GAP trail side trip: Ohiopyle to Fort Necessity (Farmington)?
08-10-16, 10:15 AM
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Brian
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GAP trail side trip: Ohiopyle to Fort Necessity (Farmington)?
Hi all,
I'm planning a Pittsburgh to DC trip on the Great Allegheny Passage. I am wondering if anyone has thoughts on a side trip from Ohiopyle out to Fort Necessity (Farmington) and back? Specifically, I'm interested in comments on overall route safety, road shoulder width, and elevation.
Thanks in advance!
B.
I'm planning a Pittsburgh to DC trip on the Great Allegheny Passage. I am wondering if anyone has thoughts on a side trip from Ohiopyle out to Fort Necessity (Farmington) and back? Specifically, I'm interested in comments on overall route safety, road shoulder width, and elevation.
Thanks in advance!
B.
08-11-16, 10:49 AM
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Google Maps shows 1,100' of climbing in 8.3 miles. What is available on Street View shows little to no shoulder on PA 381.
09-03-16, 08:47 AM
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Any update? This is a great question and a good start on the information needed to make decisions. I'm interested as well.
09-03-16, 11:06 AM
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I'm not certain how soon you need this info but the end of Sept. we will be doing that portion of the GAP and trying that side trip as well.
I'll gladly forward the info as we complete it.
I'll gladly forward the info as we complete it.
07-27-17, 12:02 PM
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Hi Matt, did you give the Fort Necessity side trip a try? How did it go?
07-27-17, 12:59 PM
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don't try this at home.
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That sounds interesting.
The Strava Heat Map (the local heat map link) shows biking activity on both Rt 381 and on Kentuck Road. Kentuck Road looked better, with no center or edge lines, indicating it might be lightly traveled. But the Kentuck Road climb out of Ohiopyle is extremely steep, 14-15% on part of it.
Checking google Street View, Rt 381 looks okay, with enough straight sections where cars can pass easily. The climb out of the river valley isn't easy, 500 feet high, 7% average, with a few steep parts. US40 has a shoulder.
I used the Strava Route Builder to make a loop route, mostly to see the distances and grades on both roads: Ohiopyle to Ft Necessity. A returning downhill on Kentuck Road would be difficult on a loaded touring bike. That's very steep, with a couple of sharp turns right at the steepest part.
The Strava Heat Map (the local heat map link) shows biking activity on both Rt 381 and on Kentuck Road. Kentuck Road looked better, with no center or edge lines, indicating it might be lightly traveled. But the Kentuck Road climb out of Ohiopyle is extremely steep, 14-15% on part of it.
Checking google Street View, Rt 381 looks okay, with enough straight sections where cars can pass easily. The climb out of the river valley isn't easy, 500 feet high, 7% average, with a few steep parts. US40 has a shoulder.
I used the Strava Route Builder to make a loop route, mostly to see the distances and grades on both roads: Ohiopyle to Ft Necessity. A returning downhill on Kentuck Road would be difficult on a loaded touring bike. That's very steep, with a couple of sharp turns right at the steepest part.
Last edited by rm -rf; 07-27-17 at 01:04 PM.
