I Rode My Bike To A Wedding - The GAP Trail | C&O Canal Towpath

In October of 2021 I decided to pack up my bike and ride to a family wedding in D.C. The route I took was the GAP Trail | C&O Canal Towpath from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington D.C. This is my story of the 4 day 350 mile ride!
#bikepacking #gravelbike #greatalleghenypassage #candocanaltowpath #gaptrail #adventure #cycling #camping

[@stewartlockhart6444]

Nice, beautiful scenery! Hi from Central Scotland.

[@josh__snead]

Thanks for watching ✌🏼

[@MohamedOmar-wh4zc]

Thanks for sharing your adventures...

[@josh__snead]

Thanks for watching!

[@tanke1818]

super cool!

[@josh__snead]

Thank you!

[@GrumpyOldMan70]

I love that ride. I've done it several times both ways. I love the way you narrated the video. If you get the chance, do the Katy Trail in MO (if you haven't already). Happy travels!

[@josh__snead]

Thanks for watching and the recommendation. I'll have to check it out!

[@snappanduaksara7226]

Super cool...!! Greeting from Jakarta, Indonesia

[@josh__snead]

Thank you!

[@E.D.B]

NO WAY! I took this same trip from Pittsburg to make it to a wedding in Front Royal Va a few summers ago.

[@josh__snead]

That’s incredible! I think we’re on to something!

[@CharlesM236]

Awesome ride, hmmm they feed you right on the party 💯👀

[@josh__snead]

Thanks, they know how to party!

[@FollowThomas]

Last year I went from DC to Harpers Ferry but this year I want to ride all away to Pittsburgh. Thanks for the heads up. I love solo bikepacking trips 👍

[@josh__snead]

That’s a great ride! Harpers Ferry is such a cool little town. Good luck on the rest of your journey!

[@FlackBlag_34]

Montaggio creativo è interessante 👍

[@josh__snead]

Thanks!

[@jumpee0]

Wow, great trip 👍- thanks for Talking uns with you!

[@josh__snead]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@livinlarge1247]

I was thinking the same ride. It all started I wanted to see that Falling Rock home in the fall, and someday the Washington Cherry Festival. Maybe some places like Harpers Ferry, some streams & lakes, & find some distant family roots in the Virginia-DC Areas.

[@sammycda]

Watching your video makes me realize how much I miss that ride and now will plan to do it again. Thanks for sharing.

[@josh__snead]

Love it! I hope to get back out there soon as well!

[@Maydeus]

Great video. Peaceful and calm. Perfect solution to do a voiceover. Keep it up. Subscribed!

[@josh__snead]

Thanks dude! I really enjoy the voiceover work!

[@BigTopPeeWee]

Congrats on your thru hike! Serial 2007

[@Biketouring]

Hey enjoyed you video, keep them coming!

[@josh__snead]

Thanks man! I have a few more in the works!

[@cocochanel9291]

I have ridden a few old rail trails. I admit you mentioning it is the first time I thought of what it was like to ride the old trains thru those areas. Thank you.

[@josh__snead]

It’s hard for me not to try and put myself there. It must have been 10x as gorgeous back then!

[@lasanallien6657]

Beautiful scenery!

[@josh__snead]

It truly is!

[@geoffcoyle2285]

Just rode this route from Friday to Sunday this past weekend. I’m enjoying watching others’ videos to relive some of the sections that I may have not taken the time to soak in as I tried getting in all of the miles each day.

[@josh__snead]

That’s awesome dude! It’s such a rad trail. Glad you could catch up through my story. Hope you had a blast!

[@printerror]

Loved the video, thanks for sharing Josh. We're riding this in October and can't wait.

[@josh__snead]

Hope you have a great time! The weather should be perfect!

[@spottyride2657]

Nice ride 😜

[@josh__snead]

🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@spottyride2657]

@@josh__snead I film my rides too 😜

[@austinrussell32044]

I've traversed the Paw Paw Tunnel Detour but from the other direction, it's no joke! Loved the video

[@josh__snead]

Thanks Austin! I’m glad I didn’t. It was a nice ride down🤣

[@jarrettritchie2227]

Thanks for sharing! I’m planning to do this route in June or July this year but I’m going to ride from DC to Pittsburgh and then make my way to Wheeling, WV. This will be my first bikepacking adventure.

[@josh__snead]

Anytime! This is a great trail for a first time trip. There are plenty of resources along the way so you won’t need to carry too much while you’re out. Have a blast!

[@MrCiaranm]

I did the DC to Pittsburgh trip in June 2017. Wonderful trip, just be prepared for the day you ride out of Cumberland, 22 mile 1.5% grade. I stayed at bike friendly B&Bs which are everywhere, and cheap hotels. There is plenty of free camping on the C&O trail. I have bikepacked and camped on the C&O on other trips, I highly recommend it. There are plenty of sites so even at high season, you can find a place to set up a tent. Many small towns are accessible to allow resupply or splurge meal.

[@C345OFR]

Congrats on the first century - may you have many more to come!

[@josh__snead]

Thank you! I hope so too!

[@444555pburg]

Great video!

[@josh__snead]

I appreciate it!

[@BEBUSINESSCHANNEL]

Great video… Thanks for sharing your adventure

[@josh__snead]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@renataalvesferreira8634]

I loved your video 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 congratulations for your beautiful vídeo!!!!!

[@leemason4024]

Your vidio is impressive

[@josh__snead]

Thanks!

[@semperstoked]

And all was right!

[@josh__snead]

That’s right

[@FletchinAdventures]

Awesome video! I'm planning this ride in a few months.

[@josh__snead]

Thanks! You’re going to have a blast. Hope you enjoy the ride!

