By Cindy Ross, Travel Author, Cindy Ross Traveler
In this new era of Covid-19, rail trails seem to be one of the safest places to recreate. Exercising in the great outdoors is an excellent way to stay healthy, alleviate stress, and find enjoyment in life. When passing others coming from the opposite direction, consider offering a wave instead of speaking, to make sure everyone is comfortable. Carry a mask when visiting any shops, restaurants, or in gatherings of large numbers of people. Carry hand sanitizer and use when accessing porta potties, public restrooms, and all public places. Bear in mind that the Covid-19 closures and openings have a fluid, changing status, so check before you depart and stay abreast of new decisions.
The tunnel yawns before us, exhaling cold breath. We stand with our bicycles poised at the entrance, the air thickened with fog. Sunbeams stab through the mist, but the passage before us is soon swallowed in darkness. Above the gaping mouth, it bears the name Big Savage Tunnel. As we wait, a woman emerges from the dimly lit channel, plodding along with a bloodied knee. She pushes her bike, looking as if the tunnel chewed her up and spit her back out. With no further hesitation, we push off determinedly into the mountain.
The 3,300-foot-long Big Savage Tunnel is one of numerous highlights along the Great Allegheny Passage Rail Trail, (GAP) which traverses 150 miles between Cumberland MD, and Pittsburgh, PA. This multi-use trail leads through historic coal towns, spans massive viaducts and bores through the Allegheny mountains. These architectural feats were undertaken during the early 1800’s, with the expansion of railroads. The passage follows corridors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Western Maryland Railway, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Union Railroad. What better way to appreciate this history of movement, then by retracing the timeline on our bicycles. My family and I are spending four days cycling the rail trail, covering 35-45 miles a day. We have chosen to stay at trailside B&Bs along the way, adding some end-of-the-day comfort as well as lighten our load.