2014 March Trail Conditions

Our Community › Forums › Road and Trail Conditions › 2014 March Trail Conditions

Viewing 15 posts - 61 through 75 (of 313 total)
1 2 3 4 5 6 … 19 20 21
  • Author
    Posts
  • March 5, 2014 at 5:05 pm #995225
    vvill
    Participant

    I rode the roads in around 11am – took some glimpses of trails, bridge paths, etc. where I could. Looked like some sections of the Custis and Key Bridge path were clear, but others were definitely not. Hopefully it’ll all be melted by the weekend, if not earlier.

    March 5, 2014 at 5:21 pm #995226
    hozn
    Participant

    @rolo 78906 wrote:

    Falls Church -> Reston via W&OD

    I got on the trail close to Shreve Road which was snow blown all the way to Sandburg. Some icy spots, but easily doable with studs.
    Sandburg to Gallows – had a line of packed snow
    Gallows to Maple – for the most part it was tough going. about 20% was packed snow with the rest a combination of loose snow and ice. It sucks when you lose momentum.
    Crossing Maple – nice mound of snow blocking the trail which was a blast to go over!
    Maple to Ayr Hill – packed snow and ice
    Ayr Hill to Hunter Mill – for about 1/2 the way, there was a path of packed snow and ice with spots of ice ruts. Easily doable with studs. Then the packed snow and ice disappeared and you are left with icy ruts and frozen snow. Still, not bad with studs.
    Hunter Mill to Buckthorn – Yeah, pretty much untouched. Did see 2 fat tire bike tracks. Snow is about 6 inches here. Tough going until the hill right before Buckthorn – sledding made the snow nice and packed here – easily traversable.

    Some photos from the morning ride:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/varuolo/12948739364/

    Good report. Sorry I missed you this AM! I got off at Gallows and went down to Cottage to cut out the Gallows->Vienna stretch (thanks for that recommendation!). Then I rode up and west on Beulah to Clarks Crossing to cut out most of the W&OD from Vienna to Hunter Mill. Then from Hunter Mill, took Hunter Station & Glade (which I tend to do anyway). The small section of the W&OD that I did ride was slow, so I’m glad I cut out as much W&OD as possible.

    http://www.strava.com/activities/117954157

    I am /very/ happy that they plowed the W&OD trail from almost Gallows (Sandburg) east into Arlington. That made the commute just doable. (Of course, it still wanted studded tires this AM, as “plowed” here means “sheet of hardpack snow and ice”.)

    March 5, 2014 at 5:57 pm #995227
    dcv
    Participant

    I saw Hozn on Cottage. The WOD is plowed from Sandburg (1 street east of Gallows) to Custis.
    20140305_073244_zps66d02341.jpg

    The Custis was not plowed and was a slog. I bailed at Ballston connector and rode streets the rest of way to DC. Streets were good.

    March 5, 2014 at 5:58 pm #995228
    DaveK
    Participant

    @dasgeh 78921 wrote:

    (the reflecting pool paths did not look good).

    The south side path at the reflecting pool is solid packed snow and ice. I’m taking the north side home – it couldn’t be worse. Will report back.

    March 5, 2014 at 6:07 pm #995229
    hozn
    Participant

    Yeah, good to see you @dcv. I think I do want to get beefier studded tires for next winter. My tires are fine for the ice sections but really don’t help at all in the snow. The ones you have do look nice :)

    March 5, 2014 at 6:43 pm #995231
    rpiretti
    Participant

    It’s probably a hardpack due to it being snow blowed, not plowed. Nice ideas for getting around!

    @hozn 78929 wrote:

    Good report. Sorry I missed you this AM! I got off at Gallows and went down to Cottage to cut out the Gallows->Vienna stretch (thanks for that recommendation!). Then I rode up and west on Beulah to Clarks Crossing to cut out most of the W&OD from Vienna to Hunter Mill. Then from Hunter Mill, took Hunter Station & Glade (which I tend to do anyway). The small section of the W&OD that I did ride was slow, so I’m glad I cut out as much W&OD as possible.

    http://www.strava.com/activities/117954157

    I am /very/ happy that they plowed the W&OD trail from almost Gallows (Sandburg) east into Arlington. That made the commute just doable. (Of course, it still wanted studded tires this AM, as “plowed” here means “sheet of hardpack snow and ice”.)

    March 5, 2014 at 7:03 pm #995233
    jnva
    Participant

    Saw this clearing the custis today.
    [ATTACH]4927[/ATTACH]

    March 5, 2014 at 7:06 pm #995234
    Tim Kelley
    Participant

    @DaveK 78931 wrote:

    The south side path at the reflecting pool is solid packed snow and ice. I’m taking the north side home – it couldn’t be worse. Will report back.

    I laid down the bike on some ice on the north side path. Fortunately I’m getting pretty good at staying on my feet in those situations. There’s a bumpy packed snow path running parallel on the other side of the chain fencing that has more traction. Although things might have melted enough by this evening. It’s steamy out.

    March 5, 2014 at 7:08 pm #995235
    consularrider
    Participant

    I’m going to ride the Custis starting from Rosslyn about 5 pm. Any takers?

    Of course getting from Wilson to Lee on Lynn is a total PITA with the sewer construction and the sidewalk still uncleared.

    March 5, 2014 at 7:15 pm #995236
    KayakCyndi
    Participant

    @consularrider 78939 wrote:

    I’m going to ride the Custis starting from Rosslyn about 5 pm. Any takers?

    Of course getting from Wilson to Lee on Lynn is a total PITA with the sewer construction and the sidewalk still uncleared.

    5pm? Who do you work for :confused:? Wait, never mind. 5 pm won’t work for me but I was thinking of attempting it a bit later (i.e. 6:30 pm) if anyone wants to meet up.

    March 5, 2014 at 7:30 pm #995238
    consularrider
    Participant

    @KayakCyndi 78940 wrote:

    5pm? Who do you work for :confused:? …

    You can’t figure from my forum name? Nice thing about my current position is that I rarely have to work late, not too many facility related emergencies to deal with. :D

    March 5, 2014 at 8:39 pm #995244
    rpiretti
    Participant

    Columbia Pike to MVT looks to be passable on the WOD. Melting on the bridges now.

    March 5, 2014 at 9:37 pm #995246
    vilago
    Participant

    If someone could post the general MVT conditions from alexandria to 14th st bridge i’d be appreciative. i took it to work this morning with regular road tires, which was a BIG mistake. does anyone know a “back” way to the 14th st bridge from north alexandria? I don’t know the roads around here very well.

    March 5, 2014 at 9:39 pm #995247
    Dirt
    Participant

    Custis was plowed and it helped, but there is still a lot of ice and snow on it. Not always a clear line through. LOTS of slush out there too. It will melt faster with stuff scraped off.

    Have fun with it! I did. The Before/After with Custis was a blast today. (Only a semi-trained ape on a post-apocalyptic snow bike would honestly feel that way.) :D

    March 5, 2014 at 9:47 pm #995249
    CaseyKane50
    Participant

    Lots of melting along the Holmes Run Trail, but there are stretches of ice and slush, especially at the underpasses at Duke Street and leading up to Eisenhower Avenue.

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 15 posts - 61 through 75 (of 313 total)
1 2 3 4 5 6 … 19 20 21
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.