2014 March Trail Conditions

@hozn 78969 wrote:

W&OD is now “plowed” (snowblower) east of Vienna (not just Sandburg). Some of the snow-blowered trail sections are still snow covered, but it is hard pack and quite fun to hammer in the big ring.

I was having fun on the hardpack this morning east of Vienna until I lost my line and had to jump off my bike as it went down. I wasn’t “hammering it,” but I was “in the big ring,” and had to run about 15 feet to kill my momentum. I wasn’t hurt (I stayed on my feet!), nor was the bike, but the walk back seemed like a walk of shame somehow. Good thing this weather keeps most people off the trail: there was no one around to see how graceful I must have been. I will likely be taking roads between Vienna and Gallows for a couple more days, I think.

The Custis in Cherrydale looked totally clear from Monroe/Lincoln St, but I still didn’t trust it. Took streets to Veitch, then back to the Custis. While it’s not as bad as it could be, and they’ve put down sand, there are still long patches of hard packed ice. Many of you would have been fine. I Fred-ed. (As in Flinstone. I Fred-Fred every day.) The trail from Lynn down to the trollheim was fine, but the Trollheim had really deep rut that were frozen solid. It was difficult to Flinstone over. TR Bridge was totally fine (though DIRTY).

The Trollheim did inspire me to think of one line I wish I had used in my presentation to the Women’s Forum of the National Bike Summit:
“THis winter has taught me that we often ride in the ruts of the cyclists that came before us. But we need not to get stuck in those ruts. We need to reach out and promote family biking.”

Rode the Custis from WOD to Rosslyn. 85-90% rideable on pavement–either totally clear or a line to ride on.

Trail was plowed, so cover of snow has been stripped off, making the icy sections slicker than they would otherwise be. I rode a road bike w 28s, but would discourage others from doing so. Although you could if you like the sphincter-clenching thrill of holding your straight line across a 50-foot ice patch (like I do!)

Bridges over Glebe & Lee Hwy are good.

Bad spots:
After Glebe bridge before western sister
western sister
The switchback has a narrow clear path all the way down – go slow
Real bad patch on the final 50 feet of Spout Run bridge
Lots of ice behind the apartments, but with a little powder on top, so possible to ride for the brave
Bad bad bad behind the soundwalls on the Rosslyn luge–this is the worst section.

10-12 other patches of ice ranging from 5 feet to 40 feet long. Rideable if you hold your line (and hold your breath!)

Have fun!
Steve

@DismalScientist 79029 wrote:

That stretch of the Custis is easily avoidable on relatively calm streets (except in Rosslyn itself):
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Vietch+and+Key+blvd,+arlington+VA&daddr=38.8979742,-77.0841421+to:38.8963644,-77.074048+to:38.8971115,-77.0708501+to:Lee+highway+and+Lynn+street,+arlington+va&hl=en&sll=38.893254,-77.078791&sspn=0.02931,0.017574&geocode=FUR3UQIdV8Jn-ylX0fcwYra3iTE7C7qnhjl5QA%3BFTaJUQIdEspn-yn9Nz-RZra3iTHwHxXAjZYovw%3BFeyCUQIdgPFn-ylnYLEVXLa3iTFwhvWcokQkdA%3BFdeFUQId_v1n-ymJoHSrW7a3iTFxbQG7JKJELw%3BFUmKUQIdLP5n-ymBvq3jWra3iTEw4wirzDfRRw&t=h&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=16&via=1,2,3&z=16&lci=bike

To avoid the Custis from Rosslyn to Ballston, try this:
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=38.8989037,-77.0701294+to:38.8989037,-77.0701294+to:38.897245,-77.0708482+to:38.897245,-77.0708482+to:38.8963138,-77.074753+to:38.8969539,-77.0863149+to:38.8913031,-77.0945431+to:38.8870077,-77.0955905+to:Custis+Trail&hl=en&ll=38.87874,-77.099047&spn=0.058632,0.035148&sll=38.892837,-77.084842&sspn=0.05862,0.035148&geocode=FdiMUQIdzwBo-w%3BFdeMUQIdzwBo-ynLJ_vbWra3iTEujPOip4xTIA%3BFdeMUQIdzwBo-ynLJ_vbWra3iTEujPOip4xTIA%3BFV2GUQIdAP5n-ylxRCr-Wra3iTEdEsYs0oOTJA%3BFV2GUQIdAP5n-ylxRCr-Wra3iTEdEsYs0oOTJA%3BFbmCUQIdv-5n-ylnYLEVXLa3iTFxhvWcokQkdA%3BFTmFUQIdlsFn-ykTL0wOZLa3iTHL1iw9_JpjlQ%3BFSdvUQIdcaFn-ymXzvlth7a3iTGXCQOtvDMjtw%3BFV9eUQIdWp1n-ykTNPcbhLa3iTFXp5_9rJJNgQ%3BFYpOUQIdDjdn-w&oq=Ballston&t=h&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=8&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8&z=15&lci=bike

Yes, but only if you know ahead of time that there’s going to be that much ice. Or are willing to turn around double back, but who would do that?

I rode the MVT from the 14th St Bridge to Rosslyn this morning after the Congressional Bike Ride. It was about 75% clear, but had two really bad ice stretches on Columbia Island (between the MV Pkwy crossing and Memorial Bridge, and between the 17 mile post and the inlet bridge). The ice was badly rutted and it was hard to hold a line even with studded tires. The TR Trollheim wooden walkway is still over 50% packed snow/ice. There is a single track most of the way through, but in many places that single track turns to ice for several feet.

The 110 sidepath from Marshal to Memorial was clear with a couple of refrozen meltoffs. The sidewalk from the Linclon Memorial over to the WWII Memorial was 90% clear, but there were a few ten feet wide short packed snow/ice stretches.

What’s the word on MVT/4MR/WOD? Anyone been over that stretch this afternoon?

Does anyone have any info yet on the conditions of the FMR trail and MVT between Shirlington and the airport?

Thanks. They seem to be holding off as long as possible on closing the trail, which I appreciate. Eads is ok, but the CC connector has been a mess, so that’s not an enticing option for those of us with slicks. I’m on the fence about tomorrow morning. I might ride home tomorrow on one of the red “fitness bikes” though.