January ’16 – Trail Condition: That time they predicted mind-boggling amounts of snow

[KWL]

@vpik01 133249 wrote:

Anyone on the Mt Vernon Trail between the Four Mile Run junction and 14th St Bridge? How about the 14th st bridge crossing for that matter?

I just finished putting my studded tire bike back together and will probably go take a look myself tomorrow morning.

I haven’t been on the MVT and don’t plan doing so any time soon. I have traveled on (note I did not write “ridden on”) the Four Mile Run Park trail (Virginia side of 4MR) and the trail that runs along Washington Blvd between Memorial Bridge and the Pentagon. Both have not been cleared just like the MVT and both are totally unrideable. You’ll see when you get there. This photo demonstrates the problem.

[KWL]

@hozn 133251 wrote:

The Custis near W&OD intersection was quite beautifully plowed.

That is so gorgeous it brings tears to my eyes. THIS should be the goal of winter maintenance for all trails.

[fredmeews]

Does anyone know if the sidewalks are clear? Thanks.

[vvill]

@hozn 133251 wrote:

The Custis near W&OD intersection was quite beautifully plowed. Almost none of the Westover or surrounding neighborhood roads have been plowed. So riding the MTB really only works when there has been enough traffic go really pack down a lane. Longfellow is awesome, at least briefly. I am not a fan of riding on pavement in these conditions.

Agreed – I took almost the exact same photo today!

[vpik01]

@vvill 133259 wrote:

I haven’t been on the MVT and don’t plan doing so any time soon. I have traveled on (note I did not write “ridden on”) the Four Mile Run Park trail (Virginia side of 4MR) and the trail that runs along Washington Blvd between Memorial Bridge and the Pentagon. Both have not been cleared just like the MVT and both are totally unrideable. You’ll see when you get there. This photo demonstrates the problem.

Yeah I was afraid of that.

[PotomacCyclist]

The federal government and Capital Bikeshare are both closed tomorrow. So are most/all school systems, but I haven’t checked all of them.

The entire MetroRail system should be operational tomorrow except the Silver Line stations. (Shared stations with the Blue and Orange Lines will be open.) Trains will run every 12 minutes, although shared lines may have more frequent service.

Metrobus will only have limited service.

http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/metro_service_status/advisories.cfm?AID=5410

I don’t plan on being on the MVT either. While some melting took place today and more will happen tomorrow, it’s not enough to melt 15-20 inches of snow. Temperatures will stay above freezing tonight except for an hour or two. Then there could be rain tomorrow, with temperatures in the low 40s. That could speed up the melting slightly, but I don’t think it will be enough to clear up the MVT.

I saw that many bike stations are still snowed in completely. Instead of debating on the forum about the merits of whether to recommend that people stay off the roads or not, I decided to do my part to help speed the return to service of Capital Bikeshare. They only have a small staff and there are over 300 bike stations scattered throughout the region. Unless a lot of people volunteer to shovel out the stations, I think CaBi could be closed for the rest of the week. (Unless there’s a lot of melting tomorrow, which I don’t think is likely.)

BEFORE

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AFTER

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I borrowed a shovel and went to work. I did this partly out of the spirit of volunteerism, and partly because I’d personally like to see CaBi back in operation. I didn’t know how long it would take. I figured I could make some progress within an hour or two. Then I’d move on. But I got caught up in the process. I haven’t done any strength workouts since the summer, but I’m still in pretty decent shape (for someone who isn’t a pro athlete). I was also trying to be smart about it. I quickly realized why some people get into trouble while shoveling snow, other than not being in shape. They think that just because it’s cold out, they need to be bundled up. Huge mistake. I quickly overheated and I felt somewhat ill. That was solely because I was wearing way too much for the activity I was doing. There’s a reason why you see runners in the winter wearing shorts and short-sleeve shirts. It’s because you heat up very quickly while running and also while doing continuous lifting (which is basically what snow shoveling is).

So I got rid of the coat and hat. I had two pairs of pants on but on top, I just wore a short-sleeve running shirt. That was more than enough while shoveling snow.

I think other people get into trouble because of poor technique. Technique? Yes. You have to rely on the major muscles of the body, like the quads, the lats and the obliques. Not on the much smaller muscles like those of the lower back, the shoulders or the biceps. Everything gets worked, but if you lift properly, you put much more of the stress on the big muscle groups. It can also be as simple as holding the shovel toward the blade end. One hand on the handle, and the other close to the blade with the snow. If you try to lift with both hands near the handle, there is much more stress on the muscles. One of you physics people can explain it precisely. I just know that when there is a lever like that, it’s always better to hold on closer to the weighted part, instead of having a long lever.

One hour became… well, I didn’t really check. When I finally decided that I was finished, I saw that… over 4 1/2 hrs had passed by. What?!

While the system won’t be running tomorrow, this station would now be usable. Or at least in the very near future. As you can see, the station was buried in about 15-20 inches of snow. With temperatures in the mid 40s, that much snow wouldn’t completely melt for at least a week. But now most of the snow is gone. The spots that are still covered only have an inch at most. (I didn’t want to poke at the spokes, chain or gears too forcefully out of concern that I might break something. So I left some of the snow on those parts.) That light covering will melt away quickly. Thus, this station is basically ready to return to service.

I’m guessing the majority of stations are still buried. I’m thinking about digging out another station tomorrow, but we’ll have to see. My arms, lats and lower back are very sore right now. It’s tough work!

If I recover quickly, then I could work on another station tomorrow. If not, then I will have to take a rest day. No shoveling and no other strenuous physical activity. I’m struggling just with typing right now.

