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

Пікірлер: 98

  • @MohamedOmar-wh4zc
    @MohamedOmar-wh4zc2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing your adventures...

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @stewartlockhart6444
    @stewartlockhart64442 жыл бұрын

    Nice, beautiful scenery! Hi from Central Scotland.

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching ✌🏼

  • @snappanduaksara7226
    @snappanduaksara72262 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @GrumpyOldMan70
    @GrumpyOldMan70 Жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @CharlesM236
    @CharlesM2362 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, they know how to party!

  • @tanke1818
    @tanke18182 жыл бұрын

    super cool!

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @FollowThomas
    @FollowThomas2 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @sammycda
    @sammycda2 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @jumpee0
    @jumpee0 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @E.D.B
    @E.D.B Жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @Biketouring
    @Biketouring2 жыл бұрын

    Hey enjoyed you video, keep them coming!

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @FlackBlag_34
    @FlackBlag_342 жыл бұрын

    Montaggio creativo è interessante 👍

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @BigTopPeeWee
    @BigTopPeeWee2 жыл бұрын

    Congrats on your thru hike! Serial 2007

  • @cocochanel9291
    @cocochanel92912 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @Maydeus
    @Maydeus Жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks dude! I really enjoy the voiceover work!

  • @livinlarge1247
    @livinlarge12472 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @lasanallien6657
    @lasanallien66572 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful scenery!

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    It truly is!

  • @C345OFR
    @C345OFR2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I hope so too!

  • @jarrettritchie2227
    @jarrettritchie22272 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    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

    @MrCiaranm

    2 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @printerror
    @printerror2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @444555pburg
    @444555pburg2 жыл бұрын

    Great video!

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    I appreciate it!

  • @austinrussell32044
    @austinrussell320442 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @BEBUSINESSCHANNEL
    @BEBUSINESSCHANNEL2 жыл бұрын

    Great video… Thanks for sharing your adventure

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

  • @renataalvesferreira8634

    @renataalvesferreira8634

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @spottyride2657
    @spottyride26572 жыл бұрын

    Nice ride 😜

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

  • @spottyride2657

    @spottyride2657

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@josh__snead I film my rides too 😜

  • @FletchinAdventures
    @FletchinAdventures2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @geoffcoyle2285
    @geoffcoyle2285 Жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @RedHeadAgent
    @RedHeadAgent2 жыл бұрын

    great video. fantastic editing!

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @kriss3492
    @kriss34922 жыл бұрын

    Nice video! Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    👋🏻thanks!

  • @leemason4024
    @leemason40242 жыл бұрын

    Your vidio is impressive

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @indusingh5505
    @indusingh55052 жыл бұрын

    Pretty awesome dude!

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @mikekilburn3552
    @mikekilburn35522 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Haha I know! It was a rookie move 😂

  • @mikekilburn3552

    @mikekilburn3552

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@josh__snead 😇

  • @mikekilburn3552

    @mikekilburn3552

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mikekilburn3552 that’ll be incredible!

  • @leemason4024
    @leemason40242 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @semperstoked
    @semperstoked2 жыл бұрын

    And all was right!

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    That’s right

  • @cinnamongmc5430
    @cinnamongmc5430 Жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @Mr1982shawn
    @Mr1982shawn2 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @mattf4357
    @mattf43572 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @macfawlty
    @macfawlty2 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @macfawlty

    @macfawlty

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @johneric3886
    @johneric38862 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Me too

  • @ChrisHayworth100
    @ChrisHayworth1002 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @kevinwilson3942
    @kevinwilson39422 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @and6239
    @and62392 жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    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
    @jag18702 жыл бұрын

    Lovely video! What version GoPro were you using?

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @oscarsanchidrian3146
    @oscarsanchidrian31462 жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @cyclingjoezone
    @cyclingjoezone Жыл бұрын

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

  • @desdill
    @desdill Жыл бұрын

    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

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @kyletae
    @kyletae2 жыл бұрын

    The detour - what was it due to?

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    2 жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @barragin9893
    @barragin9893 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @josh__snead

    @josh__snead

    Жыл бұрын

    Nah, I threw it away