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Location:
Idaho

1. Summary:

A 12-day trip to Idaho which included whitewater rafting on the Salmon River and backpacking in the White Clouds Mountains.

2. Participants:

ASM’s            Mike Sass, Marty Foy, Peter Basso, Brian Keating
Scouts            8 Scouts aged 15 -17 years old

3.  Itinerary (Assumes a start at the Forest Headquarters):

Day 1: Fly to Boise, ID, pick up food, and pre-shipped supplies, drive to Stanley, Idaho.

Day 2-4:  Rent rafts and whitewater gear – raft various sections of Salmon River.  Camped in Forest Service campground, and took side tours of historic mines, ghost towns in Idaho.  After two days of a mix of adults/boys in rafts, we allowed a boy-only boat for 7 miles of class 3 whitewater. The boys decided to change the last day from rafting to mountain biking.

Day 6 – 9:  Backpack to Boulder Lakes in White Clouds.  Spent two nights at lakes taking day trips, fishing, hiking.  Return to trailhead, and Stanley for final night.

Day 10:  Drive to Boise, Fly to New York

4. Administrative:

Permit Info:  The Middle Fork of the salmon river requires permits distributed by lottery.  The main Salmon does not require permits.  Permits aren’t required to back pack in the White Clouds.

Maps Used:  Forest service maps available from the Sawtooth Recreation area office north of Ketchum, Idaho.

Ref Books Backpacking guide books for Idaho which include Sawtooth Wilderness Area and White Clouds Peaks.

Useful Web links:  http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=1027&agencyCode=131

Useful Contact information: http://www.riverwear.com/  They rent gear and are a wealth of local knowledge.

Greg Edson – Whitewater guide, president of Stanley Chamber of Commerce, high school classmate of Mike Sass.  If you want to pay for a guided trip on the Middle Fork, Greg’s your guy.

Anything Else:  It helps to have grown up there

5. Lessons Learned: 

You cannot predict the snow level, which affects how early in the season you can backpack, and how much water is in the river.  The best time for whitewater is early in the run-off – May or very early June.  Sometimes, backpacking isn’t safe in the White Clouds until late July.  We were lucky because there was a late run-off, so the river level was much higher than normal for late June.  By the same token, we were blessed by an early melt in the mountains.  (We camped at 10,600 feet).  If you set the dates of your trip months in advance, you have to be prepared to adjust the trip to current snow/water conditions.

Be prepared for snow and heavy run-off streams in the early season.  Crampons, extra rope, and winter sleeping pads may be necessary depending on the snow melt.  The real danger is crossing spring streams that are heavy with spring run-off.  We had rope, carabiners and pulleys to build a tyrolean traverse if needed.  (It wasn’t).  The good news is there is always another place to hike at lower altitude.

Don’t try using highway tires on anything other than a paved or gravel road in Idaho.  You will get multiple flat tires.  Mileage is no indicator of the time necessary to travel on roads in Idaho.  There are many “highways” where 40MPH is as fast as you can go.

Scouts and venturers who grew up in the east will get an eye-opener when they see Idaho.  Be prepared for Boise State University to suddenly appear on your son’s college list.    

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Location:
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York

1. Summary:

This backpacking trip is a short but challenging loop hike covering approximately 21 miles completed over five days and four nights camping. This trip can be varied by a day, shorter or longer, if you wish. The trail is steep and rocky in many places, but it rewards the intrepid hiker with many beautiful mountain vistas, abundant streams and waterfalls, camping along vertical escarpments, and swimming opportunities at Sage’s Ravine and Guilder Pond. This route has been used by new Venture Crew members on at least two occasions, but some scouts may find it physically strenuous. Leaders are urged to stress good physical conditioning and be proactive about the group’s level of physical preparedness.

This is an excellent training hike for Philmont, as it is guaranteed to raise the skill and confidence levels of all participants. Memorable views, rewarding climbs, and beautiful natural features engender enthusiasm (once the fatigue wears off). All in all, one of my favorite short loop hikes.

2. Participants:

ASM’s            Jim Wyse, Eduard Mostert, Bob Weber, Curt Villars
Scouts            8 Scouts aged 13 -16 years old

3.  Itinerary (Assumes a start at the Forest Headquarters):

We have used two different options for the first portion of the hike. The first option starts at the Mount Washington State Forest Headquarters at the junction of East Street, West Street and Garrett Farms Road. The second option starts at Bash Bish Falls State Park in Massachusetts (just east of the town of Copake Falls, New York). The two start options converge at Alander Mountain. The Bash Bish Falls start involves a very steep climb out of the ravine at the very outset of the hike; the Forest Headquarters start is a more gradual climb. Distance-wise, they are pretty close. I prefer to start at the Forest Headquarters because it’s easier to close the loop at the end of the hike without having to use a shuttle car. Although you miss some of the ridgeline along the northern part of the South Taconic Trail, the best views don’t start until you reach Alander Mountain anyway.

