himself! Kevin claims his shoes are for cross training - biking and driving.

Thom, our fearless senior ride leader, never misses a chance to tease Kevin. Yesterday’s highlight? Catching Kevin mid-chip munch and declaring that snacks were reserved for “real” riders. Their playful ribbing is more than just entertainment—it’s a reflection of the camaraderie and mutual respect that fuels their seamless teamwork in planning and leading this adventure.

The Great Allegheny Passage trail follows the path of a former rail line carved along the Youghiogheny River. Riverbanks, with their gentle grades, were ideal for laying tracks, and today they make for smooth cycling. Along the way, we pass remnants of old train stations and, across the river, still-active rail lines—a living reminder of the region’s industrial past.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the ride is arriving each evening in towns like Cumberland, Hancock, and—last night—Meyersdale. These communities, nestled in the heart of Western Pennsylvania and Maryland, carry the quiet charm of places that have weathered the decline of their industrial roots. Our stay last night was in a former tool factory, now transformed into a quirky, character-filled hotel. It's nothing if not eclectic, and each year we seem to have the entire place to ourselves.

We've settled into a quirky tradition: whenever we dine out, the waitress hands the check to Daniel—the smallest member of our crew. The other night, he confidently passed her a card to pay, only for her to pause, smile, and point out that he'd just handed over his Comfort Inn room key.

We finished off this evening with a game night, another way to bring the youngsters and adults in as a cohesive unit.Read more
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Day 4 - Cumberland to Hancock
August 7, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
197 miles down
123 miles to DC

Cumberland, MD marks the junction where the Great Allegheny Passage meets the C&O Canal Trail. The Great Allegheny Passage, a relatively young trail at just around a decade old, is in excellent shape—its surface made of finely packed cinders that make for smooth riding. In contrast, the C&O Canal Trail follows the historic towpath of the old canal, and in many stretches, its condition leaves much to be desired. This 60 mile leg of the journey definitely tested our endurance. Fortunately, the terrain tips in our favor, offering a gentle downhill grade as we pedal alongside the canal.

For most of the day, the Potomac River flowed steadily to our right, while the historic C&O Canal traced our path on the left. Much of the canal still holds water, though in some stretches, only traces of its former structure remain. The terrain was largely flat, making for a fairly easy ride, but every few miles we encountered a gentle downhill slope—usually where the remnants of old canal locks marked the landscape.

One of the highlights was walking through the Paw Paw Tunnel, a remarkable mile-long passage carved through the mountain, where the canal itself runs directly through the tunnel. It’s a surreal experience—dark, cool, and echoing with history.

We’re continuing to experiment with video, using both a phone and a drone. Drone footage, while stunning, requires careful planning and setup—spontaneity isn’t really an option. Today, we managed to capture a shot with a bit of artistic flair. (See attached.)

Each evening, we gather for dinner and then come together for a short devotional. It’s a time to reflect on the day’s journey, share thoughts, and preview what lies ahead.Read more
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Day 5 - Hancock to Harpers Ferry
August 8, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
260 miles down
60 miles to DC

Our dining experiences have been anything but ordinary. This morning, with the hotel offering only a modest breakfast, we opted for a hearty start at Sheetz. Lacking a proper table, we improvised—gathering around a conveniently placed trash can that doubled as our breakfast bar. With seven hungry bikers and limited “seating,” we had to rotate in shifts: first seating, then second. Not exactly fine dining, but definitely memorable.

Humor has been a huge part of the trip. There’s constant banter among the adults, among the youngsters, and between the adults and youngsters. Kevin, our sag driver, gets a steady stream of good-natured teasing. But beneath all the jokes, everyone genuinely appreciates his hard work and respects him as a rider—he pedals up the trail from each rest stop, connects with us, and rides alongside for as much as five miles.

Almost every day, Kevin gets chastised for not making our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. He always has a new excuse for why we have to make our own. Today’s story was that he made sandwiches once, but everyone got sick and had to go to urgent care. He claims he’s just apprehensive about sandwich-making now. Nobody bought it. He secretly told his excuse for our last day will be “I just don’t care”.

Today’s ride was 66 miles long, and one 20-mile stretch of trail was especially brutal. It was covered in packed and loose stones about the size of quarters. Everything rattled—your hands, your shoulders, and especially your backside. It was mentally exhausting too, since you had to constantly scan about ten feet ahead to find a semi-smooth path.

We stopped at Fort Frederick, just off the trail. Built during the French and Indian War around 1760, it was completely empty except for us. As Daniel wandered around, he stepped into an open doorway of one of the buildings, which triggered an alarm that echoed across the entire fort. When the rangers showed up, we all immediately pointed to Daniel. There’s no “No Snitch” policy on this trip. Everyone, including the rangers, had a good laugh.

Before visiting Fort Frederick, Daniel and Kevin decided to race….Daniel on foot and Kevin on bike. We were unsure who won because we were unsure of where the finish line was. See attached video.

Thom is our unofficial marketing guru. Wherever we pause—whether it's a trail break or a roadside stop—he’s striking up conversations with everyone around. With a cold can of Gatorade or a snack in hand, he’s always ready to offer a bit of trail magic and a warm smile. Thanks to Thom’s friendly outreach, we often cross paths with these folks again later in the day or even in town that evening.
Among the fascinating people we've met: a neurosurgeon, a Methodist pastor, and a former director of intelligence for Latin America. The trail truly brings together an incredible mix of stories and backgrounds.

After arriving in Harpers Ferry, we took a little time to explore the charm and history of the town before heading to our hotel to unwind.Read more
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Great Allegheny Passage-2025 Traveler
Day 6 - Harpers Ferry to DC
August 9, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
320 miles completed

We got an early start to ensure we reached Washington, DC in plenty of time for our 3:30 pm Washington Monument reservation—and to tackle our final 60-mile day. Crossing the bridge over the Potomac, we were greeted by a stunning, fog-filled sunrise.

Wildlife was plentiful today, and Dale captured some great shots with his 40x zoom lens, perfect for close-up nature photography.

We realized we’ve never explained our rest stop routine. Our SAG support, Kevin, has all the stops planned out in advance. Once he reaches a rest stop, he rides his bike back toward us on the trail. About 2–4 miles in, we spot him, shout “Kevin!” in unison, and ride the rest of the way together. The stops are always stocked with snacks and drinks, and in the early afternoon, our longer lunch break always features the day’s specialty—classic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

One highlight today was our visit to Great Falls before heading deeper into DC, where the trail grew busier with cyclists and pedestrians. Eventually, we reached mile 0 of the C&O Canal and paused with some family members for a celebratory round of photos.

From there, we followed another bike trail past the Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool, and the always-moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Thom had worked hard before the trip to secure the much-coveted tickets to the Washington Monument, and the sweeping views from the top were unforgettable.

Afterward, we packed up and made our way back to Lancaster—ending a trip rich with adventure, camaraderie, and countless memories.

Dale Johnson - Blog writer, team photographer, videographer and drone pilot.Read more
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Trip end
August 9, 2025