Summary
When the going gets tough, the tough ride a bicycle 326 miles.
In this high-spirited documentary, writer Robert Isenberg pedals from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., along the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. An ordinary bike commuter, Isenberg weathers rainstorms, fatigue, and the loneliness of the open road — and explores some of the most beautiful country in Appalachia. Good-humored and thought-provoking, “The Trail” is a love letter to Western Pennsylvania and the bicycling life.
Background
In 2012, writer Robert Isenberg bicycled from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., along the trail system known as the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. One of the most ambitious rails-to-trails projects in America, this path draws a (nearly) uninterrupted line from McKeesport to Georgetown, 326 miles of wooded wilderness.
The Trail is Isenberg’s chronicle of his solo journey through Appalachia. Filmed and edited entirely on his own, The Trail is a good-humored account of fatigue, inclement weather, and the loneliness of the open road—as well as a love letter to Western Pennsylvania and bicycling culture. The documentary features breathtaking landscapes and interviews with other riders. At 43 minutes, The Trail both illustrates the geography of the route and the physical challenge of crossing it.
The Trail was made possible with the support of Pittsburgh On Video, Friends of the Riverfront, and The Pittsburgh Foundation.
The soundtrack features all-local Pittsburgh musicians, including Lohio, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, The Mon River Ramblers, and Seán O’Donnell.
I also just completed the ride last week. (and I kept a video diary of the trip)
Please inform me of your movie opening because I would really enjoy viewing it with many others who also feel so connected to the GAP and C&O Towpath
[...] for all you Pittsburghers, my friend Robert Isenberg’s documentary, The Trail is debuting on WQED this Saturday at 10 PM. Robert is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker [...]
Would love to see this at the Boonies Festival in Warren Pa this summer.
I rode only a small section of the trail (Frostburg to Rockwood and back), but loved it and I KNOW I would like to see your film about your experiences. I hope your film gets shown in Delaware soon!
Would love to know when this becomes more widely available to those of us who do not live in Pgh.
Wow I did the trail in August 2012 with my 14 year old son. We are planning another trip this summer. This was a bucket list of mine. The next one is in the farther distance which will be across the USA someday. We kept very good notes on the ride also. I would love to see this film. Will it appear in a theater somewhere?
Actually the current northwest end of the trail is in Homestead, not McKeesport. The section of trail between Homestead and McKeesport opened in 2011. When the section near Sandcastle opens in 2013, the GAP will be essentially complete all the way to Pittsburgh. See http://steelvalleytrail.org
I missed this when it was aired…Is there someway I can get a copy or view it online?
Greetings, everyone! Thanks for taking a look at “The Trail”! For people who either missed the screening or particularly enjoyed it, you can obtain your own DVD copy — just go to the “store” section of this website, and it’ll take you to the Amazon link. There is also a number of books in a similar vein. Enjoy, and happy trails!
[...] The Trail by Robert Isenberg (watch trailer) is a 42 minute movie about one person’s ride on the GAP/C&O. The Post-Gazette had a nice write up on the movie recently. [...]
[...] canal is in disrepair during a lot of this section, from what I’ve seen on The Trail. Plus, it goes through very few towns. I think the biggest things along the way are [...]