After Alander Mountain the route follows the South Taconic Trail southerly to Brace Mountain and the junction with the Mount Frissell Trail, where the states of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut come together. It then traverses east over Mount Frissell (2,380 feet), the highest point in Connecticut, then joins the Appalachian Trail for the northward leg. The AT passes through Sage’s Ravine, a hemlock gorge with many rocky pools and waterfalls, and the wilderness camp at Bear Rock Falls, with stunning views to the east and a stream shooting out from a vertical escarpment. The trail then crosses over Mount Race, with 360° views, and Mount Everett (2,602 feet, the highest peak in the Taconic Range) before ending at the shelters close to Guilder Pond. The return to Park Headquarters is a relatively short walk along back roads. Returning to Bash Bish Falls is more complicated; you may want to send drivers ahead to hitchhike, or leave a shuttle car at the parking area at Guilder Pond.

Day 1     Trailhead to Alander Mountain (2.8 miles). Depart early so as to leave plenty of time to hike after you get there. The Forest Headquarters is on a narrow country road. You can leave cars at the parking area. Follow the Alander Mountain Trail west toward Lee Pond Brook. Be sure to bring plenty of water, or be prepared to stop for water before you leave the stream. Several trails branch off to the left at various points; don’t get sidetracked. On the map you will see that there is a dispersed camping area along a small trail that joins from the left a little more than half way to Alander Mtn. You can use this option if running late, or if the weather is dicey. We continued on past the Alander Mtn. cabin and camped in the open at the top of Alander Mountain, which was beautiful. Needless to say, don’t expect to find water there, and it is obviously a heightened leave no trace situation. I don’t know if camping here is sanctioned; just be careful about it if you choose to do so, and don’t even think about it if a storm is threatened.

Day 2     Alander Mountain to Sage’s Ravine (7.7 miles w/o side hike). This is a rugged day of hiking, which will require most of the day. Follow the South Taconic Trail southward, first descending to Alander Brook, deep in a ravine. Stop here for water. Continue on the South Taconic Trail through Gentz’s Corner, and along the undulating ridgeline toward Brace Mountain. The trail will pass over a number of small brooks en route. At 3.7 miles, you will reach the junction with the Mount Frissell Trail at an open crest where you can leave your packs and take a side hike to the summit of Brace Mountain (0.8 mi round trip). The summit is used as a jumping off point for hang gliding. Excellent views all around. Following the Mount Frissell Trail will soon bring you to the small obelisk that marks the corner of the states of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. From here it continues east to the summit of Mount Frissell, again with excellent views, especially to the north, and good blueberry picking in season. The trail drops into a saddle before climbing again to the top of Round Mountain, then descends very steeply to the valley, where it connects with Mount Washington Road (2.2 mi. from trail junction). From here, follow the road south a short distance to a woods road that departs eastward to join the Appalachian Trail. Following the AT northward will bring you to Sage’s Ravine, where there is an established backcountry camping area (1.6 miles from the road). The ravine is a great place to explore; incredibly picturesque and lots of swimming holes. If you wish, you can continue further, ascending the ridgeline to camp at Bear Rock Falls.

Day 3     Sage’s Ravine to Bear Rock Falls (1.4 miles).  After a tiring Day 2, you get a respite with a short hike to the top of the ridge leading to the camp at Bear Rock Falls, one of my favorites. Or, as noted above, you could go to Bear Rock Falls for night 2 and just stay put. It’s not hard to hike back to Sage’s Ravine for a day of swimming, or you can play around at Bear Rock Falls. The site has a sheer escarpment, which overlooks the Sheffield valley to the east. We once sat there and watched the Fourth of July fireworks across the valley. If you prefer, you can continue to Race Brook Falls campsite, but then you’d miss the fun in Sage’s Ravine.

Day 4     Bear Rock Falls to Glen Brook Shelter ( 5 miles). Day 4, although not long mileage, brings another bit of exercise as the AT proceeds north along the escarpment, with its wonderful views and windswept vegetation, crossing over Mount Race before descending to a trail junction in a pretty little hollow, where a side trail leaves to the right toward the Race Brook Falls campsite. That site would be another option for your overnight stay if you wished. From here the AT ascends fairly steeply to the summit of Mount Everitt, where there is an abandoned fire tower. This is another challenging piece of trail, with some rock scrambling in places. But, you will feel a sense of reward at the end, knowing that the rest of the trip is pretty much downhill. The trail now heads down toward Guilder Pond, where there is a small dirt parking area. The Pond makes for nice swimming if the weather permits. To camp, continue north a short distance where there are two nice shelters:  the Hemlock Shelter and the Glen Brook Shelter. The AMC trail wardens don’t like to have groups stay at these shelters, which are primarily for thru-hikers. So, don’t be surprised if you are politely asked to move to the group camp area near Glen Brook Shelter, which is actually a very attractive spot. I would observe trail etiquette and go straight there, as tempting as it might be to occupy Hemlock Shelter. Your call.

