January 2015 Trail Conditions

[consularrider]

@Greenbelt 104503 wrote:

Not sure all the trail names, but does this imply that the trail from MVT/Eads road is rideable to get to Shirlington for the happy hour tonight? Or not? -Jeff

Jeff, Bluemont is three miles west of Shirlington. But that said, the 4MR Trail from Eads St (actually all the way from the MVT) to Shirlington is clear and rideable (Was cleared by Arlington County on Tuesday).

[Boomer Cycles]

@alrob 104425 wrote:

Arlington carefully cleared the Four Mile Run trail (Anderson Bikeway) along Glebe Rd., the 395 underpass, and the W&OD in Shirlington between its eastern terminus and Columbia Pike. These stretches are totally clear and rideable now. However, north and west of Columbia Pike the W&OD hasn’t been touched, and most of it is unrideable. I bailed out onto Carlin Springs and then used the roads to get out to Great Falls St. on my way out to Tysons. I hear it is OK west of the Custis junction, because they cleared the Custis which is shared with the W&OD at that stretch. I don’t know why they would clear the Custis but leave the W&OD untouched (except for, ironically, the part of the W&OD through Shirlington that is easily bypassed and tends to melt off much quicker than the part they didn’t touch. They DID clear the untouched stretch of the W&OD last year. It seems that they should save their resources so that they can at least plow all the trails and skip some of the brine pretreatment if they have to in order to make ends meet. By now it is hardened into ice and isn’t very plowable until we get above freezing. The part they didn’t clear is one of the last stretches to melt on its own. That is the stretch that should receive the highest priority. They did not do any brine pretreatment on this stretch either.

I rode my roadie today from Shreve Road & Virginia Lane to 20th & M in NW DC today. As noted, the WOD between Shreve Road and Rt 29 is an ice sheet, so I stuck to the streets. I took the WOD/Custis Trail from East Falls Church Metro to Roosevelt Island parking lot which was clear sailing a the way, thanks to Arlington County! The MVT was an ice sheet, blocking the ascent to the Roosevelt Bridge, so I had to double back and cross the Potomac via the Key Bridge (downstream side), which had a clear path. The WOD was and ice sheet from the Custis Junction headed down to Colombia Pike. No problems once in DC, down M and L streets. Ride safely out there!

[Boomer Cycles]

@hozn 104417 wrote:

The W&OD — especially between EFC and just west of Vienna — seemed more treacherous (slippery) this AM, as there was a little melting in the sun to make the “dry spots” often little ice slicks. More sliding around this AM than I can remember from any other ride [and I’m riding studded tires]. Luckily no actual falls, just had to unclip a few times or I might have fallen.

Must be nice for y’all that can just ride the treated Arl Co trails and surface streets to work. And have a tailwind in the mornings. … Man, I should get a job in the city!

I ride that section regularly and took to the streets of Falls Church instead as that section of the WOD is just too treacherous until the ice sheets recede.

[Mikey]

14 st bridge is 80% clear and the rest is <1/4 inch of slush that shouldn't be a problem. The south ramp was in the shade and still requires you to slow down as it is coated in packed snow and slush, no ice. Humpback bridge is passable at full speed. Some icy ruts remain through LBJ park but not too bad. Convoy shouldn't have any trouble on this route. I rode on 35s no studs.

[wheelswings]

I just wanted to say a big thank-you to all who have posted these trail and road reports. I may not be clicking “Like,” as I don’t like the fact that NPS and NVRPA have left us lumpy ice sheets in place of plowed trails. But I am grateful for all your conscientious and thoughtful reports, updates, and suggestions. I read them in planning my routes and in proceeding extra-carefully at treacherous junctions. You are saving your fellow riders from visits to the ER. Thank you.

[Arlingtonrider]

I just went out and poked around a little bit on 32 slicks. Lots of melting! Condition reports below.

For the Alexandria folks: Commonwealth to FMR is clear and dry, although there are a few small slushy areas in the bike lanes.

FMR has been clear and dry for days, but now some of the underpasses, especially those near Shirlington, have areas with water from overhead dripping, so be a little watchful for ice there when it gets colder.

Eads is clear and dry, and as is the rest of the trip into Shirlington from Eads.

The MVT is tempting, but there are still some very hazardous patches here and there. While long stretches are clear and dry, the overpasses, some approaches to them and some other areas still have ice, snow, slush, and/or black ice. I walked some of those. I was going to try to get up to Gravelly Point, but if you look at my strava route, you’ll see where I turned around. I was going to try to walk that too, but it felt pretty dicey even for walking my bike at that particular spot. Still, it’s getting much better!

I saw and was greeted by another FSer as I was rolling back down the MVT getting ready to go right on FMR.

[alrob]

@alrob 104462 wrote:

I asked Arlington about why the W&OD has been cleared the past several years but not this year and received the following reply:

“Many people don’t realize this, but the W&OD trail is not owned or operated by Arlington County. It is overseen by the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority. NVRPA. They maintain their own facilities at their own levels of service and told Arlington last year that in the future they do not want us clearing their trails without permission.

