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Erie Canal buffalo to albany

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  • Erie Canal buffalo to albany

    Not adk related--wondering if anyone has done it end to end? Any tips? Rehabbing a post surgical right knee, this route looks nice and flat, and think I can finish comfortably in 4-6 days. With no knee issues I think I could do it in 3...

  • #2
    Did it in 2014 with PTNY. We took 8 days, between 40-60 miles each day. There are some on road sections, with a lot of traffic in Syracuse. There are some hills when you have to leave the original canal tow path for the road parts. It's a great trip. Take time to enjoy the history and towns along the way. Check out PTNY's web site for a map, and guidebook.

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    • #3
      I did that in a canoe when I was 14 years old !! With my dad in an old Blue Hole Mike Galt canoe. From west to east, from (near) Buffalo to Albany. Met some great folks along the way and have some great memories. Sorry for the detour !

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      • #4
        That sounds like a neat trip. How long did it take?

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        • #5
          It has been so long...but if I remember correctly it took us about 10-12 days. Some days we encountered some wet/windy weather. Some nights we camped in a tent along the canal, as we had the official permission to do that from some authority of some sort...I was just a kid....sometimes we camped in city parks or on the grounds of a marina. Again, we had permission before doing so. One night we were granted permission to sleep aboard a beautiful houseboat moored at a marina. That was something- sleeping in a large, comfy bed after days in a tent.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by hillman1 View Post
            Not adk related--wondering if anyone has done it end to end? Any tips? Rehabbing a post surgical right knee, this route looks nice and flat, and think I can finish comfortably in 4-6 days. With no knee issues I think I could do it in 3...
            I've done it end to end several times; once using the PTNY route, and the others by going off and on the PTNY route as the mood struck me. ( Sometimes it gets a little boring... )

            The nice thing of course is that you're never more than a couple miles away from food/shelter/etc, but there are also long sections where you feel like you've gotten away from it all, if that's your thing.

            The stone dust sections will probably slow you down more than you expect; I generally average around 12-14mph for the on-road portions, but only around 10mph for the path.

            And yep, it's pretty much as flat as can be, with the exception of a few parts in the eastern portion.

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            • #7
              I did this and the KATY trail just west of St. Louis in two different summers recently with some friends. The EC trail is good, with the best sections being around Lockport, Spencerport and maybe a bit around Schnectady if I remember correctly. As far as logistics, I can highly recommend the approach my friends have taken for these trips - we had access to a Ford F150 extended cab pickup that had a cap on the back with the windows on both sides and the back able to be opened - this made accessing gear easier. The approach has been that we more or less quarter up the day, riding for about 2 hours beginning around 8:30. We take turns driving the truck so you do miss a segment here and there but it is worth it and when driving you have a little time to stop to refill the ice and handle your e-mail, etc. Because our group has a wide range of ages and fitness levels, some folks are happy to take an extra turn driving at the end of some days so it tends to work out for folks who like to ride as many miles as possible and for those happy to take a few less. A small group is also nice as it keeps the likelihood of collisions due to inattentiveness lower. If you send me a message I can try to resurrect or get from my friends the list of campsites we stayed at and miles done on each of the days.

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              • #8
                Hi all,

                What is the "PTNY Route" and where di I access that info?

                Thanks.
                PATHFINDER
                "I'M THE ONE WHO BARKED AT THUNDER, ROARED AT LIGHTENING, MADE DEATH WONDER."

                AND

                “Wherever I go, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.
                Wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend.
                Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there.
                It's a better life!”- Robert L. Humphrey “Warriors Creed"

                "John has a long mustache."

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Pathfinder View Post
                  Hi all,

                  What is the "PTNY Route" and where di I access that info?

                  Thanks.
                  not a route but an org promoting NY trails


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                  • #10
                    Thank You.
                    PATHFINDER
                    "I'M THE ONE WHO BARKED AT THUNDER, ROARED AT LIGHTENING, MADE DEATH WONDER."

                    AND

                    “Wherever I go, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.
                    Wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend.
                    Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there.
                    It's a better life!”- Robert L. Humphrey “Warriors Creed"

                    "John has a long mustache."

                    Comment

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