[chris_s]

@KWL 133257 wrote:

That is so gorgeous it brings tears to my eyes. THIS should be the goal of winter maintenance for all trails.

Keep telling the County Board you appreciate it. I have it on good authority they are being bombarded by cranky folks who don’t think “bike trails should be getting plowed before all of the residential streets are clear”

countyboard@arlingtonva.us

[mikoglaces]

@chris_s 133262 wrote:

Keep telling the County Board you appreciate it. I have it on good authority they are being bombarded by cranky folks who don’t think “bike trails should be getting plowed before all of the residential streets are clear”

countyboard@arlingtonva.us

I just wish the’d done the whole length of the trail.

[Steve O]

@KWL 133257 wrote:

That is so gorgeous it brings tears to my eyes. THIS should be the goal of winter maintenance for all trails.

Except for the fact that the plowed part doesn’t go anywhere. Feel free to ride back and forth on the one-mile section that is plowed.
See previous posts from me, nickbull and others on the infeasibility of using this section of trail for actual transportation.

[Steve O]

If you are a Car2Go member, you can earn 60 minutes of drive time for shoveling out a car. They are tiny, so it’s not nearly as much work as a regular car.

If you aren’t, and you want to shovel one out for fun, just claim you are me and I’ll take the free minutes.

[DismalScientist]

@Steve O 133265 wrote:

Except for the fact that the plowed part doesn’t go anywhere. Feel free to ride back and forth on the one-mile section that is plowed.
See previous posts from me, nickbull and others on the infeasibility of using this section of trail for actual transportation.

Actually, this part of the trail is very important for pedestrians getting to EFC metro.

[dasgeh]

@mikoglaces 133263 wrote:

I just wish the’d done the whole length of the trail.

You can report a snow clearing problem here: http://gis.arlingtonva.us/mapapps/snowpublic/index.php

I reported the Custis from the underpass that is about at Kennebec to at least Lyon Village, but made clear I only have first hand knowledge of Quincy to Monroe (which is unrideable). If you have first hand knowledge, please report. According to the County’s own plan, the trail should be plowed before they move to secondary streets. From what we’ve been told, the equipment that clears the trails couldn’t clear the streets, so we’re not even talking about competing priorities.

And please, please, please make your voice heard that you think the trails should be cleared. It is valuable to many people who walk, run and bike. It’s part of the plan that was already debated and agreed upon. Etc, etc, etc Thanks

[dasgeh]

Reposted from My Morning Commute:
@KWL 133213 wrote:

…was a bear. Places that have been cleared in the past were not this morning. Boundary Channel Drive near I-395 was a muddy mess. The Pentagon sidewalk was not cleared except right around the flags. The Washington Blvd sidewalk over Rt 110 was not cleared. Note the photo of taking the lane on Washington Blvd. Memorial Bridge sidewalk was cleared only about 1/2 way across from the DC side. I got tired of negotiating the narrow footpath and took to the car lanes then noticed the cleared section. Lincoln Memorial Circle was not totally clear. Twenty-second at Eye was blocked off but then clear near New Hampshire Ave.

I’m rethinking my route home. How do I get from Memorial Bridge to the Pentagon except to slog through knee deep snow next to Washington Blvd?

@KWL 133255 wrote:

I lied. The Memorial Bridge sidewalk has not been cleared at all. I thought I saw a plowed sidewalk from the roadway, but it was just short sections that had melted plus the wooden ramp at the reconstruction section. Riding from the DC side this evening:

[PotomacCyclist]

I felt a lot better yesterday after I ate a full meal. The protein definitely helped with recovery from all the snow shoveling. I’m about 80 percent of the way back.

There’s some minor soreness. Maybe that will disappear after I walk around and eat more. Just like with long bike rides, it’s important to take in recovery calories. After strength-related tasks, it’s even more important to get a decent amount of protein along with plenty of water. (After the immediate recovery needs, healthy balanced meals are best, with protein, fiber, complex carbs, dark green vegetables, unsaturated fats and more water.)

I think the limiting factor will be my forearms. While I made an effort to use the large muscle groups yesterday during the bike station clear-out, I still had to use my forearms quite a bit. There’s no way to avoid that if you are lifting anything with your arms. If I feel OK by late afternoon, I’ll take a look at another bike station. If not, then I will stay away from strenuous physical activity today. Since CaBi is still closed, I don’t think I’ll bike today. But I do plan to take Metro to DC and walk around.

For those with free time today (which should be many of you, since the federal government and most private offices are still closed), four of the Smithsonian museums are open today:

Air and Space Museum (on the National Mall, NOT the Udvar-Hazy museum in Dulles)
Natural History Museum
National Portrait Gallery
American Art Museum

Those last two are located in the same building, the Old Patent Office Building, just in front of the Gallery Place Metro and Verizon Center.

http://www.si.edu/

Most of the Metro system is operating except the Silver Line (Wiehle Ave and the four Tysons-area stations are closed), and now there is a problem on the Orange Line between Vienna and Ballston. Regular fares are being charged today. (Yesterday, MetroRail was free of charge.)

http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/metro_service_status/advisories.cfm?AID=5401

[CaseyKane50]

Most of the trails in Alexandria are still snow covered.

Alexandria as part of the Pedestrian and Bicycle chapter of the Transportation Master plan has proposed in Strategy #6 on page 58 to improve snow removal on trails. Do you think that is a good idea? If so, won’t you take a few minutes to provide your feedback at AlexEngage. You don’t have to be a resident of Alexandria to provide your feedback. The deadline for feedback is January 31.

[Author]

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