Day 5     Return to trailhead (3.4 miles).  Backtracking to Guilder Pond, follow dirt road downhill to East Street. Turn left onto East Street and proceed to its intersection with West Street, where you will see the entrance to the Mount Washington State Forest Headquarters. You should have no problem making it back in time for an early start home.

4. Administrative:

• As of this writing, a  zoomable online map can be found at:  http://www.bnrc.net/zoom_map/southtaconic.htm
• Maps & Guides:  The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference publishes a map set of the South Taconic Trails, and the area is described in the New York Walk Book. Highly recommended.  http://www.nynjtc.org/
• Call the Forest office for updated permit requirements. Mount Washington State Forest, East Street, Mount Washington, Massachusetts 01258; Telephone:  (413) 528-0330.
• Much of this route is exposed peak and ridgeline. Be prepared for sudden storms.
• As noted, I can’t guarantee that camping on Mount Alander is permitted. If you want to be careful, use the camping area to the left of the trail before you reach the Alander Mtn. cabin.
• Save some time the first morning by bringing breakfast to eat in the car on the way up. There are some good diners in the small towns on the way back.
• This trip is certainly do-able for new Venture Crew members, but they need to be physically prepared. It is not a cake walk.
• Route Options:  If your crew is up to it, you could lengthen the route by detouring southeast along the Bog Trail/AT to Brassie Brook Campsite at the end of Day 2. Then on Day 3, head north on the AT to climb Bear Mountain before descending into Sage’s Ravine. Or, if they are super fit (and gluttons for punishment), climb Bear Mtn. via the Bee Line Trail on Day 2 before continuing on to the Ravine. But be warned:  the Bee Line and the AT north of Bear Mtn. are very steep.

Access:  New York State Thruway I-87 to Saw Mill Parkway north to I-684 north, which becomes NY Rte. 22 north. Follow NY Rte. 22 north to Copake, NY. From NY Rte. 22 in Copake Falls, take NY Rte. 344 east into Massachusetts (becomes Falls Rd.) for 3.3 miles. Turn right onto West Street and continue for 2 miles to intersection with East Street. Or, I-87 to I-84 to Taconic State Pkwy; then CR-2 and CR-7.

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Location:
West Highland Way, Scotland

1. Summary:

Two weeks of awesomeness on the West coast of Scotland. The 154Km (96miles) route starts at Milngavie (just north of Glasgow) and passes through Mugdock Country Park, follows the shores of Loch Lomond, passing Ben Lomond, through Glen Falloch and Strathfillan, crossing Rannoch Moor, past Buachaille Etive Mor to the head of Glencoe, climbing the Devil’s Staircase, descending to sea level to cross the River Leven at the head of Loch Leven before entering Lairigmor and Glen Nevis and finishes at Gordon Square in Fort William.

The terrain ranges from lowland moors, dense woodland and rolling hills, to high mountainous regions in the Scottish Highlands. These environments provide habitats for a diverse range of wildlife species, both flora and fauna. You also pass through thousands of year of history in the region.

2. Participants:

ASM’s            ASM’s Basso, Foy, Villars and Wyse
Scouts             9 Scouts ages: 16-17

3.  Itinerary:

Day 1: (10mi/16km) Milngavi to Gartness.
Terrain: Trails, Roads, Farm Trails, Mostly Flat.
Side hikes: Glengoyne Distillery(1 mile round trip). Drumclog Moor Castle (2 miles round trip)

Day 2: (16mi/26km) Gartness to Rowardennan.
Terrain: Trails, Roads, Mostly Flat but big climb by Conic hill.
Side hikes: Drymen for lunch and ice-cream(2 miles round trip). Conic Hill (1km round trip)
Other: War Memorial and view of Loch Lomond

Day 3: (13.5mi/22km) Rowardennan to Inverarnan.
Terrain: Trails, Roads, Very rough undulating trails.

Day 4: (6mi/9.5km) Inverarnan to Crianlarich.
Terrain: Trails, Mostly Flat.

Day 5: (3mi/5km) Crianlarich to Strathfillan.
Terrain: Trails, One Big Climb and one Big Decent.

Day 6: (10mi/16km) Strathfillan to Bridge of Orchy.
Terrain: Trails, Mostly Flat.

Day 7: (13mi/21km) Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse.
Terrain: Trails, In the Mountains but Mostly Flat.

Day 8: (8.5mi/14km) Kingshouse to Kinlochleven.
Terrain: Trails, One long gradual Accent, then one steep Decent at the end.

Day 9: (12.5mi/20km) Kinlochleven to Glen Nevis.
Terrain: Trails, One long gradual Accent, then one steep Decent at the end.

