January 2015 Trail Conditions

[vvill]

I only rode on the Custis from Spiral d’Oom to Rosslyn, but it was clear. I did see Trollheim claim another victim though, so familiar it almost looked like slow motion (she said she was fine and had another rider with her).

[sethpo]

@Crickey7 106247 wrote:

I wondered about that, since the trail conditions website last night had reported the DC portion as snow-covered. I opted for Connecticut Avenue, and a glorious morning crossing of the Taft Bridge.

To be honest, it was better than I expected and if the alternate road route wasn’t so sucky for me I’d have skipped it. I think that D.C. areas with more snow cover also were just a tad warmer than the more northern stretches that MoCo had cleared. Just enough so that whatever was left was slushy and not icy. And by this afternoon it should be 100% clear if not completely dry.

[Crickey7]

@sethpo 106253 wrote:

To be honest, it was better than I expected and if the alternate road route wasn’t so sucky for me I’d have skipped it. I think that D.C. areas with more snow cover also were just a tad warmer than the more northern stretches that MoCo had cleared. Just enough so that whatever was left was slushy and not icy. And by this afternoon it should be 100% clear if not completely dry.

That’s what I suspected. I chose the fender-free ride, so was not interested in slushy. FYI, I did ride the Cabin John Trail the day after Christmas. It was really muddy and icy, but I managed to only wipe out once, at low speed, on a monster root.

[consularrider]

This afternoon the CCT was clear from Georgetown to Bethesda. There are a couple wet spots that may refreeze tonight.

[Crickey7]

The forecast on WTOP for tonight is for mixed precipitation, followed by complete breakdown in the social order and a slight risk of cannibalism.

[rcannon100]

[dagamon]

@Crickey7 106340 wrote:

The forecast on WTOP for tonight is for mixed precipitation, followed by complete breakdown in the social order and a slight risk of cannibalism.

So, studs?

[rcannon100]

@dagamon 106357 wrote:

So, studs?

No, I think that forecast merits a bit more aggressive solutions. I am installing spikes.

[ronwalf]

@rcannon100 106358 wrote:

No, I think that forecast merits a bit more aggressive solutions. I am installing spikes.

It’s not too late to go all Mad Max.

or you can just take to the river.

[Steve O]

@Crickey7 106340 wrote:

… and a slight risk of cannibalism.

Can we just eat puppies instead?

[Greenbelt]

I’m thinking just sloppy rainy above-freezing smuck Saturday. But keep an eye on Monday.

[Powerful Pete]

Pickle juice already laid out on the Custis and W & OD as of around midday today.

[vern]

@Powerful Pete 106380 wrote:

Pickle juice already laid out on the Custis and W & OD as of around midday today.

I sprinkled some of that pickle juice on some puppies and called it lunch.

[Powerful Pete]

The local humor still eludes me… I assume that puppies refers to some kind of food and is not a reference to our quadruped friends? :rolleyes:

In any event, hope it was good. My pasta burro e parmigiano lunch was excellent. This may may explain a notable lack of weight loss since the New Year, but life is short and carbos are part of my national identity.

[PotomacCyclist]

I think it has to do with rcannon’s puppy advocacy (Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Puppies!).

At least the recent rain and snow has washed away most of the Canada goose droppings on the trails. It was gross a few days ago with all that “stuff” on the pavement. But I saw several hundred geese floating along on the Potomac today, so there will be more droppings on the way.

[Author]

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