Allegheny Trail Alliance

News Release

An adventure on two wheels through our beautiful Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal National Historical Park, the Yockatomac Trek this year celebrates its 7^th annual week-long journey through historic corridors and serene natural settings. The Yockatomac Trek is a cooperative, non-profit, mutually supported bicycle tour, which appeals to all abilities, enabling both first-time cycle-tourists and seasoned veterans of many trips to enjoy our tour. When you’re done, expect a wealth of sensory memories, exciting new friendships, and a great sense of accomplishment!

On the Yockatomac Trek you’ll be able to enjoy the splendor and beauty of the nearly flat historic passage through the Allegheny Mountains from the coastal waters of the Chesapeake Bay backwaters to the inland headwaters of the Ohio River. You’ll take in restored aqueducts and lift locks, experience the charm of small-town America, feel the thunder of roaring waterfalls, and absorb the quiet and peaceful surroundings as you travel along our sylvan route at your own pace. You’ll find a serenity between yourself and the 300-plus mile endeavor that lies ahead as everyday cares and worries melt away. There’ll be opportunity for plenty of stops along the way to explore, snack, chat with companions, or just pause for quiet reflection. Enjoy some of the finest scenery, most interesting history, and unparalleled long-distance cycling trails in the eastern United States. Join us on the Yockatomac trek!

Seattle-based Recreational Equipment Inc. gave out seven Stewards for the Environment awards, including one to local authors Mary Shaw and Roy Weil. They share their love of cycling and the natural beauty of their western Pennsylvania home by co-authoring guidebooks to the region. Truly a labor of love, their books are an inspiring example of their commitment to getting people outside and more active. All proceeds from sales of their books are donated to trail organizations. They have led numerous trips, introducing countless people to the outdoors.

They authored the planning guide for your trip from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh. Major portions of this guide (Linking Up) can be viewed on this web site. The guide is available from the Allegheny Trail Alliance, with all proceeds going to complete the trail. They also publish the guide book FreeWheeling Easy in Western Pennsylvania which covers most of the rail-trails, greenways, towpaths and other motor-free bicycle and walking paths in western Pennsylvania. The fourth edition of this guide book should be available sometime early next year. They are volunteer editors for Hostelling International, Pittsburgh Council, and are currently putting the final touches on the Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania.

For the story, see the link to the Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04315/409360.stm or to REI http://www.rei.com/aboutrei/stewards.html

Come journey by bicycle along the C&O Canal Towpath and the completed trails of the Allegheny Trail Alliance. We'll ride from Washington DC to Mckeesport PA on nearly-level trails that once served canals and trails.

We will travel for about 300 miles along the flattest route ever built between Washington, DC and Pittsburgh. By taking eight days, we'll have lots of time to appreciate the river scenery and spectacular mountain gorges. Explore the remnant structures of railroad and canal that line this now-sylvan corridor. Lodging will be close to the trail, so we'll bike right to the door of most of the motels and B&Bs. There will be a van to carry bags and camping gear each day. For more details see the Yockatomac Trek page.

As work nears completion, (it ain't done yet) we wish to celebrate this momentous achievement. Please join Congressman John P. Murtha, DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis and others who are helping make this trail possible for the celebration!

Friday September 19, 2000 ~ 2 PM at the east portal of the Big Savage Tunnel near Frostbug, Maryland. Please RSVP by Sept 15 if you plan to attend. 888-282-2453.

To get to the east portal go to the center of Frostburg, where Alt. Rt. 40 intersects with Rt. 36. At the signal onto Rt. 36 north (left turn if coming from the west, right turn if coming from the east . Wind down hill carefully, pass through underpass and take next left, marked by yellow gate. Next six miles is unpaved road; allow 25 minutes from Frostburg to tunnel. Parking available near the tunnel. Carpooling is encouraged! Cars can be parked at the Frostburg Depot.

On the day of the celebration, work will be stopped in the tunnel, so you may ride/walk through it. (bring a flashlight as the electrical work has not been done yet). It is currently anticipated that the tunnel will be completed and opne to all comers in late October.

Let's walk! It's a great way to help stay healthy. Just published Great Little Walks takes you on a dozen easy walks. A sturdy 4½ " x 7", 64 page book with spiral binding, just the right size for tucking in your pocket. It gives detailed information and maps on casual walks and short bike rides on the traffic-free Great Allegheny Passage and connecting trails.

On May 13, the sewer pipe under the Durabond bypass trail broke. This caused the entire hillside to slide, taking out a section of the sewer pipe and a piece of the trail. A temporary sewer pipe was quickly placed. We now need to wait until the ground dries out before permanent repairs can be made. Also some engineering needs to be done to see if a more stable underground surface is possible. A sewer inspection firm that utilizes sewer crawling cameras has been hired to inspect the remaining pipe to see if there may be other leaks and what damage has been done to the remaining pipe. For now the area is soggy with sewage and will soon be crawling with construction equipment. Therefore the trail in this area is closed. At this point in time (May 21) it is unsure when it will be reopened, but it will be reopened.

This is the section of trail about a mile north of Boston that overlooks the Durabond pipe processing plant.

Scarsdale Cottage opens in West Newton -- First Bed & Breakfast in the vicinity. Come enjoy this restored Victorian house just moments from the West Newton Trailhead of the Great Allegheny Passage. This beautiful house features a curved staircase, antique furnishings, stained glass and plenty of places to store your bicycles safely. The location is perfect for biking the trail and for exploring this scenic region.

Innkeepers Lynn and Gary Santimyer are offering a 25% discount to anyone who mentions they saw this news item on the ATA web site. Offer is good until October 31, 2001. You can get more information about the Scarsdale Cottage by checking out their website at www.scarsdalecottageinn.com.