Day 10: Hike into Fort William to finish the trail and Ben Nevis Mountain Side Hike(tallest Mountain in the UK)

4. Administrative:

Permit Info: N/A
Flights:   Newark to Glasgow return
Maps Used: Maps from Book (see below)
Ref Books: West Highland Way by Charlie Loram
Useful Web links: http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk
Useful Contact information: N/A
Anything Else: BUY THE BOOK!!!!! THE MOST USEFUL TOOL FOR THIS TREK!!!!

5. Lessons Learned/Taught:

• Loch Lomond (largest lake in the UK) is absolutely massive
• Midges are no joke you will need head nets. You will buy one there if you don’t bring one, I promise you that.
• Ben Nevis is not for everyone, but if you are up for it it’s an all day even
• Note: White gas fuel for stoves is not easy to find in the UK and when you do find it its very expensive.

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Location:
Little Pond Campground to Margaretville

1. Summary:

An excellent introductory backpacking trip covering approximately 24 miles completed over 3 full days and 4 nights camping.  The route can also be easily extended if need be taking in other trails.  Scouts can achieve the 1,000 Foot elevation and 10 mile hike requirements.  This part of the Catskills is not heavily used (off grid for cell phones and blackberry’s too) and in parts the trail is  both fairly steep and rocky, so a 1 mile per hour hike speed is a reasonable planning assumption with scouts carrying +/- 35 lb packs.  Deemed to be a good training hike for those going to Philmont .

2. Participants:

ASM’s            Ed Mostert, Jim Wyse, Glenn Corbitt, Mark Twentyman
Scouts             10 Scouts ages 13 to 15 years old

3.  Itinerary:

Day 1 – Departed from Ogden at 4pm. Arrived at Little Pond State Park Campground 7pm.  (need to book camp sites beforehand with campground – 2 tents per site, with sites 70-75 on lake).

Day 2 – distance 6 miles  - Little Pond to Alder Lake – 7.5 hours. Prepared for trail and shuttled cars to the end of the trail in Margaretville  (park in designated area next to Food Store car park), returned in  one car to little pond where we left it in the camp $6 per night).  Left little Pond (2,000 feet) about 10.30am via the red route out the western end of the camp ground and over the hill to Big Pond where we arrived about 2 pm and had lunch.  Left at 3pm for Alder Lake (where we found a great campsite at the eastern end by taking the red route south of the lake – arrived here around 6pm (a little late to get everything done before dark).  Boys swam in lake to cool off – great fun.

Day 3 – distance 10.5 miles  – Alder Lake to Shelter – 10 hours.  Took the Alder Lake/Mill Brook Ridge Trail (mostly uphill and steep in parts) to the fire tower on Balsam Lake Mountain (3,730 Feet) where we had lunch and took in the views from the Tower. Then we took the Dry Brook Ridge trail (DBRT) down to the Road (can’t rely on the water spring shown on the map, about half way) where we knocked on a door to a nearby house to get water.  We then continued up the same trail about 1.5 miles (uphill mostly) to the shelter (2,700 feet) where we camped (boys all slept in shelter) and replenished water supplies from the nearby stream.  There is a house about 100 yards away so need to keep noise level reasonable.

Day 4 – distance 6.5 miles – Shelter to Off trail campsite above Margaretville – 7 hours. Continued on the DBRT toward Margaretville and found a great off trail campsite (2,500 feet), which is not marked on any map,  with view point and fire ring about ½ mile past the junction of DBRT with the German hollow trail – the site is on the western side of the trail on the last flat piece of ground before a decent starts with a switchback to the right and then left.  2 adults went down to Margaretville about 4pm to then go collect the car left at Little Pond campground – returned about 8pm with soda and apple pies.

Day 5 – distance 1.5 miles   – campsite – Margaretville – 1,5 hours On the trail by 7.30pm and got into Margaretville (downhill all the way!!) by 8.30 for a great breakfast in the local Diner in town.   Left Margaretville at 9.30am and arrived back at Ogden around 12.30pm. 

 Administrative:

Need to Book camp sites in Little Pond Campground beforehand – note that canoes are for hire here if you wanted to include another activity.  Please call the camp at 845-439-5480 or see more information at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24478.html   Reservations can be made at http://www.reserveamerica.com or by calling 1-877-444-6777 (preferred)

You also need to secure a Backcountry Camping Permit for parties of 10 or more.  For more information see http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/56001.html. Please call the Forest Ranger at 518-357-2047 to request the permit. Permits are free.

Maps : AMC Catskill Mountains Trail Map (Larger scale), Catskill Forest Preserve, Catskill Trails maps published by the NY/NJ Trail Conference (http://www.nynjtc.org/).

