Memorial Day Weekend - Allegheny Mountain Loop Variant (w/ Singletrack!)

[jackinmd]

I'm planning on doing this route on Memorial Day Weekend, based on Jeff Lange's AML Variant.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2304204

Starts and ends in Thomas, WV. 330-odd miles, ~33,000' of climbing. I'll probably dial the route in a bit more before the depart (build a cue sheet, double check the re-supply points, etc.) but the RWGPS link is the basic idea.

Anybody wants to go, let me know! Should be a good one!

I might bail if the forecast looks terrible. I'll cope with a little rain, but 3 days of thunderstorms and I'm out.

[KyleWingler]

I hope you get to go ,the weather is going to be nice and cool ,please give me a trail update when u get back .i have done a variations and parts of this route .i have been wondering about the trail/road conditions since sandy ,i went to the area 4-5 over the winter and i have been worried that alot of the gated FR and rail grades are not cleared yet .feel free to give me a call myself and a friend go bikepacking in the area often in the warmer months and would like to find another person to ride with .i am out for this weekend but next weekend i will be in tucker co to do an overniter thanks kyle wingler 614 5060825

[jackinmd]

I ended up doing about 200 miles of this route - I was a little tired from only 1 hour of sleep Friday night an running a 100-miler the weekend before (I know, excuses excuses, wah wah wah).

Anyways, it was a great time, and I hope to one day write a trip report about it. However, as far as trail conditions go, the rail trails were all in fantastic shape except for the first section of the Blackwater trail where it leaves Thomas. AVOID THIS!!! It took us 3 hours to go a couple miles as there were so many downed trees you were basically carrying your bike about 75% of the time.

Otherwise, it seemed like most of the trails that we did go on (I skipped a couple for the sake of making it back to my car on time) were in good shape. Some wet and muddy patches but nothing as bad as that first section of the Blackwater trail.

Hope that helps! Have fun when you go, it's gorgeous down there!

[KyleWingler]

Thanks for the trail report ,we r driving dow tomorrow night ,i am sure we will have some fun