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Route: Great Allegheny Passage (GAP, MD/PA)

Location
Maryland, US
Pennsylvania, US
Distance
150 mi
Vertical Gain
1,500 ft
Description

The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) is a 150-mile trail from Cumberland, MD, to Pittsburgh, PA. The GAP is mainly well groomed crushed limestone that rides fast - most interest in this trail has been by cyclists.  However, on our old website a hiker claimed to have walked the GAP in 137h55m in June 2016 (self-supported).

GPS Track
GAP.gpx862.42 KB

FKTs

Related Routes
C&O Canal Towpath (MD to DC)
Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) + C&O Canal Towpath (PA, MD, DC)
This route on the old FKT site
http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/1426/great-allegheny-passage-pitts…

Comments

Dan_Goldstein
Mon, 01/07/2019 - 09:49am

I am interested in attempting the GAP from Cumberland to Pittsburgh. Is anyone aware of a supported or unsupported FKT for this route in either direction?

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fernando.kevinm
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 08:26am

I'm also interested in making an attempt at the GAP FKT this year. It looks like there are some impressive runs for the GAP + C&O trail (one attempt comes in under 23 hours https://www.strava.com/activities/1063005822), but the fastest known time for the GAP trail (as its own entity) is 137h 55m listed here: http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/1426/great-allegheny-passage-pittsburgh-cumberland.

I'm pretty new to the whole FKT thing. How does the GAP + C&O FKT effect the GAP FKT? Or are both considered completely separate?

 

Oops haha it looks like that sub-24 hour time was on bike, I obviously skipped breakfast this morning.

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fernando.kevinm
Mon, 06/03/2019 - 08:55am

I'll be making an unsupported attempt at this route from Pittsburgh to Cumberland beginning the morning of Friday, June 7.

Here is a link to my gps tracker: http://us0-share.inreach.garmin.com/kevinmfernando

Admin Note:  Kevin went for about 12 hours on 6/7 and then stopped around Port Royal (DNF).

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GearedUpAdventures
Thu, 07/09/2020 - 02:26pm

Hi All, 

I'll be setting out to set the Unsupported time for the Gap. Starting around July 20th, 2020.

Started July 21 @ 530AM

Ended July 25 @ 840AM

 

Time: 99 hours 10 minutes.    ???

Nice job! What did you do for water? I was thinking of doing the trail unsupported, but walking right by too many stores and ice cream shops proved too tempting. I had a water filter but it was often a long and not easy way down to the river. There were too many options for clean water including the bathroom at commercial establishments for me to go unsupported on my latest attempt. Very impressive to not be tempted by any of the food and snacks along the way as well. What did you eat during your 100 hours out on the trail? I imagine your pack was pretty heavy in the beginning with all that food!

Quigley
Mon, 08/16/2021 - 01:41pm

I believe that this is one of the most outstanding trails in the world and merits many more attempts and a better description! I will email the wonderful site administrators with some possible draft language for revising the trail description based on some of the great publications that describe the route. I had a wonderful time stumbling self-supported down the trial in 81 hours and 48 minutes beginning on Thursday, August 12, 2021. I plan to give it a try again in the future!

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McFingland
Wed, 07/10/2024 - 02:22pm

Is this the FKT on foot or any none motorized method? Also, is it from Cumberland to Pittsburgh and back or just one way?