Lessons Learnt/Taught:

• Packing backpack correctly
• Caterpillaring
• Order of march (slowest not at back)
• Use of different rest options
• Adjusting footwear/clothes appropriately
• Bear-muda triangle concept
• Water purifying using filter pumps/tablets/uv sticks
• Cooking with whitegas stoves
• Bear bagging
• Use of trekking poles (or not)
• Pack it in pack it out
• Hygiene and cathole use
• Boot laces tied properly
• Everything can fit into a 48 liter backpack, if packed correctly

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Location:
Cumberland, MD to Washington, D.C.

1. Summary:

A challenging biking trip on the C&O Canal towpath leading from Cumberland, Maryland to the heart of Washington, D.C. through a National Historic Park. The path is approximately 187 miles paralleling the Potomac River with Park maintained campsites every 5 miles or so. Possible sights are the Antietam Battleground located just off the trail, the historic Paw-Paw Tunnel and restored lockhouses manned by the Park Service, Harpers Ferry National Historic area and Washington D.C. Can stay in Washington at the International Youth Hostel and keep the bikes locked there. Scouts can fulfill requirements for Camping, Cycling Merit Badges, and the 50-Miler award. As this is a point-to-point trip, cars will need to be relocated or shuttled back to Cumberland. A chase car is recommended and can stay in contact with the biking group fairly easily all along the route.

No reservations are needed (or taken) for most of the campsites – they are small and are first-come, first-served. There are only a couple of sites that will take reservations and these are recommended at least several months in advance for any trips in the summer. All campsites have potable well water, picnic tables and at least 1 portable toilet. All camp gear and food for the trip were carried on the bicycles in panniers, on bike racks, and in 2 trailing child carrier wagons attached to the bikes. A chase car followed but did not carry any gear. Expect to make 9-11 miles per hour without stops due to the trail composition (packed dirt and/or cinder). Flat path with slight drops at the frequently occurring locks. Can swim in the Potomac for most of the upper part of the river. There are no provisions for trash, so you must pack your trash out. 

2. Participants:
Advisers   Thomas Loop, Rose Cubbon, Elizabeth Leeper, Nancy Cubbon (chase car)
Crew          7 youth 

3.  Itinerary:

Day 1, Arrival and Start of Journey, Purslane Run Campsite: 25 miles – Drove from NJ to Cumberland, MD National Park Service Visitor Center (drive is 5 hours via Interstates 78, 81, 64). Cars may be parked in the NP parking area free of charge located nearby. Two of our cars were relocated to Greenbelt Metro Station just outside Washington D.C. (the drivers then joined us at our campsite). Took to trail by noon after collecting the latest info on the trail and lunch. Arrived Purslane Run around mile 159. Passed the convergence of the North and South Branches of the Potomac River. Water is cool here for swimming. Area is mountainous, with West Virginia on the other side of the Potomac. At one point, beach is just 50 yards across the river – can swim to another state!

Day 2, Paw Paw Tunnel, Little Pool Campsite: 40 miles – Biked through the famous historic Paw Paw Tunnel, 3118 ft long, that took 7 years to complete. Path is narrow and is shared with the canal through the tunnel. Great scenery along the whole way, as the canal follows the river which is just yards away. Saw a 5-6’ black snake at lunch leisurely crossing the trail. Expect lots of wildlife and food searching critters, so plan to hang bear bags at night (not necessarily to avoid bears but the “mini-bears”). Pass the Hancock Visitor Center around mile 125.

Day 3, Antietam, Horseshoe Bend Campsite: 40 miles – Horseshoe Bend campsite is near access to Antietam Battleground. Plan to arrive as early as possible to leave time to visit the Battleground, which is several miles from the canal through access by local roads. Note detour on local roads for 3-4 miles at mile 89 as canal path is closed for this stretch rejoining the towpath at mile 85. Passed the Williamsport Visitor Center at Williamsport at mile 100, a good place to lunch, meet the chase car, or use facilities. Rained overnight and trail was soft with many puddles and soft places, making traveling harder. Expect to get dirty and wet from flying dirt. Have passed 32 locks by this point.

Day 4, Harpers Ferry, Turtle Run Campsite: 40 miles – Air is much warmer here, as well as the river. Visit Harpers Ferry Historic places free that are run by the Park Service. It was hot but there were many ice cream parlors willing to ameliorate the heat. The Appalachian Trail crosses through here, so get a picture on the trail. Cross over to Harpers Ferry on foot on the tremendous bridge over the Potomac and view the mighty Shenandoah River rushing the Potomac at the tip of the town. Virginia greets the viewer on the opposite side of the river from this point onward.

Day 5, Washington D.C., IYH 35 miles – With lighter loads due to most of the food gone, can make good time into D.C. Stop at the Great Falls Park with rushing rock falls and overlooks. More people using the towpath for running and walking as one enters the metro area. The canal soon leaves sight of the river due to buildup of houses. Be sure to hit Milepost 0 for a picture at the commemorative tablet. Dorm rooms at the Youth Hostel, separated by gender. Hostel conducts walking tours and has meals. Trip to National Aquarium. Group dinner that night to celebrate.

