March 2015 Trail Condition Reports

[Phatboing]

On the WOD, there are two distinct, rutty sheets of ice between Gallows Rd and Adahi Rd (before and after Cedar). With 40mm studs and a LOT of panicked screaming, they’re almost fun.

There are also downed trees just east of the bridge over 495 (before the climb to VA lane).

[americancyclo]

Flintstoned my way on the WOD from Shreve to the Custis and bailed to the roads at Ballston. Ice near the bridges on the ABT, and a bit on the north section of the 110 connector closest to Iwo Jima. Only took an extra 10 minutes, which is pleasantly surprising. I think it should be nice and dry by the afternoon if the sun keeps out.

[jrenaut]

Supposed to be 40’s and sunny from 2pm on, we should get some serious melting today.

[Alcova cyclist]

Arlington side streets were fine, as was Fort Myer.

The reflecting pool path has an inch of standing water or more along most of the length. It’ll be fine this afternoon/evening, but with an overnight low of 23, it’ll be impassible tomorrow without studs and courage.

(Nothing quite like a steady stream of 35 degree water coming off your front tire onto your shin and shoe (just enough crosswind to put the stream directly on my right leg).)

[DCAKen]

I rode up through Rock Creek Park from Woodley Park to Silver Spring.

The trail, as expected, is unusable. Hopefully the warm rains on Wednesday will get rid of most of the ice and snow on the trail. Beach Drive was an adventure. The northbound lane wasn’t getting much car traffic, so there was still many slushy and icy spots on the road. The road was closed from Joyce Road to Wise Road due to a downed tree just south of Wise Road. On the hill up to Wise Road, Beach Drive was a sheet of ice. The water was dripping off the trees and since there were no cars to break up the ice and warm up the pavement, it was freezing on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0HzNbRGyl8

[PotomacCyclist]

There could be a new wave of ice tomorrow afternoon/evening. Then snow on Thur. We haven’t seen the last of winter weather just yet.

Next week looks promising though. *fingers crossed

[Phatboing]

@PotomacCyclist 109819 wrote:

Next week looks promising though. *fingers crossed

That’s what I thought last week. It’s too early to tell, but yes, let’s cross our fingers.

[Greenbelt]

While the Anacostia Tributary trails are gradually melting back toward functionality, there are still trouble spots. Come on, @PGParks! It’s time to plow or shovel the icy spots on the trails. Warm days like today make it easy to clear the remaining bad spots. No more excuses! PGParks trail maintenance shouldn’t be able to choose to take a month off! This is the NW Branch between 38th Street and Route 1.
[IMG]https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11034290_800998413300211_8077945402672497995_n.jpg?oh=db0a4da766c4833783829188ba404583&oe=5577E6E6[/IMG]
[IMG]https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10418987_800998416633544_2604889334981618584_n.jpg?oh=0f553fbb0b83c8cb21f7be06c8bcf041&oe=5595F122[/IMG]

[paulg]

My commute was done on 35mm tires with studs. I would have died a thousand deaths without the studs this AM!

Four mile run from Arlington Pollution Control plant to airport had some icy spots
Mount Vernon from 4MT to Old Town has a singletrack path through most of the snowy sections which could well thaw this afternoon but I assume will freeze again.
Wilson Bridge – trail was plowed so is free of snow but was of course sheet ice for the entire length.
National Harbor up to Oxon Hill road – basically clear of snow except for some icy spots, this trail is also plowed.
Oxon Hill Farm and Oxon Cove trail was tricky and not plowed. the road was plowed but had big sections of ice, the trail by the cove had a singletrack path from where a truck had driven through but lots of ice again. This was my first time riding through for about 2 weeks and I was expecting the worst, in the end i only had to walk a couple of spots.

Picture is of Oxon Cove Trail

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7977[/ATTACH]

[colleen]

From Slaters Ln going north on the MVT, there are extended stretches of Dry Pavement (!!). Shaded areas still have lots of snow and ice, but there was always a 1-2 foot path to follow between Old Town and 4MR – I didn’t have to get off my bike once. NB: This is for the Royal St – GW Parkway hov lanes cut through. If you take the Union St way around to the east of the old power plant, there are some spots that are completely covered in snow/wet ice. In particular, the blind curve next to the power plant is just a sheet of bumpy ice.

[Arlingtonrider]

4MR between Walter Reed and Mt. Vernon Ave

I rode 4MR on 32 slicks around 1 pm today.

Fine and clear between Walter Reed and Shirlington Rd, with wet spots.

The 395 underpass had patches of slush with an especially thick one at the west end. I walked that one, though some had ridden.

No further problem areas until the Mt. Vernon Ave underpass, which is still an icy mess. This is a photo looking up the rise from that underpass.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7979[/ATTACH]

[vern]

@PotomacCyclist 109819 wrote:

There could be a new wave of ice tomorrow afternoon/evening. Then snow on Thur. We haven’t seen the last of winter weather just yet.

Next week looks promising though. *fingers crossed

It’s actually going to get warmer overnight on Tuesday, so there shouldn’t be any additional problems on Wednesday morning but for wetness from above and below. Thursday is a different matter.

[dkel]

Just rode the section of the W&OD between Little Falls and Shreve in Falls Church. There were only three sections that had icy slush, and they were relatively short. The rest is clear and mostly dry. Even Citizens’ Bridge has a foot-wide, clear track. There is lots of police activity at the Grove Ave crossing, and the Wells Fargo bank on the corner of West St is all blocked by police. If I had to guess what happened, someone tried to rob the bank, and fled through the snow at that Grove Ave crossing; much of the police activity seemed to be forensic analysis of evidence in the snow there. No trouble passing through on a bike.

[gibby]

Take the known route thru the ice-rink LBJ grove, dry CC, dry Potomac Ave or throw caution, and maybe myself, to the wind on 23mm death slicks on the MVT….hmmmm

[dasgeh]

I telecommuted and came in super late. As of about an hour ago, there was a long icy stretch on the Custis near the bridge to nowhere. I would not recommend without studs. There’s also a fair amount of water on the Custis, so if it really gets cold tonight, those will be an issue in the morning.

[Author]

Posts