Trail Conditions — January 2014

[eminva]

This evening, 1/2/14, between 5 and 7 p.m.:

The overpass on the Custis over the Glebe Road exit from I-66 was already getting glassy. Proceed with caution.

The wooden bridges on the W&OD (by the fire stations and Citizens Bridge): snow covered, slick. Proceed with caution.

The bridges over I-66 and I-395 near Dunn Loring were okay. The Idylwood Park hill was slick but passable.

Beyond Gallows, the snow is getting quite deep. The rim brakes got totally caked with snow.

Liz

Topic

[cyclingfool]

As long as (unexpectedly) deeply rutted ice on the MVT doesn’t bring me down squarely on my knee like it did Thursday night, I’ll be happy tomorrow. (This was despite 2″ wide studded tires)

This was the end result. It looks like a bruise, but it’s actually mostly just dried blood. Guess my knee landed on one of the ruts. Only way I can figure that I managed to cut open my knee through 2 pairs of tights and pair of shorts even though there was no exposed asphalt at that spot.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4578[/ATTACH]

#crosscountryskiing #MVT #thanksNPS #sarcasm

[dkel]

@cyclingfool 75753 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4578[/ATTACH]

#crosscountryskiing #MVT #thanksNPS #sarcasm

#gross!

[dbb]

FMR from the WWTP at Eads to the MVT was virtually ice free. A couple small patches but a clear dry line past them.

MVT from FMR to the 14th Street Bridge improved from last night. Only ice in quantity is just before the bridge turnoff and that spot had a clear line through it. Small spots of ice occasionally (emphasis on small) so attention is still required.

Road bike had no problems.

Winds on bridge were another thing.

[cyclingfool]

@dbb 75761 wrote:

MVT from FMR to the 14th Street Bridge improved from last night. Only ice in quantity is just before the bridge turnoff and that spot had a clear line through it. Small spots of ice occasionally (emphasis on small) so attention is still required.
[…]
Winds on bridge were another thing.

Yeah, today’s commute was my first riding along the MVT since Thursday night going home. Pleasantly surprised to see the trail all but clear as you described. I want to take off the studs, but the NWS makes it sound like there could be snow accumulation tonight, so I may leave them on through tomorrow just to be on the safe side.

That wind on the river was sure blowing today.

[Steve O]

@Dirt 75748 wrote:

Custis is the same way. Take it slowly and you’ll be fine. There is some glare ice in a bunch of places, but I rode it with slick tires and didn’t have any problems. I just rolled across the glare ice.

Custis this morning from Ballston in was virtually completely clear with only a couple of spots to pay attention to. Rideable on any type of bike and a modicum of attention.

[DaveK]

The last icy spot on the path around the Washington Monument is clear. Just in time for more snow.

[Arlingtonrider]

Does anyone have any updates on the condition of the stretch of FMR trail between Shirlington and Eads St?

It wasn’t in great shape, at least for slicks, the last time I started to through there two days ago. (DBB said the part from Eads to MVT is ok now.)

No more snow allowed this week. It is forbidden.

[DismalScientist]

It’s fine. There are patches of ice, but a clear path through all of them. There is also a big frozen puddle east of Mount Vernon. Easily done on a road bike if paying sufficient attention.

Also, I rode the WOD from Westover to Shirlington. There are little ice patches under Wilson and Carlyn Spring Roads that require minimal attention. One wooden bridge south of 50 is ice covered and should not be taken at full speed without studded tires.

[mikoglaces]

@Dirt 75748 wrote:

Custis is the same way. Take it slowly and you’ll be fine. There is some glare ice in a bunch of places, but I rode it with slick tires and didn’t have any problems. I just rolled across the glare ice.

Thanks to all the reports. I took a long route in on roads on studded tires (from Dunn Loring to Williamsburg to Glebe to Military Road etc.) and am anxious to get back on the trail (Custis and W&OD) and I’ll try that tonight.

Anyone know about the TR bridge? Maybe I’ll just take Key bridge.

[dasgeh]

@mikoglaces 75804 wrote:

Anyone know about the TR bridge? Maybe I’ll just take Key bridge.

TR Bridge is A-OK, even for slicks (man, I wish I had written my road bike…)

In fact, my whole ride today would have been fine for slicks: Cherrydale & Lyon Village neighborhood streets -> Key Blvd -> Veitch -> Custis -> TR Bridge -> Virginia -> sidewalks along Constitution -> Jefferson.

[hoffsquared]

Thank you for the updates. They are very helpful. Based on a quick peak at the WOD trail while driving and the posts late last night I rode in this morning. Glen Carlyn WOD to FMR to Crystal City. All clear except one bridge. Some ice at Shirlington area on the concrete but there was a clear path the whole way.

[dkel]

I hopped on and off the W&OD a couple of times between Shreve and Gallows late this morning, and ended up bailing out when I got a look at the stretch past Gallows. Some extended segments are clear, some are bumpy but passable, and there are a few places that are still pretty treacherous. I managed not to get off my bike once, but it was a close call on regular 32s. Generally, I had more fun on the clear streets (aside from the salt and grit everywhere), but riding those few clear parts of the trail was like seeing an old friend after a long absence.

[mstone]

@dkel 75813 wrote:

I hopped on and off the W&OD a couple of times between Shreve and Gallows late this morning, and ended up bailing out when I got a look at the stretch past Gallows. Some extended segments are clear, some are bumpy but passable, and there are a few places that are still pretty treacherous. I managed not to get off my bike once, but it was a close call on regular 32s. Generally, I had more fun on the clear streets (aside from the salt and grit everywhere), but riding those few clear parts of the trail was like seeing an old friend after a long absence.

It’s ok because someone might be skiing on it. Right?

edit to add: someone who’s actually good at taking pictures should get some nice shots of the alternating pavement and lumpy ice and post them to illustrate the idiocy of NVRPA’s position on the trail as a cross country ski venue. maybe we can shame them into a more sensible policy.

[sjclaeys]

Any update on the status of the TR Island wooden bridge? I presume that it is still impassible.

[dasgeh]

@sjclaeys 75830 wrote:

Any update on the status of the TR Island wooden bridge? I presume that it is still impassible.

You have to ride on part of the TR wooden bridge to get on to/off of the TR Bridge. So that part is totally fine. I imagine the rest of it is the same, but don’t know from experience.

[Author]

Replies