Recap: Great Allegheny Passage Getaway
Our group
Mark
Mike
Ray
What better way to get out onto the bike for some beautiful fall weather than to jump on the Great Allegheny Passage. On Sunday we drove from Columbus to Connellsville, PA. The trailhead has a lot of parking and the hotel next door has bathroom access, and a shower for hikers/bikers, plus a snack bar.
In early October 2022 the owners of Husky Haven Campground announced that the campground would close after 23 years so we decided to head out for a convenient three day GAP trip and stay there one last time.
Our lunch stop in Ohiopyle, PA was at Ohiopyle Bakery and Sandwich Shoppe. We grabbed our food to-go and headed to Ohiopyle Coffee Company to eat and grab some coffee. Since it was Sunday most businesses in town were open for the leaf peeping crowds.
We passed over the Pinkerton High Bridge and stopped to talk a couple of people sightseeing and enjoying the day. Then through the tunnel, no more bypass around the bend, and onto Rockwood for our stay.
We once again spent a little more for a shelter just in case the weather turned and for a place to organize our gear. The larger campsite we secured had a fire pit and large fire ring with wooden seating and we took advantage of the free firewood to have bonfires in the evenings and to warm up in the morning. We headed to the shower house across the river in town via the bridge. The Rockwood Mill Shoppes closed last year but recently Trailhead Brewery and a Dollar General opened. We had dinner in camp and ate snacks around a large bonfire.
The earplug warning still stands for most if not all campgrounds/campsites along the GAP because of the proximity to the rail lines. The engineers love to make sure that people know they are passing through at 2am, 3am, 4am, etc.
Day Trip to Savage Mountain
After breakfast and a nice bonfire to warm up we hit the trail heading toward Savage Mountain. After crossing the Salisbury Viaduct we stopped at the Meyersdale Area Historical Society in the old depot to see the exhibits and trains. Next up was the Eastern Continental Divide. Then we pulled over at Big Savage vista to make coffee and eat snacks. Mike and I dropped down to the Mason-Dixon Line before heading back toward Rockwood.
On Monday night we talked to Barry the owner of Husky Haven in the basement of the guest house. He talked about retirement and the challenges of running the campground for 23 years, including the last 15 years round the clock during the season. He mentioned that the shelters were to be removed the next day and we saw Barry moving equipment around as we left to head back to Connellsville. Husky Haven campground closes permanently on October 31, 2022.
We had dinner in camp and a bonfire before heading to sleep.
On day three we headed back to Connellsville. PA. After breakfast and a nice bonfire we broke camp and rolled down the trail as the fog burned off. Since it was a Tuesday most of the businesses in Ohiopyle were closed so we had lunch at Falls Market Inn. This was another great ride on the trail with beautiful weather all three days. We enjoyed clear skies throughout and temperatures in the mid 70’s during the day and upper 30’s/low 40’s at night. The gravel/limestone trail bed was dry and fast and we only encountered people near trailheads and towns. We also noticed that some townships took it upon themselves to rake the leaves from the trail which was a nice surprise.
Great Allegheny Passage Pack list
Arkel Handlebar Bag
Compression bag w/15 degree NEMO sleeping bag
Zip bag –Camp Pants/Thin wool t-shirt/ Thin wool long sleeve/Wool underwear/Wool Socks/ wool cycling cap
Zip bag - Alternate Day Clothes - Shirt/Bib/Socks
Food in critter bag in odor free bag
2 breakfast meals
2 Dinner meals
12 Coffee packs
Arkel Front Pocket
Hand Cleaner/Headlamp attached to front bag
Sunscreen
Electronics - Battery/cables
Tissue pack
Porcelain Rocket Frame Bag
Tent Poles & (8) Stakes
Hygiene – in Orange dry bag
Tylenol/Imodium/Sleeping pills/Med Pills/Ear plugs
Toothbrush & paste/Deodorant
Camp towel/camp soap
First aid kit
Flask with Bourbon
Firestarter
Tube/Bottle of sealant/derailleur hanger
Feedbag L
Bottle/NUUN tabs
Feedbag R
iPhone/snacks
J-paks top tube bar – snacks
Snacks - honey stinger products/bars
SKS Toolbox - Under BB cage
Bottle of lube
Tools in bag
Chain links
Multitool
Park boot
Zip ties
Velcro strap
Left Fork Front
Sea to Summit Dry River Bag
Ti double wall mug with Soto stove inside
Sea to Summit X-Set 11 cooking kit
230g canister
Left Fork Back/ Right Fork Back
Polar 30oz water bottles
Right Fork Front
Sea to Summit Dry River Bag
Big Agnes sleeping pad
Big Agnes Pillow
Inflatable seat
StoS Clothesline
Arkel Rear Bag
Tarptent Double Rainbow in 8L compression bag
Tyvek Footprint
OR Rain jacket/Transitional weather clothes (leggings, caps, arm warmers)
Strapped to back - Merrell sandals in drybag
Arkel Rear Pocket
Camp headlamp in bag
Wallet/Cash/ID/Med card/Debit Card
Spoon in bag
Camp knife
Sea to Summit backpack
Earplugs in container
Floating
Bike shoes
Dew rag
Gloves
Helmet
Garmin GPS
iPhone
Rear light