Day 6, Home – Visited Capitol on conducted tour, arranged by home troop Scout who was interning for a local Congressman. Tours are free, but must be reserved. Also visited the Ford Theater and nearby house where Lincoln was taken after being shot. National Park Service conducts tours and talks at both. Headed for home in afternoon after retrieving cars from the overnight Metro Park and Ride. Ride home is about 4 hours from Washington.

Administrative

The National Park Service has great resources on their website, http://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm. Be sure to use the map they provide on the website, http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/chohparkmap.pdf, to plan the trip. No permit is needed to use the trail or campsites, other than reservations for those mentioned below.

Reservable campsite spots include Fort Frederick State Park (fee required), and Marsden Tract. Otherwise, all campsites are unreservable. Note that campsites are small, sleeping 6 tents or so at most. If one is full, the next one is usually just 5 miles down the trail.

Park cars overnight at the National Park Service parking lot in Cumberland (must get ticket for windshield from the Visitor Center there). Otherwise, we parked relocated cars at the Greenbelt Washington Metro station overnight for a modest fee (about $5 per day in 2009). Note that the Metro Station is not guaranteed to be patrolled 24 hours though.

Hostel cost was $240 for 11 people for one night. Total trip cost was about $155 per person including transportation, sights and food.

Lessons Learned/Taught:

• Packing bike panniers efficiently and lightly
• Fitness through cycling
• Group travel options for different speed/strength/fitness bikers
• Camping practices, including campfires
• Cooking on white gas stoves
• Bicycle repair, including flat repair
• Bear bagging
• Pack it in, pack trash out
• Swimming opportunities require Safe Swim Defense rules
• Preparation bike “hikes” prior to main trip up to 45 miles in length to gauge eligibility

Specialized Equipment

• Bicycles, preferably mountain bikes equipped with a rack and bike lock. Hybrid style is also fine, provided tires are not narrow. Very little need for more than 3 gears.
• Panniers, recommended 2 per bike. Fairly easy to mount 2 panniers on rear rack and these may be sufficient with additional equipment mounted on the rack itself. Panniers should be waterproof, or can waterproof contents by securing in plastic bags inside the panniers.
• Bike pump and repair tools. Each bike should have minimum 2 tubes for flat replacement. Tools should include tire irons for changing tubes, hex wrenches for adjusting various components on the bike (seat, brakes, handlebars).
• Towable trailers, about 1 per 5 people. Depending on length of trip, the trailer can carry the crew’s food and larger items such as tents. Note that there is a tradeoff between miles done each day and the amount of food needed to be brought; there are no food shopping facilities on the trail.
• Bike helmets are mandatory; cable bike locks useful for securing bikes overnight at campsites and in Washington. Water bottles that can be mounted on the bikes themselves are key, though camelbacks are also fine, if not slightly uncomfortable on hot days.
• Sunblock and sunglasses are critical on many sections of the trail due to exposed distances. Use padded biking shorts for seat comfort, and avoid long pants as the pants legs can get caught in the chain. A rain jacket is better than a poncho; if rain pants are used, be sure to secure chain-side pants leg with string, loose band, or tuck into sock. Sneakers are fine for biking; camp shoes may be flip flops or other comfortable shoes.

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Location: 
Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA and back

Summary:
A scenic but vigorous biking trip on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), formerly the Western Maryland Rail Road railbed, from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA and back. The path is each way is approximately 145 miles and crosses the Eastern Continental Divide early on before gently descending into Pittsburgh. Along the way it follows several creeks and rivers, including the Youghiogheny River where whitewater rafting is available. Possible sights include a side trip to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Falling Waters house, the Flight 93 National Memorial, and historic towns along the route. Scouts can fulfill requirements for Camping, Cycling Merit Badges, and the 50-Miler award. Note that this route travels through a large amount of rolling farmland and state parks, is sparsely populated, and thus difficult to follow with a chase car between towns along the trail. It can be done point-to-point, but is very doable in a round trip fashion with different stops on the return.

There are several “primitive” campsites along the trail, mostly nearer to Pittsburgh, that are free. Otherwise, tent campsites are generally privately managed and must be reserved. These tend to be areas connected with RV campsites with other amenities such as pools, showers, and small stores. The free sites have potable well water, toilet facilities and picnic tables and are located by the riverside. The RV campsites may be on or within several miles of the trail and generally cost $5-10 per person per night. All camp gear and food for the trip were carried on the bicycles in panniers, on bike racks, and in 1 trailing child carrier wagon attached to one of the bikes. One mini-van was required to transfer all gear and bikes to Cumberland. Free parking was provided by the National Park Service Visitor Center which requires car registration in order to issue a parking permit for their secure overnight lot located near the Visitor Center. Expect to make 6-8 miles per hour approaching the Continental Divide on a steep 3% grade. Otherwise expect to make 9-11 miles per hour not including stops on the western part of the divide on the packed cinder path. There is almost no opportunity for swimming in the rivers. There are frequent trash bins encountered along the trail, but food should be suspended at night with bear bags and ropes.

