March 2015 Trail Condition Reports

[consularrider]

I rode the complete Arlington Loop this morning while the snow/ice pellets/freezing rain was coming down. I encountered two Arlington County Parks vehicles. One was sitting next to the the Key Bridge Marriott and the other was at the Custis/W&OD junction. I’m not sure what they were waiting for in either spot.

My report on trail conditions:

W&OD
From the Custis junction to Columbia Pike the trail was about 80% clear or single and double track. There were serious ice problems at the Wilson Blvd and Carlin Springs underpasses. From Columbia Pike to Shirlington Rd, it was 95% clear/5% single track with a couple icy patches and an ice berm at the west curb cut across from the Barcroft Rec Center. Today’s mix was sticking when I rode through at 9:15 am.

4MRT
Clear from Shirlington Rd to the MVT with the exception of major ice just west of the I-395 underpass, and smaller ice at the W Glebe and Mt Vernon underpasses. This had been treated with brine before I passed through and most of the mix was not sticking at that time.

MVT
A real mixed bag. It was about 75% clear or single track most of the way from 4MR to the Roosevelt Island parking lot. However, there were several long stretches of bumpy rutted ice. The southern overpass at the airport, both approaches to the 14th St bridge complex, and about half of trail across Columbia Island were very difficult to ride even with studded tires. Trollheim had double track for the whole span with a couple of five foot sections that were ice. The wintry mix was icing up the clear sections of the trail when I rode through.

Custis
Clear from previous storms snow/ice from the Roosevelt Island parking lot to the W&OD junction. There was a bad patch of ice on the western side of the bridge over the I-66 exit ramp to Washington Blvd. There was also the usual ice at the Custis/W&OD intersection through the Patrick Henry underpass. Also, the wintry mix was leaving crusty ice on a good portion of the trail.

I also rode across the 14th St Bridge to do a couple laps at EPP/Hains Point. The bridge and both approaches were clear except for what was falling today.

[Greenbelt]

I moved the NE Branch pic over here since it’s now March!

The NE Branch trail was rideable in the full-sun spots yesterday. However, in the shady or partial-shade areas, not so much…

[IMG]https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11021112_800175076715878_5132141581360790477_n.jpg?oh=9f3fed9f35e4ddc756ec29564b070d19&oe=559133E2[/IMG]

[Anonymous]

For those south of old town, (or wanting to travel south of old town), as of about 12:30 today, the Rt. 1 pedestrian bridge was sheet ice. Or, at least the top at Washington St was, I didn’t try it to find out if it got any better further along (I highly doubt it); perhaps the magic of studs would make a difference, but by my standards it was neither rideable nor walkable and I didn’t try.

The MVT from old town to the marina was better, and still passable (one spot that is still covered with rutted ice and required walking), but the areas of bare pavement were icing up on it as well. It is probably solid sheet ice by now also in many spots. There are still enough stretches with only single-track pavement that it won’t take much ice to completely block it.

I doubt either one will be any use until above freezing temperatures happen.

[Boomer Cycles]

I rode the Custis Trail this afternoon from Van Buren Park (near EFC Metro) to Quincy and it had many puddles that were icing over and slushy spots. The weight of me on my 700 x 25 roadie tires was enough to break through the ice cap down to wet pavement, but the slushy spots are slippery, particularly on hills. The photo was taken after the 2 Sisters, just before Quincy Street, looking eastward. The puddles & slush will all become a sheet of ice if the air temps dip below freezing, so be careful out there!

[mstone]

Didn’t get on a bike today, but did walk out of my house tonight in the freezing rain and slid down the driveway with two feet flat on the ground. Would have been better off on the bike with studded tires. Trails and sidewalks will probably be treacherous in the morning.

[brendan]

@mstone 109767 wrote:

Didn’t get on a bike today, but did walk out of my house tonight in the freezing rain and slid down the driveway with two feet flat on the ground. Would have been better off on the bike with studded tires. Trails and sidewalks will probably be treacherous in the morning.

Yeah. I spent about 3-4 minutes about 5 steps from the courthouse metro elevator doing the same thing. I wanted to get to the elevator, but any time I breathed. Or gestured. I slid. Managed not to fall, and amused myself trying not to fall, but wow, that was kind of intense.

B

[dkel]

@brendan 109777 wrote:

Yeah. I spent about 3-4 minutes about 5 steps from the courthouse metro elevator doing the same thing. I wanted to get to the elevator, but any time I breathed. Or gestured. I slid. Managed not to fall, and amused myself trying not to fall, but wow, that was kind of intense.

My bike ride on studs this afternoon was totally uneventful, but the trip from my door to the bike and from my bike to the door was very challenging. Confirms how awesome bikes are.

[vern]

@dkel 109778 wrote:

My bike ride on studs this afternoon was totally uneventful, but the trip from my door to the bike and from my bike to the door was very challenging. Confirms how awesome bikes are.

Were you on roads or trail? The roads here in Reston have been fine all day, but I’m worried about lots of ice on the trail in the morning.

[hozn]

Yeah, I am not planning to ride in. Even our neighborhood streets here in Arlington are very slick, anything other than the center of the road. And Reston is colder. In full ice the studs won’t keep me upright and I would hate to break something and be off the bike just as racing season starts. I am grateful for the work gym.

[Dirt]

Last night riding home I passed 4 cars on West street that were stuck and couldn’t make it up the hill. Studs will probably be a requirement for most roads and trails in the morning. Have fun!

[dkel]

@vern 109779 wrote:

Were you on roads or trail? The roads here in Reston have been fine all day, but I’m worried about lots of ice on the trail in the morning.

I did a short street ride from my house to Bikenetic and back: two miles, round trip. The streets in my neighborhood were not that bad, but there was ice and the studs handled it fine. My driveway was the worst part by far, hence my difficulty getting on and off the bike.

[dbb]

My 35 mm studded tires were my friend.

CC Connector between the RR tunnel and the tunnel under the GWMP was pretty slippery. MVT trail was was just wet and with a thin ice film.

The DCA North Bridge glacier was both bumpy from the shifting ice floes and had a thin coat of really slippery water/ice. I walked.

MVT from DCA to 14th Street Bridge was fine with the exceptions of the usual patches of ice.

14th Street Bridge trail had a thin film of ice but no traction problems for the studs.

Be safe!

[Dirt]

@dkel 109786 wrote:

I did a short street ride from my house to Bikenetic and back.

It was nice to see you yesterday, dkel! Also nice to meet Peter, who stopped by to get a spoke replaced.

[Mikey]

I drove to East Potomac Park and rode in from there, staying on surface streets. Ohio, Buckeye, and East Basin are fine, Maine Ave is just a construction suckfest. 4th, P and 2nd were fine, just drippy, with all of the tree ice melting. The sidewalks along the tidal basin looked icy. I rode 35 slicks.

[Crickey7]

CCT was covered with ice, though riding it might have been possible even without studs. The shoulders of the big roads were surprisingly still very icy, but it was more of a crust. Conditions by late morning should improve markedly.

[Author]

Posts