January 2015 Trail Conditions

[ian74]

MVT from North Old Town to 14th st bridge was clear, even drying out is some spots. Airport bridges were also clear and dry. Tiny patch of slush right before turning onto the bridge ramp but very doable.

CCT northbound. Some slushy spots on the DC side, very passable though. I was on my hybrid with 32mm slicks. Further North I went the colder it got, as a result, some more patches of slush/ice around that tunnel, definitely icy though on a few small overpasses, like the one just north of the tunnel by the treatment plant, and where it crosses over Mass. Ave.

Otherwise I would say doable with some common sense. Just keep a reasonable pace and stay aware and you should be fine.

[vern]

@americancyclo 105158 wrote:

Just wanted to add that although there is little ice, most of it is harder to see, at least it was before dawn. Be cautious if you know there was ice on the ground in the past few days. It may have melted enough to turn to black ice.

I was 15-20 minutes slower than usual for this reason…looking for black ice. As I got to Falls Church around 7:15 I started to notice that some of the surface moisture was starting to freeze on the WOD. I guess at that point the temperatures had finally dropped below freezing.

[Rockford10]

I was on the W&OD for only a very short while – it was frosty and a little slippery around 8:30 between Railroad Ave. and Virginia Ln in Falls Church. I quickly got back on the road. I think I might need to figure out how to get my bike on the bus to get home tonight… I don’t want to risk the ice in the dark.

[mikoglaces]

Is TR bridge passable now?

[TimV]

@vern 105164 wrote:

Ditto that. The only place I saw meaningful ice was on the east side of the Carlin Springs underpass, where there was a fair amount of ice down to the 2nd wooden bridge. Otherwise, WOD was clear from Reston to the end of the line in Shirlington.

Continuing on the W&OD westbound into Herndon on slicks was equally fine. There was still some ice on the bridge over Herndon Parkway, but still passable.

[wheelswings]

Many thanks for the WOD and MVT reports. My afternoon meetings will put me on both trails. I’m also wondering about the Glencarlyn Park connector trails (the hilly ones through the woods) to get over to Bailey’s Crossroads — I’m planning to take those tonight to pick up some documents — did anyone ride Glencarlyn today? Alternatively there’s always Columbia Pike, but the pike’s not my favorite ride in any weather. :+) Thanks!!

[Powerful Pete]

I would like to confirm, with great joy, that Trollheim is now clear – just a few minor puddles that might turn into ice patches with the temps falling, but nothing that cannot be handled with common sense.

[Steve O]

Entire Custis is dry and clear with one important exception for westbound cyclists:

I noted that water running down the Spout Run skating rink had collected against the I-66 wall and was frozen by 9:30 this morning. If you are traveling westbound later today stay to the center or the left side of the trail when you get to the bridge. It’s just the rightmost 2-3 feet side of the trail, but it’s sheer ice.

[Greenbelt]

Three small trouble spots on the NE Branch/NW Branch commuter routes from Lake Artemesia to DC.
This is NE Branch under the bridge at Paint Branch Parkway. Totally unrideable and nearly unwalkable. If you hit this patch at speed, you could easily be in the river
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10477886_778472748886111_1392794549114133113_n.jpg?oh=d4fcbf7af87d17794a0d576b8640144c&oe=5537E3C5&__gda__=1429071897_000c6c8c4a9016fb19e5589ac1c32234[/IMG]
This is the water overflow area behind Wells Ice Rink on NE Branch. Also unrideable. Use your cleats like ice crampons to get across. Walkers were just turning around here this morning.
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/1491686_778472752219444_6823867582020736269_n.jpg?oh=b76dbc7d1d42483e2d40873729815a4a&oe=55281788&__gda__=1429803736_68e52e5e3ea9f44cd494ea03a03b0c9c[/IMG]
NW Branch by the ballfields between Route 1 and 38th Street. You could ride this slowly or just go in the mud/grass if your tires are wide enough.
[IMG]https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10489929_778472745552778_3500977069299988773_n.jpg?oh=6d0e2b99c2697cb0d45a35d1a0d2c5a1&oe=55648305[/IMG]

[TrishN]

Thanks for the report! I think you mean 38th St.

[Greenbelt]

@TrishN 105215 wrote:

Thanks for the report! I think you mean 38th St.

Thanks, fixed.

[rcannon100]

Water Main Break Closes Four Mile Run Drive

The break is near the intersection of Four Mile Run Drive and S. Cleveland Street, near the intersection of S. Glebe Road and W. Glebe Road, I-395 and the Alexandria border.

http://www.arlnow.com/2015/01/13/water-main-break-closes-four-mile-run-drive/

[Arlingtonrider]

Thx for the heads up. Good to know. Hopefully won’t affect trail.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@mikoglaces 105187 wrote:

Is TR bridge passable now?

I didn’t ride it this morning, but last night it was completely clear from the rain. I have no idea how/if it dried out this morning though.

[Greenbelt]

Unfortunately, mumble, mumble, mumble, uhmmm…. Our trails weren’t constructed with underground heated water pipes to keep them from freezing either

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[Author]

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