Poison Ivy along Mount Vernon Trail?

[DrP]

Two weeks ago I apparently came in contact with poison ivy and got a bad reaction. I do not know for sure where I got it from (I have no pets, which is common source for some folks). About the only thing I did outside that weekend was bike to Mount Vernon. I do not recall hitting vegetation anywhere, but a lot hangs over the trail and it just happens and it was mostly on my lower legs. Yesterday I rode part of that trail, Roosevelt Island to Wilson Bridge. I could not but help scan the vegetation as I went by, although I never stopped to look closely. There were several patches of “leaves of three” with some next to or overhanging the trail. They were large leaved and not serrated, but comparing to some images on line, look like they were likely poison ivy (there are more than one leaf type, unfortunately). The locations in particular I recall:

1. By the airport south of the exit from the northbound parkway and north of the overpass from Crystal City on the little uphill curves by the buildings, east side of the trail.

2. On the branch north of old town by the river, just south of the apartment building on the west side (over hanging the trail pretty bad).

3. On the branch north of old town by the river, south of the power plant buildings – both sides, but the east side is far from the trail surrounding a light pole.

Anyone who more regularly rides this trail also notice these? Are they actually poison ivy? I would like to know so that I know if future to avoid and clean up well after other rides on this route and also to let the Park Service know since the areas overhanging the trail, where users are likely to brush up against it, should be cut back.

Topic

[creadinger]

@AFHokie 122213 wrote:

On Saturday a guy was trimming back at least one of the bushes along the MVT around the airport. Since he was wearing running shorts & a t-shirt with neither an NPS or contract landscape company vehicle in site I’m assuming it was likely a guerilla pruning.

I didn’t realize how bad it was until it was trimmed back recently, but the Mt. Vernon – 4 Mile Run intersection had terrible sight lines until recently. Significant safety hazard for people bearing left onto 4 Mile Run from MVT. If it was a guerilla pruning I’ll gladly buy the person a beer for helping out.

I noticed the bushes encroaching the trail just south of the train bridge over the Potomac were also pruned back a lot.

[AFHokie]

I would too. It’s stupid that what he did may or may not have been legal. It makes me wonder if NPS would or could be held negligent if a collision occurred because they failed to maintain open sightlines?

[chris_s]

@AFHokie 122213 wrote:

On Saturday a guy was trimming back at least one of the bushes along the MVT around the airport. Since he was wearing running shorts & a t-shirt with neither an NPS or contract landscape company vehicle in site I’m assuming it was likely a guerilla pruning.

I’m increasingly convinced that more guerrilla pruning takes place on the MVT than sanctioned pruning.

[DrP]

On my Sunday ride to Mount Vernon I did notice that the poison ivy growing over the trail near the power station was cut way back. I am not sure about the airport location, but it looked better there too (slightly not paying attention to greenery as I passed). So, either they were very quick on the response, others cut it back, or they found it on their own. In anycase, the trail is safer there now.

[Author]

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