February 2015 Trail Conditions

[TwoWheelsDC]

I was dismayed by the amount of snow in the Arlington bike lanes as of 7pm this evening (so additional melting is unlikely). On Fairfax Dr., between Va. Square and Ballston, there were long stretches where taking the lane is necessary due to snow, and also to cars parked in the bike lane because drivers couldn’t get close enough to the curb due to the snow. Some of the snow is soft enough to roll through for the time being, but tomorrow it’s going to be an icy, crusty mess…so just be prepared to slow down and take the lane.

Fairfax Dr:

George Mason:

[Kolohe]

@rcannon100 109185 wrote:

No cross country skiers observed anywhere

I did see some x-country skiiers on the W&OD near Carlin Springs on Saturday afternoon.

[Greenbelt]

Anacostia Tributary Trails still effectively closed for human transport
[IMG]https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11006441_797536303646422_9206679672630408962_n.jpg?oh=bfabb96ec762fff59f0b670f1d2a8c1b&oe=5555DB5F[/IMG]
If you’re a car, wishing to visit Lake Artemesia’s parking lot, you’ve been nicely accommodated
[IMG]https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11001903_797536310313088_5001347623028547269_n.jpg?oh=f1352bc924233edc63edf9cbf52522b9&oe=5582EC5D[/IMG]
If you’re a human wishing to visit Lake Artemesia, not so much
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10958196_797536313646421_6204588137653361362_n.jpg?oh=90b7df21f72b1d6151b7e279a6f9c0da&oe=55545DB9&__gda__=1435201328_65676b4ae1fd5e72cb496d76a9086fc9[/IMG]
Not a very helpful crosswalk at the death zone Greenbelt/University/Rhode Island Ave intersection.
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10993954_797536226979763_4298848145189698020_n.jpg?oh=78e86f7b7c19dd3b4bb985a3ed382c75&oe=554D6B0F&__gda__=1435819109_2351aa0447fbd99521d35badfb5cfed5[/IMG]

[Greenbelt]

A bit of good news — College Park plowing the trolley trail! Unfortunately, they have to lift the plow at each bollard. And they don’t extend down from Lakeland Road down to Paint Branch parkway, so there’s still a blockage where have to dismount for a quarter mile or so.
[IMG]https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10411286_797536260313093_7502486496183964533_n.jpg?oh=353527d1977b045da0783e66ca7378ef&oe=55938001[/IMG]
Unlike MNCPPC, College Park’s plows aren’t “too big” to clear the trails for people:
[IMG]https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10527317_797536220313097_8057670666466355740_n.jpg?oh=f3bac908856f8e05880be7deed10bfbe&oe=5548B1FD[/IMG]

[paulg]

I guess I’d like to call these shots ‘Priorities’. As others have noticed the parking lots and roads are cleared but the major local trails remain unusable for traveling along with a bike.

I ran an errand to Crystal City on Saturday just before the snow hit and decided to ride home via the Mount Vernon Trail from the Crystal city connector to Four Mile Run. It took me about 20 minutes when 5 should have sufficed! I stopped to take these shots that highlight the Park Service’s Priorities. Cars get a nice safe run on the George Washington parkway which the Multi use trail adjacent is mostly unused.

I also got a shot of the cleared four mile run trail where it joins MVT. [ATTACH=CONFIG]7921[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7922[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7923[/ATTACH]

[Alcova cyclist]

Central Arlington ->Ft Myer–>Iwo Jima–>110 path–>Memorial Bridge–>reflecting pool->12th St SW

No problems at all. Better than Friday night.

There are a few places where snow melt is flowing across the paths that might prove troublesome after the hard freeze.

[Tom H]

Still in love with the Custis! MVT from TR Br to Mem Br 8″ track not YET frozen. Good for your McAss Skills….

[datgl]

What’s the condition of the trail bypass for East Cedar lane from Beach to 355. If I can’t take the trail bypass, can I take the sidewalk on East Cedar lane? Then continuing through the Bethesda neighborhoods, what is the condition of the cut through side walks in the Bethesda neighborhoods down to the CCT off of Little Falls Pkwy?

[hozn]

The W&OD between EFC and Reston needs studded tires. Things were not fully frozen this morning, but there were still many very slippery sections — like the huge sheet of ice that is the W&OD just west of Vienna. This evening should be even more slick, assuming forecast is correct this time.

[dbb]

Whoo Hoo!

First day in a week that the commute didn’t include walkage! Full disclosure – I was on 35mm studs.

Crystal City – Long Bridge Drive – Boundary Channel – Wooden Bridge – Marina – MVT – 14th Street Bridge

Most parts were just wet.

Wooden Bridge and LBJ grove were bumpy and slushy. I took to the lawn for parts of that stretch.

Humpback had a 12 inch track that was reasonably clear.

Ramp up to the 14th Street Bridge was pretty sucky. I took the grass for part of that as well.

14th Street Bridge appears to have benefited from the sun yesterday. No thanks to the District’s clearing efforts (which remain MIA)

Likely to be bumpy tonight.

[Crickey7]

@datgl 109200 wrote:

Then continuing through the Bethesda neighborhoods, what is the condition of the cut through side walks in the Bethesda neighborhoods down to the CCT off of Little Falls Pkwy?

CCT is Maryland is clear. The only access I saw was Dorset Ave., and that was fine.

[dagamon]

Fell once walking on the sidewalk in front of my building, but the Custis is mostly clear. Depending on if the brine it, it may be messy this evening.

[Powerful Pete]

Custis wet but completely rideable this AM (32mm semi-slicks).

There will be patches of ice this evening, so be careful.

I made a mental note of the ice melt at 20th Road North and the Custis (just before the overpass on 66). It is a wide patch of slushy ice now (very thin, looked like water at 8AM), a good 3-4 meters wide covering the entire trail. If things get cold, be extra careful on the way home this evening (it might help that for most people it will be going uphill) on this stretch.

Also the brick sidewalk on the DC side of Key Bridge (downstream side) is iced over and very treacherous. I walked and had trouble standing (as did 3 pedestrians slipping and sliding with me).

Must. Pull. Trigger. On. Studded. Tires.

[Phatboing]

@hozn 109201 wrote:

The W&OD between EFC and Reston needs studded tires. Things were not fully frozen this morning, but there were still many very slippery sections — like the huge sheet of ice that is the W&OD just west of Vienna. This evening should be even more slick, assuming forecast is correct this time.

NVRPA also takes care of the ice skating population, don’t you know?

[hozn]

@Phatboing 109217 wrote:

NVRPA also takes care of the ice skating population, don’t you know?

Yeah, I am glad they are looking out for us. That reminds me that I need to start skating during lunch here in the town center.

[Author]

Posts