Participants:
Advisers   Thomas Loop and Erin O’Connor
Crew         Crew chief and two participants

Itinerary:
Day 1, Arrival and Start of Journey, Frostburg, MD: 15 miles – Drove from NJ to Cumberland, MD National Park Service Visitor Center (drive is 5 hours via Interstates 78, 81, 68). Cars may be parked in the NPS parking area free of charge located nearby. Took to trail after noontime lunch waiting out rain after collecting the latest info on the trail. Trail parallels an active section of the restored Western Maryland Rail Road, a coal driven train terminating in Frostburg. Arrived Frostburg Trailside Inn in late afternoon after grueling 1.5% grade climb with full load. The elevation change is 1200’ over 15 miles. The Trailside Inn is located up the hill – another steep climb – and its tent campsite is even further up a hill overlooking the Inn. Meals are available at low cost in the Inn. Be sure to go into town to the local university ice cream hangout, where the ice cream is plentiful, delicious and inexpensive. The Trailside Inn also has dorm rooms for groups.

Day 2, Big Savage Tunnel, Eastern Continental Divide, Rockwood: 28 miles – Biked across the famed Mason-Dixon Line separating Maryland from Pennsylvania, through the mighty Big Savage Tunnel, 3294 ft long, and over the Keystone and nearly 1900’ long Salisbury Viaducts – bike bridges that span river gorges and provide vast scenic vistas. The Divide, at 2392’, is reached shortly after the tunnel and it is “all downhill from there”. Refreshments and campsites available in Rockwood. One campsite is on the river, another a few hilly miles away at a RV campsite equipped with a pool. Local ice cream is not to be missed after such a rewarding day.

Day 3, Ohiopyle State Park, Ohiopyle: 30 miles – Bike along the shaded bluffs overlooking a portion of the Casselman River up to the closed Pinkerton Tunnel and its 2 mile detour around it. Pass through the tidy, bustling town of Confluence, so named for the several rivers merging there, and on to Ohiopyle. Arrive before noon in order to go white water rafting with any one of the several outfitters here on the Youghiogheny (“the Yog”) River, a class 3 river with several class 4 rapids to negotiate. Stay in the Ohiopyle State Park overnight, though beware of the shortcut trail up to the campsites: it is VERY steep and bikes must be walked up. Bears are about, so hang food promptly. Full restroom facilities, including showers, available to the tent campsites.

Day 4, Dravo’s Landing: 50 miles – Several free campsites available along this stretch of trail, all equipped with toilet facilities, potable pump water and picnic tables by the riverside. Dravo’s Landing is hard by the historic Civil War Dravo Cemetery. Didn’t see any ghosts. Camped here 2 nights for interim day trip to Pittsburgh. Don’t leave any valuables in the campsite while on the day trip to Pittsburgh, but it should be reasonably safe to leave tents up and bear bags suspended in tree. River was good for bathing.

Day 5, Pittsburgh Day Trip: 50 miles RT – With little to no loads due to leaving bulky items back in Dravo’s Landing, trip into Pittsburgh went much faster. Trail here is mostly unshaded, so sunblock and sunglasses are essential. The path is mostly asphalt paved from here on into Pittsburgh. Note that in August, 2011 there was a little over a mile of travel through the streets of Duquesne as the path was still under construction. Also, in Homestead just outside Pittsburgh, the path required an arduous detour along Route 837 and over a highway bridge with streaming traffic and little protection up to the Hot Metal Bridge. Be sure to check the latest updates on the path completion before attempting this segment! Rewarded ourselves with lunch and ice cream at the Three Rivers confluence across the river from downtown Pittsburgh. Note the great support for bike paths in this city! Return to Dravo’s Landing in the afternoon. With the reverse in direction, the path gently gains elevation.

Day 6, Adelaide: 30 miles – Retraced earlier path going gently uphill, though it is hardly noticeable at this point. Over the 55 miles from Pittsburgh, the elevation gain is only about 400 feet. Path is well maintained packed cinder, shaded, with few riders on it. More people ride between the occasional towns on the trail in early evening. The RV campsite at Adelaide has showers, pool, ice cream shop and camping store. Campsites are near the river.

Day 7, Fallingwater, Confluence: 30 miles – Leave Adelaide early to arrive Ohiopyle in 2 hours and visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic summer home named Fallingwater, built for the Pittsburgh retailer, Kaufman, in the woods. Reservations are mandatory and should be made prior to the start of the trip. One can bike there, but the steep hills along the 4 mile route from the GAP in Ohiopyle will be very daunting. Instead, arrange a round trip ride from one of the whitewater outfitters in Ohiopyle for about $5 per person. Keep bikes and gear locked up with the outfitter in this case. The house tour is about 2 hours and cost $20 per person at this writing. From there it is about 12 miles onto the Outflow National Campground in Confluence. The campground supports RVs, has shower and full restroom facilities and good ice cream located nearby.