[@leemason4024]

How did you like the Pinkerton High & Low Bridges and the tunnel between? The first time i rode it the tunnel was closed & the high bridge wasn't refurbished, but we went through the tunnel and across the high bridge anyway. There's photos on the internet of the tunnel & bridges as they were in the 1970s, which are representative of what we found in the 1990s. The low bridge might have been safe for public use, but the thrill/ fear/excitement of the high bridge & a seemingly collapsing tunnel blotted out everything else. It's a great ride, isn't it?!

[@josh__snead]

They were pretty epic! I’d never been on anything like them. I’m sure your thrill was off the charts not knowing if it was going to hold you or if you were going to make it through. That’s a true adventure!

[@kriss3492]

Nice video! Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪

[@josh__snead]

👋🏻thanks!

[@RedHeadAgent]

great video. fantastic editing!

[@josh__snead]

Thank you!

[@cinnamongmc5430]

You are a great narrator! Fantastic video footage. I'd be worried/scared of wild animals. How did you charge your electronics, didn't look like much sun for solar.

[@josh__snead]

I appreciate it! The trail is pretty close to towns and is very popular with day hikers/bikers. I think that keeps the wildlife to a minimum. That's not to say that they aren't out there but the only animals I saw were deer. As for my electronics, I carried an external battery pack. It has two usb ports and is 22k mAh. It's heavy, about a pound but it can charge my camera, gopro, watch and phone enough for a week.

[@indusingh5505]

Pretty awesome dude!

[@josh__snead]

Thanks!

[@macfawlty]

I was talking to a mutual friend at a party. I knew he was a distance rider and had ridden the length of the C&O canal from Cumberland to DC a few times. I’ve always wanted to do it myself. I asked him how many days the trip took for him. He said he did it straight through… from Pittsburgh. 37 hrs I think he said, no sleep, only stopping for flat tires. Hard to imagine.

[@josh__snead]

That’s incredible! What an awesome accomplishment! I can’t even imagine 💀

[@macfawlty]

@@josh__snead yeh, and he was probably in his mid-60's at the time... still riding a lot.

[@Mr1982shawn]

Which week in October did you start? I was on the trail the last week of September and had hoped for more fall colors. Looking to adjust my timeline for this year.

[@josh__snead]

The colors were awesome on this trip! I started 10/11 and finished 10/14. The weather was way warmer than I had planned but I didn’t mind.

[@kevinwilson3942]

great video! looking to do a trip in autumn and was wondering if you used clipless or flat pedals? thanks!

[@josh__snead]

Thanks! Fall is a great time of year to do it. I rode flat pedals and wore Chacos the whole time.

[@mattf4357]

Thanks for making this video. This is one of my goals that I want to accomplish within the next year or two. Never really camped and just started biking. Better late than never! I’m also going to try to hammock camp this for as much as I can. Do you think this is possible?

[@josh__snead]

You’re welcome! That’s awesome, it’s never too late to try something new. You could totally hammock camp this. I saw someone my second night that had a hammock setup.

[@ChrisHayworth100]

If it had been your wedding I would have said you were riding the wrong way, I've been happily married for 10 years but it still gets scary as hell at times.

[@josh__snead]

Haha I can confidently say that the second marriage is way better than the first🤣

[@and6239]

Nice! I'll be doing the same trip in less than 3 weeks. How much planning do you need to do to find campsites along the GAP? C&O doesn't sound like a concern.

[@josh__snead]

That’s awesome! You don’t need to plan too much besides a campsite and possible resupply if you need it. I’d book your campsite ahead of time. I stayed at the Kentuck Campground in Ohiopyle. It was $30 for a primitive site. There’s a steep side trail that leads to the campground. They also have showers and restrooms. You can find more info at gaptrail.org. I also used an app called C&O Canal Explorer for the C&O section. It was super helpful. There were a few well pumps that were missing handles on the C&O. So it’s a possibility that you may not have water at your campsite. Enjoy your ride!

[@jag1870]

Lovely video! What version GoPro were you using?

[@josh__snead]

Thanks! I used the GoPro 7 Black for the riding shots and a Sony A7III for the ride bys.

[@johneric3886]

Good video, good communication skills. I was impressed that you road over a 100 miles in 1 day.

[@josh__snead]

Thanks! Me too

[@cyclingjoezone]

I got a bloody nose after riding 25 miles on a packed gravel trail.

[@desdill]

Hey, I’m looking at doing this ride. I’m not a big biker but I’m in decent shape. Have any suggestions for how to train and know that I am ready for it?

[@josh__snead]

The best thing you can do is get out and ride. Every minute in the saddle is going to help you out. I’d suggest going out on a couple of longer rides with your bike loaded to get a true sense of what it’s going to feel like. See how your body handles 70 miles in a day and start making adjustments from there. Be sure to keep yourself fed well and drink plenty of water! Best of luck!

[@oscarsanchidrian3146]

really enjoyed the video and the music! Do you know the names of the songs you used?

[@josh__snead]

I appreciate it! Not off the top of my head. I use Epidemic Sound for all of my music though.

[@kyletae]

The detour - what was it due to?

[@josh__snead]

The first was at the Paw Paw Tunnel. It’s closed for repairs/renovations. The second detour that day was some sort of trail work. That one is probably finished by now. It might be a few years before the Paw Paw is back open.

[@mikekilburn3552]

Brother you can forget the deodorant but don't ever forget that coffee lol

[@josh__snead]

Haha I know! It was a rookie move 😂

[@mikekilburn3552]

@@josh__snead 😇

[@mikekilburn3552]

I'm doing a Portland maine to Chicago run in june

[@josh__snead]

@@mikekilburn3552 that’ll be incredible!

[@barragin9893]

Forgot deodorant? Bro you forgot a razor....

[@josh__snead]

Nah, I threw it away