Mountain Streams of Ohiopyle now offers weekend bike shuttle service along the Great Allegheny Passage with pickup at the trailheads in Connellsville, Ohiopyle, Confluence, and Fort Hill. You can leave your car in Connellsville and ride back from Ohiopyle (a downhill 17 mile ride along the white water), from Confluence (27 miles along flat water and white water) or from Fort Hill (33 miles -- six along the new section and then the sections mentioned above). Or leave your car at any one of the trailheads mentioned.

Mike McCarty, president of Mountain Streams of Ohiopyle, said, " Our bicycle trailer was specially designed to transport bicycles safely."

The Great Allegheny Passage has been designated a National Recreational Trail and part of the National Trail System.

"This designation gives us a tremendous amount of credibility and provides a major boost to our efforts to complete the entire long distance trail system between Cumberland and Pittsburgh," said Linda McKenna Boxx, President of the Allegheny Trail Alliance, a coalition of seven trail organizations building the Passage. "This designation really says we're among the premier trails in the Nation," Boxx added.

One hundred continuous miles of the Great Allegheny Passage will be finished late this summer, with the entire system expected to be completed about 2003. The system is a 150-mile, non-motorized, nearly level trail system linking Cumberland, MD, and the Forks of the Ohio at Pittsburgh, PA, with a 52-mile branch to the Pittsburgh International Airport. At Cumberland, the C&O Canal Towpath expands the off-road trail linkage to Washington, DC. Read the Press Release.

ATA Logo Unveiling and Branding Event in Pittsburgh, Seven Springs, and Cumberland, March 27, 2001

The "Great Allegheny Passage" logo was unveiled by the Allegheny Trail Alliance in three separate events along this 204-mile long trail that passes through five counties in Pennsylvania and one in Maryland. Complete with branding iron, the new logo was ceremoniously affixed to mock mileposts at three locations on or near the trail. Trail representatives and supporters including Marianne Geyer, the director of the Governor Ridge’s office in Pittsburgh, were on hand to show off the new logo on March 27 at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, at Seven Springs Resort in Champion, PA at the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Service Convention, and at Canal Place in Cumberland, MD. The branding ceremonies kicked off a marketing campaign for the trail system run that runs from Cumberland. to Pittsburgh. Read the Press Release.

On February 9-10, at the St. Joseph’s Center Greensburg PA, the Allegheny Trail Alliance (ATA) will hold the second annual World Wide Conference. The focus of the meeting will be: Putting ATA on the World Map, Working relationships among us all and volunteer and membership recruitment, Rolling out Name and Logo internally, Update everyone, Membership discussions. Click for the Agenda and the registration form.

On May 13, at the Community Builiding in Confluence PA, there will be a public meeting to discuss a comprehensive marketing plan for the trail system. It will be followed by a bike ride to possible interpretive sites.. Detailed information, including agenda. The meeting begins at 9:30. No charge, but please RSVP to 724-853-2453 or atamail@atatrail.org.

Last year's ride from Pittsburgh to Washington was so great that we decided to do it again, but in the other direction. Come journey by bicycle along the completed trails of the Allegheny Trail Alliance, along western Pennsylvania rivers, from Pittsburgh's Point into the Allegheny Mountains. Crossing into Maryland, we descend into the Potomac valley at Cumberland. Following the Potomac River, we'll pedal the length of the C&O Canal Towpath to Washington DC. Detailed information, including itinerary.

NEW BOOK: Linking Up: Planning Your Traffic-Free Bike Trip Between Pittsburgh PA and Washington DC

A FULL MENU OF FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! CALL 724-853-BIKE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Show your Trail Pride! Choose the Y-Trek "Course" that's best for you. Then make your reservation for Sunday, June 20!

STUDY DOCUMENTS DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PITTSBURGH TO CUMBERLAND TRAIL SYSTEM EXCEEDED $14 MILLION IN 1998

BOSTON, PA/ROCKWOOD, PA February 22, 1999 -- The Allegheny Trail Alliance today released the results of an economic-impact study that showed the direct economic impact of the trail system being developed from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD, exceeded $14 million a year last year even though half of the trail was not finished.

The study estimated that trail users spent between $5.4 million and $14.1 million near six trail heads last year, and that their annual expenditures on bicycles and bike equipment allocable to the trail over the past two years were between $8.9 million and $12.2 million. Combining both sets of numbers shows a total, direct annualized impact of $14.3 million to $26.5 million.

September 1998 - Smithton to Dawson section finished! The Youghiogheny River Trail is now complete from Confluence to Boston, PA providing 66 continuous miles of trail.

The first continuous 100 miles of the Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD Trail is now possible with grants announced by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge at a press conference in Rockwood, PA on Friday May 8, 1998. Of the $1.2 million made available statewide through the Keystone Rails-to-Trails Program, $355,000 was allocated to trail groups of the Allegheny Trail Alliance (ATA), who collectively are completing the Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Trail. The commitment of nearly 30% of the total funding indicates the importance of this trail project to the Commonwealth.

In addition, Governor Ridge announced the release of $1.5 million from state capital budget funds to build the section south of Ohiopyle State Park. The ATA will complete the 100 miles in Pennsylvania between McKeesport and Meyersdale by the summer of 1999. Seventy continuous miles of trail from McKeesport to Confluence, PA, which follows the scenic Youghiogheny River, will be completed by the end of this summer.

The Governor made his announcement to more than a hundred trail enthusiasts at the trail access area in Rockwood, Somerset County. John Oliver, Secretary of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources stated that this is one of the most exciting rail trail projects in the country. Secretary Oliver praised the high level of dedicated volunteers at the grass roots level who are making this project a reality.