Day 8, Recrossing the Continental Divide, Frostburg: 47 miles – The path steepens for the 38 miles to the Continental Divide. Cheer those who can make the final climb to the top without stopping and walking! On the other side, travel is swift, coming down that steep grade. Expect to make 12-15 miles per hour into Frostburg. Stay at the Inn, celebrate the end of the trip with ice cream, and watch the Western Maryland RR steam engine turn around at the great turntable located next to the Trail Inn.

Day 9, Cumberland, Home: 15 miles – Follow the trail running along the railroad for the easy ride back to Cumberland. Pick up a souvenir chunk of coal from the rail bed that has fallen off the train’s coal tender before reentering the Visitor Center where one can get a number of lunch recommendations and a discount coupon for one of the popular lunch/ice cream parlors. Repack bikes and gear, and 5 hour drive back to NJ.

Administrative: 
Maps and information about the trail are available on the website, http://www.GAPtrail.org. Be sure to check their trail status at http://gaptrail.org/tmi/status.cfm, in order to get updates on the route, especially for getting into Pittsburgh.

Campsite reservations at many of the private campsites are highly recommended, but can be made on relatively short notice. Mention that you are a Scout group and you will get a discount in most cases. No one else stayed at the free sites when we camped, but be prepared to share if necessary. The sites are relatively spacious. To stay in the Ohiopyle State Park, a reservation is required and can be found through, http://www.pa.reserveworld.com/. Read the info there then navigate to the park for an online reservation. Note that there is a cancellation fee. In Frostburg, reservations can be made for a campsite at the Trail Inn, http://www.trailinnatfrostburg.com/. For other private campgrounds, consult the gaptrail.org website or info booklet. Periodically discounts are offered in the booklet’s ads.

Park cars overnight at the National Park Service parking lot in Cumberland (must get ticket for windshield from the Visitor Center there upon registration).

There are several whitewater outfitters in Ohiopyle. Laurel Highlands, http://www.laurelhighlands.com/,  is the one we used, which offered a discount through their advertisement in the GAP info book, obtainable through the GAPtrail.org website. After the discount, our cost was about $43 per person for 3-4 hours.

Fallingwater has a website, www.fallingwater.org, which has information needed for tour availability, hours, and tickets. Be sure to check their schedule in advance as they are not open every day. Reservations are mandatory and should be made as far in advance as possible. We made ours during the trip but could not get our preferred time slot.

Cell phone coverage on the trail is often non-existent due to its remoteness. In most towns on the trail, there is cell phone coverage, but that ends within 3 miles on either side until you get close to Pittsburgh.

Lessons Learned/Taught:

• Packing bike panniers efficiently and lightly
• Fitness through cycling
• Group travel options for different speed/strength/fitness bikers
• Camping practices, including campfires
• Cooking on white gas stoves
• Bicycle repair, including flat repair
• Bear bagging
• Preparation bike “hikes” prior to main trip up to 45 miles in length to gauge eligibility

Specialized Equipment:

• Bicycles, preferably mountain bikes equipped with a rack and bike lock. Hybrid style is also fine, provided tires are not narrow. Very little need for more than 3 gears.
• Panniers, recommended 2 per bike. Fairly easy to mount 2 panniers on rear rack and these may be sufficient with additional equipment mounted on the rack itself. Panniers should be waterproof, or can waterproof contents by securing in plastic bags inside the panniers.
• Bike pump and repair tools. Each bike should have minimum 2 tubes for flat replacement. Tools should include tire irons for changing tubes, hex wrenches for adjusting various components on the bike (seat, brakes, handlebars).
• Towable trailers, about 1 per 5 people. Depending on length of trip, the trailer can carry the crew’s food and larger items such as tents. Note that there is a tradeoff between miles done each day and the amount of food needed to be brought.
• Bike helmets are mandatory; cable bike locks useful for securing bikes overnight at campsites. Water bottles that can be mounted on the bikes themselves are key, though camelbacks are also fine, if not slightly uncomfortable on hot days.
• Sunblock and sunglasses are critical on many sections of the trail due to exposed distances. Use padded biking shorts for seat comfort, and avoid long pants as the pants legs can get caught in the chain. A rain jacket is better than a poncho; if rain pants are used, be sure to secure chain-side pants leg with string, loose band, or tuck into sock. Sneakers are fine for biking; camp shoes may be flip flops or other comfortable shoes.
• Gear for whitewater rafting include swimsuit, non-cotton “tech” shirt, close-toed water shoes, straps for eye or sun glasses a must.