January 2015 Trail Conditions

[PotomacCyclist]

@cyclingfool 104123 wrote:

On the ride home last night, after battling rutted ice for the few miles of MVT from 14th St to 4MR, I literally sang the praises of Arlington when I saw how clear 4MR was. Like, I was literally singing, “I love you, Arlington!” No one else was around to hear me, which I’m thankful for, but had there been someone, I think they would have understood my motivation and not thought any worse of me.

You should have sang, “Straight-up thug town called Arlington.”

[dasgeh]

PS. There’s some twitter action about DC bridges. Pls retweet my (@dasgeh) message, if you’re a tweeter.

[cyclingfool]

@dasgeh 104166 wrote:

PS. There’s some twitter action about DC bridges. Pls retweet my (@dasgeh) message, if you’re a tweeter.

Done.

[ronwalf]

@sarahybillington 104146 wrote:

Stay clear of the Anacostia tributary trails. Solid sheets of ice. Metropolitan branch trail is in great shape except for the switchback at Noma. Safe riding everyone!

Looking at the forecast, I guess we’re waiting until Monday or Tuesday for it to clear.

[vern]

So, it appears the WOD/4MR are clear east of Columbia Pike, but not so much west of that point. I wonder if the peeps that have traveled between EFC and Columbia Pike think if it would be crazy if I took my road bike w/slicks on the Metro to EFC, disembarked there, and rode east tomorrow.

[DismalScientist]

I would suggest to not do so. Perhaps it makes sense to take the WOD to Custis to George Mason to Wilson. Jump on the Bluemont for a bit to Emerson/Edison south to Glen Carlyn and back to George Mason. (You might just stay on George Mason–this part is fairly flat.) Take Henderson across 50 and then Abingdon/3rd/Wakefield to get over to the WOD at Columbia Pike. Take the WOD from there.

[dasgeh]

Update on dc – maintained bridges (14th st, tr, key; from dc bac): crews should be going out to all 3 bridges tonight or tomorrow morning to clear the sidepaths. The best place to give feedback (eg if they’re not adequately cleared by tomorrow pm) is DC’s 311.

[delninno]

@paulg 104152 wrote:

@cyclingfool 104123 wrote:

On the ride home last night, after battling rutted ice for the few miles of MVT from 14th St to 4MR, I literally sang the praises of Arlington when I saw how clear 4MR was. Like, I was literally singing, “I love you, Arlington!” No one else was around to hear me, which I’m thankful for, but had there been someone, I think they would have understood my motivation and not thought any worse of me.

I was singing the same “I love Arlington” Song last night too after battling up the MVT from old town. Here is my picture of the transition from lovely cleared trail to MVT taken at around 5pm on Tuesday Jan 6th.
All other trails in my commute are cleared – 4MR, Wilson Bridge, MVT through Old town and the roads.

Come on National Park Service, you can do it… plow the Mount Vernon Trail please!!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7369[/ATTACH]

Took the MV trail from 14st bridge to the 4mr. And it was very hard to ride. Much worse than in the morning.

[wheelswings]

Quick addendum to my earlier notation: There are now some icy patches on the Rosslyn side of Key Bridge, downstream-side ped/bike pathway. It’s pretty slippery so proceed with caution and be ready to throw your feet down as needed. .

[DismalScientist]

Upstream side is clear and you don’t go through the IOD. Furthermore you avoid government surveillance from the bike counter.:rolleyes:

[kingman762]

Update on my earlier post. Some melt water and blowing snow created some icy patches near the WWII memorial end of the reflecting pool and the Lincoln memorial pavement is now clear.

Also, the MVT from memorial bridge onto the trail along 27 is an icy mess. The trail along 27 up to the Pentagon reservation is also a mess, I chose to walk portions of it. The Pentagon has done a superb job of clearing the portion of the trail along the reservation (as it always does).

[Henry]

Went from Crystal City to Barcroft last night in evening commute:

Eads St PBL a mess b/t 18th & 23rd. Only 50% clear w/frozen ruts on the rest. Unprotected lane from 23rd to Glebe was 95% clear.
Four Mile Run Trail: A crystal clear dream! Cleared edge-to-edge. Thanks Arl Parks & Rec.
W&OD from Shirlington Drive to Oakland street mostly clear, then suddenly becomes a very dangerous mess of frozen ruts from Oakland to Walter Reed.
W&OD from Walter Reed to at least Geo. Mason was plowed in the middle and safe riding. Didn’t go beyond that.

Ride Safe Everyone.

[Harry Meatmotor]

@Harry Meatmotor 104076 wrote:

As of 0630:

4MR from S. Glebe to S. Eads was clear and dry – THANKS ARLCO!!! on the way home yesterday I caught up to a sweeper brushing the trail, gave the driver a huge double thumbs up and a “You F’ing Rock!”

S. Eads to 18th St. – roadway is clear and dry, but the north bound bike lanes are a mix of icy, rutty, and slushy.

CC Connector to MVT was clear until the tunnel, then mostly hardpack up to the MVT.

MVT nb to 14th St. Bridge – not too, too bad. not very rutty, and mostly two cow paths of hardpack up to the bridge.

14th St. Bridge = careful with the high winds. Today I learned how much a 10-15mph crosswind and make your chosen line through ruts, well, not your chosen line anymore.

Once inside DC proper – smooth sailing on surface streets from 15th to NOMA.

Fortunately or unfortunately, conditions this morning along this route were only about 10-15% better this morning. MVT is still a mess, but there are a few clear sections and some of the cowpaths are down to asphalt. Still pretty slow going. 14th St. bridge was better today, tho.

[mikoglaces]

Anyone ride the TR bridge today? Or the MVT from the bridge to Rosslyn?

[dasgeh]

Last night: DC Streets were totally clear, could even use the bike lane in spots. Key Bridge Upstream was totally clear, as was the typical I-seem-like-a-left-turning-car-then-I-veer-right-onto-the-path approach. Custis, of course, was a dream
This morning: Same as yesterday morning (Custis clear, Fort Myer Drive, Meade, Marshall clear, 110 Trail clear, Memorial Bridge clear, sidewalks after the Lincoln a mess, but took the lane without trouble).

[Author]

Posts