September 2022
The Tour de Trail Takes Flight (93)

Just in Time

We invite you to join us on Saturday, September 24 as we commemorate the anniversary of September 11, 2001, and the 20-year anniversary of the installation of the Flight 93 National Memorial during our 9/11 National Memorial Trail 2022 Tour de Trail.

The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance is honored to host our fourth annual bike ride through the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, including a loop through the grounds of the Flight 93 National Memorial.
 
In honor of this momentous occasion, at 11:30 a.m. an interpretive ranger from the National Park Service will greet riders at the memorial to tell “The Story of Flight 93” — a 30-minute ranger program discussing how Flight 93 fits into the greater context of the events of September 11.
 
We hope you can participate in the 24-mile ride starting in Berlin, PA, to the Flight 93
National Memorial, and back to Berlin. Register for the ride and pick up your custom Tour de Trail t-shirt. This is a wonderfully energetic way to ride along with us to support the 9/11 National Memorial Trail. All proceeds will support our perpetual efforts to expand and maintain the 1,300-mile multi-use trail that connects the three locations impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.
 
Registration is now open. So don’t delay, get your wheels turning and register today. The clock is ticking!
The GAP
... then and now
‌
Then & Now: The Garrett Trailhead
Filling in the GAPs
​
Garrett is a borough in Somerset County, PA, and part of the Johnstown Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located at Mile Post 51 on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), Garrett is where the 9/11 National Memorial Trail runs north and proceeds 25 miles to the Flight 93 National Memorial.
 
Pictured is the parking lot at the intersection where the 9/11 National Memorial Trail follows an old Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad spur to Berlin, PA. The trail then continues to the Flight 93 National Memorial. The “then” photo was shot 61 years ago in 1961.
 
Garrett was first settled in 1869 and was incorporated in 1900. It is named for the president of the B&O Railroad who served from 1858 to 1884—John W. Garrett.
 
At the height of the B&O Railroad, Garrett borough served as the junction of its Berlin branch, the Pittsburgh Division. The 8.5-mile branch line connected Berlin to the main B&O line as it passed through Garrett. Seven stations were located along the Berlin branch as it ran northeast along the Buffalo Creek… Garrett, Burkholder, Buchle, Bitner, Pine Hill, Hanger’s, and Berlin.
 
The Western Maryland Railroad extended east to west on the north side of Garrett, which is the current site of the GAP 150-mile system of biking and hiking trails that connects Cumberland, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA.
Right this way
... or left
Milestones: Happy Trails

The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance has accelerated its signage installation program in counties and municipalities where the off-road trail construction updates have not yet begun.
 
Trail Ambassador Kylie Tokar and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council have provided the 9/11 National Memorial Trail with in-kind geographic information system (GIS) cartography services for creating upcoming signage maps. This assistance will help curb the amount of fundraising needed by the organization and allows us to move quicker toward signage installation approval. The goal of the Alliance is to have all needed maps created by the middle of 2023 to submit for PennDOT approval. Once signage is fully installed along the on-road sections of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail, users will be able to easily navigate the trail until off-road sections are constructed.
 
If you have an interest in supporting the 9/11 Trail and becoming a Trail Ambassador, please email Jeffrey McCauley at jmccauley@911trail.org for more information.

See you on the Trail!
Andrew S. Hamilton
Charmain, Board of Directors
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