Last week, I wrote about riding the GAP to the MD/PA state line. Sunday, I rode with MJ for the first time since our west coast adventures and made the trail all the way to the eastern continental divide. At a length of 50 miles round tripping from Cumberland, this was a fairly vigorous ride, but oddly easy considering the accurate, but misleading, elevation chart.

The ride confirms that the 135 miles from Cumberland to Pittsburgh is an “easy” 2 day trip, with a likely overnight in Ohiopyle State Park, or maybe a leave-no-trace wild camp if it’s appropriate (although probably not technically allowed). Unfortunately as the fall weather makes this trip beyond tempting, my fall schedule is tricky to coordinate enough consecutive days to make it happen. Since one of the tunnels closes November 1st, it might be that this section of the trail may be the only part I can do until next spring…