Hey all - thinking of using a conference in Philly in early August as an excuse to ride across Pennsylvania. I'd either fly, drive a one-way rental, or take Amtrak to Pittsburgh from Chicago, then was thinking of riding the GAP for a hundred miles or so and trying to connect with PA Bike Route "S". Has anyone done PGH to Philly using the GAP for part of the ride? And does anyone have tips on getting from either the Pittsburgh airport or train station to the GAP? Part of my hope with riding the trail is that I can at least get through a quarter of the ride without worrying too much about hills. Any advice is appreciated. I'll probably be fully loaded for camping but am not particularly averse to getting motel rooms (especially if it's over 90 degrees out!).

The only reference point I have for this is using the Katy Trail to get most of the way across Missouri on a KCMO->Chicago ride a few years ago. One of the great things about the Katy was that it was easy to jump off and hit some hills when I got bored, then get back on the trail again a few miles down the road.