Posts by Paul g Wiegman
GAP TRAIL CLOSURE – MILE 92 to 95 (North of Connellsville, PA)
A 2.5-mile segment of the Great Allegheny Passage will be between mile markers 92 and 95. It will be closed from 08 July to mid-October. Beginning on 08 July, the Regional Trail Corporation will provide a shuttle service during daylight hours for travelers and their bicycles. The shuttle will run in both directions between…
Read MoreThrough the Mountains, not over them.
In Colonial times, the Allegheny Mts was where the wilderness began. The mountains we now call the Laurel Highlands – Negro Mountain plus Laurel and Chestnut Ridges – were an enormous impediment to early travel beyond Cumberland, MD, to the Forks of Ohio, now Pittsburgh. Today, we bike those 140+ miles easily. The GAP, as…
Read MoreBig Savage Tunnel Opens for the 2024 Season
The Big Savage Tunnel opens Thursday, March 28th, for the 2024 season. Crews from Somerset County and the Somerset County Recreation & Trails Association will open the west and east portals in the morning, and riders will have full access by noon. This marks the 18th season the tunnel has been officially open. The 3,294-foot-long…
Read MoreBig Savage Tunnel Closes for the Winter
The Big Savage Tunnel, Mile 22, on the Great Allegheny Passage in Somerset County is closed. The tunnel built in the early 1900s for the Western Maryland Railway and rehabilitated for the Great Allegheny Passage trail, closes during the winter to protect the interior from ice damage. There is no suitable detour around the tunnel…
Read MoreBig Savage Closing – Dec 1st
All good things must come to an end …. at least for a couple of months. The Big Savage Tunnel will close for the winter Thursday, December 1st. This is an annual seasonal closing to seal relatively warm air in the tunnel and prevent ice from damaging the entrance and concrete liner. Thanks for visiting…
Read MoreLeaf peeping with pedals.
Leaf peeping is a favorite autumn activity in western Pennsylvania. And the GAP provides a leisurely path for getting up close and enjoying the season’s color, scents, and crisp feel. The eighty-plus miles of the trail winding along the waterways of the Allegheny Mountains from the Eastern Continental Divide to Connellsville hold plenty of varying…
Read MoreReady! One, two, three ……. LIFT!
Well, that’s not exactly what happened, but have you noticed that the section of the Keystone Viaduct crossing the CSX tracks is higher than the portion over the woods, creek, and road? There’s a reason. In 2010, CSX upgraded its line to accommodate double-stacked container cars. However, the Keystone Viaduct was too low – just…
Read MoreLake Somerset returns!
After years of work repairing the dam and spillway, building fish breeding structures, adding trails and pavilions, and generally making the surrounding landscape suitable for all visitors, shimmering blue water is beginning to dominate. 22 May 2022, the Somerset Daily American reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has given the authorization to refill…
Read MoreGAP Trail delays Mile 110 – 111. Cedar Creek / West Newton
Intermittent Closures at Cedar Creek Park (GAP Mile 110) Partially Obstructed: Intermittent closures in Cedar Creek Park; expect brief delays during daylight hours. For through riders, check with the crews working for a way around the closed portion.
Read MoreSteam is Back! The last Baldwin.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is the offspring of the former WMd Rwy. The route is now the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) from Connellsville to Cumberland. For years the WM Scenic RR ran excursions from Cumberland to Frostburg. The ride parallels the GAP with plenty of waving between cyclists and passengers. The Baldwin-built 2-8-0…
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