Staff note: This route has seen a lot of bicycle activity, but currently we only accept FKTs for running/hiking this.
"couloirman" posted:
Note that this thread is specifically about the GAP and the C&O together (which has mainly been done by cyclists). A thread for the GAP (Pittsburgh to Cumberland) only is here: http://fkt.websubstrate.com/route/great-allegheny-passage-gap-mdpa
And a thread for the C&O Canal Towpath is here: http://fkt.websubstrate.com/route/co-canal-towpath-md-dc
The Great Allegheny Passage and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (or the GAP and C&O as they are affectionately referred to) form an approximately 335 mile continuous trail from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. The GAP is mainly well groomed crushed limestone that rides fast, and the C&O is mainly dirt road double-track that turns to cement-like mud with huge potholes, puddles and downed trees after rainstorms.
As far as I have been able to find on the internet the sub 24 hour time has yet to happen, but it is entirely possible that someone (or maybe even several people) has already done it and just didn't brag about it. Here is the closest account of a 24 hour ride I can find. This couple [Seth and Rebecca. You can read about it here: bicycletimesmag.com/335-miles/] rode the entire trail Pgh to DC [Sept 2013] on a tandem bike in 24 hours 19 minutes. It appears that they had a support crew that met up with them routinely for water, supplies etc... That is the fastest time I have seen mentioned anywhere for the entire 335 mile trail.
According to the bike washington website (http://bikewashington.org/canal/plan-days.php) "Paul Gruenberger also claims the unsupported record time of 12 hours and 36 minutes set in September 1991 for the entire C&O. The Supported record is 11 hours 41 minutes." This info has not been updated in some time, but I can find no references of anyone doing it faster. It only refers to the C&O portion of the trail from Cumberland to DC.
A solo rider, "GranvilleGravel", has reported riding the GAP/C&O in 24h37m, self-supported. He posted as follows:
"I tried this same trip on July 25, 2015 - GAP/C&O in 24 hours. I fell just short in 24 hours 37 minutes. I was self supported which ended up making a big difference. I hadn't been on the trail before and see now that it takes time to get off trail for supplies. I was expecting more access to quick food. I made some other mistakes too that cost time. Fun trip though!"
Cyclists keep doing this. Chris Shue completed it self-supported in 23h43m10s on 9/26-27/2019: https://chrisshue.com/2020/01/21/pittsburgh-express/ & https://www.strava.com/activities/2743790843/overview . Spencer Ralston & Aedan Hale rode the route in 23h6m55s on 6/27-28/2020. A video is here.
We are not aware of anyone running this entire route as of yet.
Comments
Hi! I am considering an attempt at the GAP + C&O from Pittsburgh to DC. Is anyone aware of a either a supported or unsupported FKT for this route in either direction?
Dan: I am considering an attempt as well ... on foot. (It's still a ways off and a lot has to be worked out first.) I don't know of any FKTs. We could be the first!
I believe the current FKT (supported) is Sean Crandell with 23:51. https://www.strava.com/activities/1063005822
I'm working on a trip report but I did this solo and unsupported on 9-26-19 in 23h 43m.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2743790843
It was hard!
Finally finished my trip report: https://chrisshue.com/2020/01/21/pittsburgh-express/
Planning an attempt at this FKT towards end of July. Any advice from those who ride the GAP or C&O frequently is greatly appreciated. Will post back with details once completed.
Just finished an attempt at this with my buddy, Spencer Ralston, this morning! We went self supported in 23:06:50. He will likely be the one to submit for verification but figured I would share it here! Link to my ride and trip report here: https://www.strava.com/activities/3682954828
Inspired by you crazy people, I took this on solo unsupported and finished in 22:53:47
https://www.strava.com/activities/4052875526
I was shocked anyone had done it at all and after doing it I'm even more blown away. This is BY FAR the hardest thing I've ever done.
I had done the entire Pitt-DC trip in 3.5 days a few years back and I've spent a lot of time on the GAP which is great. The C&O will break you, but it will only break you after it teases you with "hey its not so bad" for the first 40 miles. Darkness, downed trees, mud, ruts, potholes, demons in the darkness (or maybe those were deer idk), the C&O has it all.
I'm making a trip report with more detailed info but for those of you thinking of doing this (again I'd suggest something else, but you're head strong and will ignore the same warnings I did) I figured I'd make some quick notes here for what I would have liked to do differently:
1. Figure out daylight hours and get as many daylight hours on the C&O (especially the end). Go on a long cooler day in June. Its rare but that would be the dream.
2. Better lights
3. Pack everything, I only stopped once (sheetz in connellsville) and it was a waste of time. Prepare to not stop anywhere except for water at a trail side spot (don't go wandering off trail)
4. Practice your nutrition, know what foods you can force and save those for the end, you don't want to be forcing down gross food with 40 miles left. For reference I ate 7,500 calories while on the bike which was probably 3000 too few. It all gets gross and I couldn't finish the food I needed to end on a stronger note.
5. Temper expectations. I hit the halfway point at 10h35m and convinced myself I was doing great. The halfway point is precisely when everything jumps up a level. Darkness, exhaustion, nutritional issues, trail conditions, just everything gets so much worse. Don't make it harder on yourself by thinking you're losing ground for the last ~180 miles.
Despite all the terribleness of it and the mental and physical toll it takes, you should totally do it.
That's quite a bike ride.
Hello everyone. I will be setting out to conquer this beast on October 3, 2020. I've got a self-supported fastpack planned. Feel free to follow along on the below linked Facebook page. #ENDALZ
https://www.facebook.com/CRDreadmillChallenge/
This past Friday I set out to complete the full GAP/C&O in under 24 hours, solo w/spousal support, and was able to finish the ride in 21h 36m
https://www.strava.com/activities/4113292291
More details to follow
Jeremy Gardner and I did this as an unsupported duo in 20:52.
https://www.strava.com/activities/4148536064/
https://www.strava.com/activities/4151606387
Has anyone heard of anyone setting a fast yo-yo time for this route?
Now you're talking! Maybe this year.
So solo/unsupported fkt on bike is 22:53? Solo/supported fkt on bike is 21:36? Official? Trying my shake at this FKT. Date is TBD.
Is anyone aware of a sub-24-hour time for cyclists on this route for cyclists headed uphill, i.e., D.C. to Pittsburgh? Based on my searching (which may not be exhaustive), all references for C&O-GAP 24-hour attempts seem to start in Pittsburgh. Regardless, I plan to attempt a sub-24 hour time from D.C. to Pittsburgh starting at sunset from C&O MM 0 on Aug. 24, 2022.