Met a guy in Frostburg, Md earlier this month riding a fixed gear, no rack, no water bottles on bike. Lightweight backpack only. 2 days on the C&O, 1 day Frostburg to Pittsburgh. In the middle of a bit of a dry spell in the Potomac watershed. He knew what he was doing for sure. I watched him climb the very steep hills up into Frostburg and back down to the trail late in the afternoon just for the ride and to get a few extra miles in before crashing in the bunkhouse at the Trail Inn in Frostburg for his last overnight.

Also, do highly recommend Frostburg as a stopover. Quiet, scenic, town has restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, music, etc. Great inn, bunkhouse, campgrounds, fried chicken at the Trail Inn.