David J Goodman
Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs Manager
Arlington County Department of Environmental Services
703-228-3709″

So apparently NVRPA told them to stop doing it. I asked if they did get permission to clear the part that they did clear in Shirlington and whether they asked permission to clear the rest of it and were denied, but have not received a response. I don’t know why NVRPA wouldn’t want their trail cleared so it could be used, but it would appear to be some petty reason – like it makes them look bad if the Arlington part of the W&OD gets cleared but the rest of it does not. I also asked who at NVRPA should be contacted on this and find out what is going on, but I find it unconscionable that the county used to clear it off for us but now they can’t anymore because NVRPA won’t let them. I have heard their cross-country skiers excuse before, but that is a red herring as what cross-country skier would want to ski on lumpy ice? I have never seen any of the trails get damaged from clearing snow.

I received a response from NVRPA claiming that they cleared the trail when they didn’t do it. If they actually ran a snow blower over it, it was obviously way too late, since it couldn’t remove packed ice.

“Thank you for your message, I have passed it on to our two Arlington Board Members.

The snow this week was promptly cleared on the W&OD by NOVA Parks staff, and we have received praise from numerous parties for our quick action.

Post from Arlington Now about snow removal this week:

http://www.arlnow.com/2015/01/06/photos-winter-storm-surprises-arlington/

Because we want to maintain the W&OD in top condition we require that snow is removed with a snow blower vs. a snow plow. We have a large blower that we keep on the border of Arlington County so we can be responsive to snow. The County uses plows which can often cause damage to the asphalt. I hope this helps explain our different approach. The end result is the same – cleared trails.

Paul Gilbert
Executive Director
pgilbert@nvrpa.org
703-359-4600

Blog: http://www.regionalparks.blogspot.com

NOVA Parks Website: http://www.novaparks.com&#8221;

Has anybody seen any part of the W&OD that was promptly cleared by NVRPA staff? It certainly wasn’t the part of the W&OD north of Columbia Pike that I saw this morning.

Al

[dasgeh]

Thanks for following up on this. We’re definitely getting different information from different sources. It may be helpful to email Paul and Dave Goodman at the same time, pointing out the trail conditions that have been reported here (W&OD cleared to pavement Shirlington to Columbia Pike; not at all cleared Columbia Pike to Custis turn-off; cleared with varying degrees of success west of the Custis turnoff). If you don’t mind including arlingtonbacchair[at]gmail.com too, I’d appreciate it.

Thanks!

[americancyclo]

@alrob 104526 wrote:

I received a response from NVRPA claiming that they cleared the trail when they didn’t do it. If they actually ran a snow blower over it, it was obviously way too late, since it couldn’t remove packed ice.
Al

The W&OD west of Arlington was definitely treated by some sort of vehicle. The snow was compact and rideable after the storm. While the conditions are icy now, they are still much better than in previous years when the trails were only icy footprints.

I think the trail was ‘plowed’ but not cleared to the extent that Arlington cleared the custis.

[DismalScientist]

The WOD was cleared between Columbia Pike and Walter Reed only, not all the way to Shirlington. It looks as if the clearing was only “one lane” wide, not like the Custis. I speculate that it was done by a third party, not Arlington nor NVRPA.

[dasgeh]

@DismalScientist 104529 wrote:

The WOD was cleared between Columbia Pike and Walter Reed only, not all the way to Shirlington. It looks as if the clearing was only “one lane” wide, not like the Custis. I speculate that it was done by a third party, not Arlington nor NVRPA.

I stand corrected. Thanks!

[Arlingtonrider]

@DismalScientist 104529 wrote:

The WOD was cleared between Columbia Pike and Walter Reed only, not all the way to Shirlington. It looks as if the clearing was only “one lane” wide, not like the Custis. I speculate that it was done by a third party, not Arlington nor NVRPA.

One option at Walter Reed, if you want to stay on trails, is to leave the WOD, cross Four Mile Run Road, go across the bridge, and then take the FMR trail on the left alongside S. Arlington Mill Drive. That trail is clear and dry, and you can use it to hook back up with the WOD at Shirlington Road.

[Dickie]

Ignored my Dr’s orders and took a ride today w/vertigo for the first time in 2015. Headed west through Clarendon and Ballston to the Fairfax Dr. Connector and onto the Custis, and then to the WOD. Clear all the way. The WOD was clear all the way to Brandymore castle and stayed clear until the Sycamore St. underpass. From there the trail got really dicey. I was on 32 knobby’s (no studs) and had to turn around to take 16th/Columbia the rest of the way. I stayed on streets until re-connecting with the WOD at Citizens bridge where I finally gave up. Looks as if the WOD is un-passable in Falls Church unless you have studs.

[DismalScientist]

Wash Blvd/Route 27 trail is clear.

[creadinger]

So it sounds like trying to do the ArlLoop tomorrow is a bad idea because of the W&OD?

[Author]

Posts