DEVON 50 BIKED THE 184 MILE CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL TRAIL

From the 8th to the 11th of April, 24 scouts from Devon 50 braved the 184 mile Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Historic Trail. All scouts, individually, biked at least 100 miles over the three days. A handful conquered the entire trail.

Scouts taking the challenge were: Gary Alloway; Adam Bones; Steve Cammann, Jr.; Gerry Cavanaugh, Jr.; Kevin Coffey; Colin Ferriman; Anthony Gallo; David Haerland; James Langan III; Jonathan Makela; C.D. & Trevor Maloney; Sean McConnell; Jeff Morris; Tim Murphy; Willliam Murray II; Trevor Pye; David, Jason & Peter Scheidel; Andrew Shaffer; Dan Spangler; Oliver Uberti and Matthew Waxler.

The scouts were accompanied by adults: Gerald Cavanaugh, Neil Chippendale, Scoutmaster James Dunn, James Ferriman, James Langan, William Murray, James Pye, Wayne Riddle and Les Waxler.

About the Trail

The 184 mile trail is the towpath between the historic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and the Maryland side of the Potomac River. The C & O Canal, begun in 1828 to emulate the Erie Canal (1817-1825), was to open up the hinterland of Pittsburgh on the Ohio River and connect it with the Atlantic seaboard. The C & O Canal originated in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., and reached Cumberland, Maryland by 1850. By then, its technology had been superseded by the railroad, so the expansion to Pittsburgh ceased. The Cumberland to Georgetown portion, which continued in use until 1924, descends from 605 feet in the Alleghenies to sea level. Recognizing the towpath as a means to explore the historic Potomac Valley free from vehicular traffic, National Historical Park officials, who maintain the canal, and five Boy Scout Councils in the area developed the hike/bike trail.

About Our Trip

On Friday evening, April 8, Devon 50 travelled to Fort Frederick National Park in Maryland where they set up camp. Saturday morning, the scouts were trucked to Cumberland, Maryland where at 9.45 a.m. they began the 72 mile bike ride along the towpath back to Fort Frederick. After biking for 30 miles, the scouts travelled in the dark through the 3117 ft.long PAW PAW tunnel with just a railing separating them from the canal. (Luckily, some had bike lights.) Fifteen miles later, they lunched at Little Orleans. Some bikers began to tire at this point and chose to ride for awhile in one of the many accompanying vehicles that met them at this checkpoint. All reached Fort Frederick between 4:30-4:45 p.m. It had been a glorious day: the temperature was 50-60 degrees, it was sunny, the trees at this higher elevation were just beginning to burst into bloom, and the fields were strewn with wildflowers to delight the eye. The gods saved the rain for that night.

Sunday morning after breakfast, they faced down the 68 miles to Point of Rocks where they would camp for the night. It broke through the eighties. The trees now were almost fully out. Those holding to the trail dwindled to a handful. Others continued to rejoin and leave the path throughout the day. This day the scouts' brush with history intensified, as they passed by Antietam, where twice General Lee made it into Maryland and which saw the single bloodiest day in the entire Civil War, and Harper's Ferry, where John Brown attempted to capture the Government Arsenal in 1859. More than one biker stopped at Lock 33 to view the scenic and historic confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers at Harper's Ferry. Devon 50's camp at Point of Rocks was near two rail lines, the freight run between Pittsburgh and Washington and a commuter line between Point of Rocks and D.C. A thunderstorm, high winds and the sound of these trains made for some interesting sleep patterns that night.

On Monday morning under threatening skies, the scouts began the final 44 mile push to the Thompson's Boat Center in George- town across from the infamous Watergate. Raisins, bananas, Gatorade, etc. were consumed as energy extenders as they had been on the two previous days. Soon after milepost 15, they passed Great Falls, one of the most spectacular sights on the Potomac River where six locks close together carry the canal over an abrupt 41-foot rise in the ground.

By 2:30 p.m., all had pulled into the boat center and were celebrating their respective accomplishments. To take this challenge took courage. All had biked at least 100 miles. They felt exhilirated.

Three scouts, Trevor Maloney, Sean McConnell and David Scheidel and one adult, Diamond Rock District Chairman, Neil Chippendale conquered the entire trail. A fourth scout, Oliver Uberti, suffered failed brakes and a fall after 170 miles, but was credited with completing the trail as he rode point man most of the way.

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