Home >  Sports >  Outdoors

Sunday, May 04, 2003

By Larry Walsh

It's another segment completed and two more to go this year for the Montour Trail, a multi-purpose, non-motorized recreational trail that will ultimately extend 49 miles from Coraopolis to Clairton.

A lone bicyclist starts his ride on the West Penn Trail from the Westinghouse Trail Head toward the Bow Ridge Nature Area. The 3.3-mile trip along what is known as the Conemaugh River Lake Section crosses four spectacular stone arch bridges and affords a variety of views of the serpentine Conemaugh River. For directions and more information, including a brochure with a map by Bill Metzger, call 1-814-536-6615 or go to www.conemaughvalleyconservancy.org. (V.W.H. Campbell, Jr. Post-Gazette)

The Montour Trail Council, a non-profit, all-volunteer group that builds, operates and maintains the trail, yesterday dedicated the newest segment -- a 2.5-mile scenic section that runs from Large to Clairton.

It begins at the Port Authority Park and Ride lot in Large in Jefferson Hills and parallels Peters Creek to Route 837 in Clairton. It is 12-feet wide and paved.

"It's already attracting a lot of cyclists and walkers," said Joe Rudolph of South Park, a physician who specializes in asthma and allergies. "A man stopped me the other day to say a fish almost jumped into his lap when he was down along the creek looking at a family of ducks."

Rudolph, 52, and his wife, Barbara, a businesswoman, get their purple tandem bike on the trail -- any trail -- at every opportunity.

"Quick, let's go" is their motto.

Joe Rudolph donated a new bicycle to be raffled off before yesterday's ribbon-cutting ceremony. The winner was scheduled to lead others onto the new trail at 10 a.m.

Another segment of the Montour Trail, a 0.7-mile section that will include a gently sloped ramp to Brush Run Road, is scheduled to open June 28. It will link two of the trail's busiest sections -- the 2-mile long Bethel Park branch and the 3.8 mile Arrowhead Trail in Peters.

Also underway is the council's most extensive project to date. It's a 4.5-mile section in Washington County that runs from Robinson Township just west of McDonald to Cecil. The estimated $1.8 million project includes rehabilitation of the 900-foot long McDonald Trestle.

	Online Map: Montour Trail

When completed later this year, it will connect the trail's westernmost 18 miles with the Cecil segment to provide 28 miles of continuous trail.

"It's exciting to watch it all come together," Joe Rudolph said.

With the exception of the paved sections in Jefferson and Peters, the trail has a crushed limestone surface that can be enjoyed by cyclists, joggers, walkers, cross country skiers and nature enthusiasts. Horseback riding is permitted along certain sections of the trail but not on the trail itself.

Volunteers do all maintenance and light construction work, including manufacturing gates and preparing new bridges for the McDonald trail project. The council relies on corporate, foundation and government grants and private donations for funding.

To reach the Port Authority Park and Ride lot, take Route 51 south toward the entrance to the Mon-Fayette Expressway. Go past the expressway entrance to the second traffic light and turn left onto the access road to the park and ride lot. The access road is across from the entrance to the Dick Corp.

For more information, call 412-831-2030, go to www.montourtrail.org or e-mail: info@montourtrail.org.

Welcome them to Pittsburgh

Six bicyclists with the National Bicycle Greenway project, including Denise Hill of Oakland, are traveling from Washington to Pittsburgh to help promote an interconnected system of trails and bike-friendly roads across the country. They are scheduled to arrive at 12:30 p.m. Friday in Market Square, where Exit 11 will provide a musical welcome.

The riders have invited local bicyclists to join them at 11:30 a.m. at the Greenfield Trailhead of the Eliza Furnace Trail for the 3-mile ride into town. A police escort will accompany the group from the parking garage on First Ave. to Market Square. For more information, call the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute at 412-255-0564 or go to www.bikeroute.com or NBG@BikeRoute.com.

Paddle, pedal and run

The Second Annual Turkeyfoot Trail Triathlon will be held Saturday in Confluence.

Participants will gather at 8:15 a.m. at the RiverSport parking lot, will be transported to the Lower Humbert Covered Bridge, paddle kayaks on Laurel Hill Creek and the Youghiogheny River to the Ramcat Trailhead, pedal their bicycles on the Great Allegheny Passage to the Turkeyfoot Area School District in Harnedsville and run on the bike trail to the gazebo in the Community Park in Confluence."

Participants will paddle 4 miles, bike 4 miles and run 2 1/2 miles.

"This is meant to be a fun triathlon that anyone in reasonably good shape can do," said Ray Silbaugh, president of the Confluence Tourism Association. "We welcome teams and individuals."

A turkey barbecue will be held in the park where prizes will be awarded to the top finishers.

To register, download an application from www.confluenceonline.com and send it, along with the $25 entry fee (which includes a T-shirt) to the Confluence Tourism Association, Box 144, Confluence, Pa., 15424. For more information call, 814-395-3511.

Final notice

The Second Annual Women's Mountain Bike Clinic will be held May 17-18 at the lodge at Laurel Mountain Ski Area. The clinic, hosted by Speedgoat Bicycles of Laughlintown, will offer seminars on basic skills, advanced skills, maintenance, nutrition and bike fit.

Participants also will be invited to take part in rides for beginners, intermediates and advanced cyclists, a night ride and a coed ride. For more information, call 1-888-545-4628 or go to www.speedgoat.com.

Pedal Pittsburgh

The 10th Annual Pedal Pittsburgh, a fun and educational bicycle tour of city neighborhoods and landmarks, will be held May 18.

The event, which organizers emphasize is a ride not a race, offers five routes -- from 15 miles to 60 miles -- to accommodate all ages and riding abilities.

About 200 volunteers are needed to help with registration, rest stops, serve as course marshals and assist with other tasks. All volunteers will receive lunch and a Pedal Pittsburgh T-shirt.

To volunteer or for more information about the event, contact Jennifer Fox at the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh at 412-391-4144 or e-mail: jfox@cdcp.org

West Penn Trail

If you haven't been on the West Penn Trail, a major link in the Pennsylvania Main Line Greenway system, grab your bike and camera and get going.

Parts of three sections have been completed -- 2.6 miles from Saltsburg to Slickville Road, 4.5 miles from Saltsburg to Elders Run and 3.3 miles from the Westinghouse Plant, northwest of Blairsville, to the Bow Ridge Nature Area.

The trail follows the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal and Portage Railroad that operated between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg from 1830 to 1864. Markers along the trail tell the story of the area's industrial and transportation history.

For directions and more information, including a brochure with a map by Bill Metzger, call 1-814-536-6615 or go to www.conemaughvalleyconservancy.org.